Frankfurt 2009: Porsche 911 GT3 RS goes 180 mph before coming to the show [w/VIDEO]
2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS - click above image to watch the video
"You don't go from A to B -- you drive around in circles." So says Andreas Preuninger Manager of High Performance Cars at Porsche. First -- YES -- we want his job. Second, our buddy JF took a video camera into the Porsche 911 GT3 RS and went 180 mph on die Autobahn with Andreas at the wheel. This was






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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TonyInMI 12:30PM (9/16/2009)
Nasty colors. Nasty wing. Nasty rear-engine design! Cayman is AWESOME!
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PiCASSO 1:14PM (9/16/2009)
Agreed... I really hate this paintjob. Reminds of what kids used to do with the $500 Corollas and a few cans of spray paint.
skant 3:58PM (9/16/2009)
i love the paint job...really well done
Jsingleton17 12:32PM (9/16/2009)
So, when you guys get Andreas Preuninger's job can I work at Autoblog?????
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zamafir 12:35PM (9/16/2009)
I read the title and was like 'so what, grab an R8 V10, 180 on the autobahn isn't hard, especially when there are less people on it'.
Then the vid. 180, at night, in a car that raw, that geared towards tracks? completely different and wonderful.
Thanks, now I miss the autobahn again.
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Khanh 12:37PM (9/16/2009)
Clicking on the picture does not lead me to the article; it just leads me to the main Home page. But cool video! =)
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Pat 12:41PM (9/16/2009)
"Manager of High Performance Cars at Porsche"...as opposed to that of "Low" performance porsche's? Is the line drawn at engine in the wrong place, too many doors, sell-out cars, 911's, or GT#'s?
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CromulantMan 12:44PM (9/16/2009)
according to the video the car was going about 180 KPH...not MPH...big difference...180 KPH is only about 111 MPH...and while that's still a very fun speed to be driving around in car hours before it's suppose to go to an autoshow...it's very different than if it was actually going 180 MPH
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DJKronik57 12:52PM (9/16/2009)
Perhaps you didn't see the 280kph on the speedometer?
ack154 12:57PM (9/16/2009)
What video were you watching? I definitely saw 280 kph.
CromulantMan 1:00PM (9/16/2009)
ok i'll watch it again but all i remember seeing was around 156 KPH on the speedometer
CromulantMan 1:02PM (9/16/2009)
i guess i must have blinked the first time but yeah...280 KPH...damn...
Andre Neves 12:59PM (9/16/2009)
TonyInMI,
Very ignorant response.
You have NO idea what these cars are like.
I was lucky enough to work for a Porsche dealer for several years and had the oportunity to drive almost every car on their line other than the Carrera GT. I've driven the 997 GT2, GT3s, & GT3RS' and can tell you that there is almost nothing like it. It is one of the most well balanced cars i've ever had the pleasure of driving. Our first GT3 actually was taken by a gentleman who traded in an F430.
The GT3/RS' drive like they're on rails...seriously. The engine response from the all-motor 6 is telepathic. The car feels like it's connected to your body somehow.
As for the Cayman. It is a great car, feels very agile and quick like a Boxster. BUT, it's not a GT3. Sure the mid-engine layout gives the car it's driving characteristics, but you have to remember the 911 has been perfected through several generations since the past couple of decades. It is one of the most driver-oriented vehicles being sold, which is why they have such a customer-loyal following. A following most others will not understand because they haven't had the experience.
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Jsingleton17 1:11PM (9/16/2009)
I think he meant those remarks in a positive way.
BoxerFanatic 3:59PM (9/16/2009)
Agreed with Andre...
But somewhat, I do agree with a bit of the sentiment of pro-Cayman TonyInMI.
Porsche obviously has the hardware, and the know-how. I agree with all of Andre's qualitative commentary, although my experience isn't nearly as broad as his.
But if you take all of those positives, the telepathic NA engine response, the chassis tuning, the feedback, and all of that...
... and put it in a shorter, lighter, more inherently balanced mid-engined layout car, with the rigidity of a solid roof, hence being a Cayman...
Would that not be just one more mark in the positive attribute column?
How I wish Porsche would build that car. Not to denegrate the 911 line's history, nor it's current quality... I personally quite like BOTH lines of boxer-powered Porsches.
But for a 911, with +2 seating, and the longer body, more weight, and more comfort... I would probably go with an AWD Carrera 4S, or maybe a Turbo, and take more of a grand touring tack.
That being kind of ironic considering that the harder core sports car variants of the 911 lineup are GT3 and GT2, where the Turbo, Turbo S, Carrera 2 and 4, and their S designates, are more grand-touring capable, more comfortable real-world cars, even with all of their performance cred.
Honestly, if I were going for a track-ready street sports car, the Cayman makes more sense, from a chassis-up standpoint, other than the fact that Porsche refuses to let Cayman eclipse Carrera's performance levels.
Honestly, take the Cayman, and apply all the same things from a GT3 street, or a GT3 RS, or heck, even just the 380+ Carrera S grade 3.8 engine (or tuned up to 911 Sport Classic's 403hp)...
and tell me that the Cayman's lighter weight, more compact and inherently balanced layout would do worse than the 997 chassis, all else being equal.
The Cayman in such guise would probably embarrass a lot of other vehicles, both with bigger engines, bigger price-tags, or both, and would probably show up big sister 997 a bit, and Porsche just doesn't want to do that. I understand desire to preserve tradition, but Porsche used to be willing to push any advantage, on the street or the race track.
But as an enthusiast, and putting myself theoretically into the shoes of someone who would use a GT3 for it's intended street/track purposes, as a hard-edge sports car, not a road-biased Grand Touring performance car... The theoretical cayman 2-seater mid-engined car seems like a technically better-yet candidate, if it were to be competition prepped, like GT3 is, with it's higher engine output.
audi_arena 1:15PM (9/16/2009)
Thank you, AB for giving me an erection while at work.
This is officially in my top 5 most coveted cars
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Mike 1:41PM (9/16/2009)
I wonder if you can spec it without the stupid paintjob, just white or orange would do just fine for me
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AceyMan 2:00PM (9/16/2009)
If I had to get a 911, this would be it. The one I saw a few weeks ago was in a bright green with black graphics and it was really racy looking. I've heard good things about 911 on the track, too (a friend has had a few... sigh).
Don't love the grey and red, though...
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N 3:02PM (9/16/2009)
"Honey... I think I need to trade in the Porsche ... for a new one."
slap!
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bee1000 3:57PM (9/16/2009)
Eh, needs more stickers.
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