2010 Porsche 911 GT3 runs the 'Ring in 7:40, reps still claim Nissan GT-R is slower
2010 Porsche 911 GT3 - Click above to view the gallery
The 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 is unquestionably bad-ass. Its naturally aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six provides 435 hp from behind the driver's seat, and its track-tuned chassis can dance with the world's most nimble supercars. The free-wheeling product of Stuttgart has been undergoing testing at the famed Nurburgring in Germany (along with every other sports coupe worth its salt) and it's been timed at an unofficial 7:40. Porsche driving ace Walter Rohrl was behind the wheel for the sprightly lap.
While 7:40 isn't enough time to best the 7:26 from the 638 hp Corvette ZR1, it's a very impressive time nonetheless (BTW - During testing Rohrl posted a 7:45 in a borrowed Ferrari F430 Scuderia). Nissan probably isn't impressed, though, since it recently clocked the GT-R at 7:27. Well, Porsche is still calling balderdash on that claim, telling Motor Trend that the twin-turbo Nissan is only good for a time of 7:56 in stock US form. Just under eight minutes is an amazing time, but almost 30 seconds slower than reports from Nissan.
The Nissan vs. Porsche 'Ring smack-down feels as though its about to peter out, but the grudge match is almost to the point that the GT-R vs. GT3 drama should play out on premium cable. Who can we call to set this up?
Gallery: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3
[Source: Motor Trend]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
tankd0g 8:07PM (4/23/2009)
They should try putting the engine in the right place and see if that improves their time any...
Reply
dwightB 8:32PM (4/23/2009)
This made me LOL!
BrianM 11:49PM (4/23/2009)
Really shove that engine into a Cayman, do the suspension tuning on that then see what the time is. Anyone find it ironic that Porsche is having a hissy fit over the Nissan Numbers? Honestly even if the Nissan is a little off, the fact that an 80K car is anywhere near the GT3 is a bit embarrassing for Porsche. I actually own a boxster too so this is not brand loyalty or anything.
naggs 1:31AM (4/24/2009)
everyone knows nissan is bsing, im glad porsche is calling them out
tankd0g 1:35AM (4/24/2009)
And chevy must be using NOS. Couldn't possibly be Porsche's fault for using a 60 year old failed design.
Mobius_1 7:11AM (4/24/2009)
Because everyone else is doing it wrong!
And this is really an academic useless discussion/argument anyways, if I were in the market for a sub-supercar I'd totally buy a V8 Vantage rather than any of these. Or, slightly cheaper, an M3 sedan. Who really needs 0-60 in 3.5? Whose commute includes a lap of the 'Ring?
Roadkill 8:36AM (4/24/2009)
@BrianM :
price has nothing to do with it.
Most carmakers could build a supercar, then sell it at a loss and then claim it to be better than *insert favorite car brand here*, just because it is cheaper.
Not saying that is what Nissan is doing, just saying price has nothing to do with it.
Compare cars on merit, not on sticker price.
akboss302 8:39AM (4/24/2009)
Re:Mobius,
Absolutely! Aston looks 100x better, would be much more gratifying to drive everyday and over normal roads, and would still have seat-of-the-pants punch from the throaty V8. It may not make it around the 'burg in 7:30 but it would be a lot more enjoyable on the ride home.
Patrick 11:04AM (4/24/2009)
Roadkill said "Compare cars on merit, not on sticker price." That has got to be one of the dumbest statements I've read on Autoblog. Price is a huge factor in car purchasing. It is partially true that when you get to the $90k+ cars, price is less important, but as you go higher and higher, fewer people can afford the car. Nissan is showing Porsche that its cars are way overpriced and they can put out a faster car for half the price.
I want to see a televised event this summer where Porsche and Nissan battle it out on the Ring in dry weather. All the magazine comparo's I've seen so far are in cold, wet weather. I don't think using one driver for both cars is best because if he's a Porsche driver, he's accustomed to driving a certain way to fit the car. Let each mfgr bring their own test driver and prove their lap times to the public and each other. Winner gets to teabag the other.
IOMTT 9:39PM (4/26/2009)
You sir must be jealous of Porsche or something. Always a remark about "engine in wrong place". All I have to say is scoreboard! Find me another car with the competition resume of the rear engine 911 variants. Don't come back until you do. So long.
tankd0g 9:50PM (4/26/2009)
Umm, in what series does the 911 have absolute dominance in besides the ones they managed to have themselves classed alone in? Face it, the rear engine design was a bad idea, is a bad idea, and were it not for German misplaced pride it would be long gone.
Zag 6:31PM (7/10/2009)
Oh, porsche's are slow, most people knows besides porsche fans.
Aussie Holdens and Fords beat them off the line it's only the top end speed where they'd get ahead really.
porsche are known for their great breaks not go really stupidly fast cars.
Nick Vrana 8:07PM (4/23/2009)
Even IF Porsche is right, it makes them look like a winy bitch to keep going on and on about it. If you guys want to prove it, we need a reputable 3rd party driver to go out in each of the cars just off the show room floor on the same day, otherwise it will never end and I'm getting tired of hearing about it.
Reply
tankd0g 8:08PM (4/23/2009)
Rohrl is the only one that can get that time out of a 911, so Porsche would immediately cry foul.
Nick Vrana 8:31PM (4/23/2009)
Send out Rorhl in a 911 GT3, Suzuki in a GT-R, and then have Sabine Schmidt take both cars out on new tires. 5 laps per car per person.
Farris 9:12PM (4/23/2009)
I will volunteer for this arduous task.
thomas 10:45PM (4/23/2009)
not to mention neither car holds the record for the track so i don't even see why this is even an issue. why doesn't porsche aspire to bring down the Viper ACR instead of bitching about the GT-R repeatedly.
RJ 10:47PM (4/23/2009)
Or, they can just do what they accuse Nissan of doing - cheat a bit.
Put on race slicks, dial in 4 degrees of negative camber, and run the engine without an emission control.
The only way to properly settle this is: Porsche buys a random GTR, Nissan buys random Turbo / GT2 / GT3, and then use their best drivers to do a lap.
tankd0g 11:12PM (4/23/2009)
Porsche already did that RJ, and they can't drive it faster than the average German nanny.
jgp 11:55PM (4/23/2009)
A reputable third-party driver has already tested both cars.
http://magazines.drivers-republic.com/driversrepublic/thetruth030/
AutoZine has a good summary here:
http://www.autozine.org/0_News/Archive/2008_11/News.html