Autoblog

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Porsche

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Enough with the leaks and speculation. Here it is. The 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0. The ultimate naturally aspirated 911 and the 997's motorsports-infused swan-song.

As the name would suggest, this latest limited-edition 911 packs a 4.0-liter flat-six derived from the 911 GT3 RSR racer, complete with forged pistons, titanium connecting rods and a crankshaft pulled directly from its track-bred descendent. The result is the most powerful normally aspirated 911 to date, with 500 horsepower peaking at 8,250 rpm and maximum torque - 339 pound-feet - coming in at 5,750 rpm.

That massive engine partnered with a host of lightweight kit (carbon fiber buckets, front fenders, luggage compartment lid and "weight-optimized" carpets) allows the 2,998-pound (wet, mind) GT3 RS 4.0 to run to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, crack 124 mph in less than 12 seconds and top out at 193 mph.

A six-speed manual is the only gearbox available and the Carrara (their spelling) White paint comes standard, along with central twin exhausts, massive rear wing and the first production application of air deflection vanes on both sides of the front bumper (dubbed "flics") to improve stability and exert an extra 426 pounds of downforce at speed.

And before you ask, the RS 4.0 ran the Nürburgring in 7 minutes and 27 seconds, putting it in contention for one of the fastest production cars ever run around the Nordschleife.

If you've got $185,000 laying around in your hedge fund, get your orders in now. Only 600 will be produced when sales begin later this year. Full details in the press blast after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Continue reading 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Next-gen Porsche GT3 to ditch manual transmission, rear-engine layout and KERS?

Noah Joseph — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Technology, Porsche, Rumormill

2010 Porsche 911 GT3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Remember simpler times when transmissions came in two flavors? Choosing a manual or an automatic was a straightforward decision: enthusiasts took the manual, commuters took the automatic. The emergence of in-between options like sequential and dual-clutch gearboxes may make it easier if you're an enthusiast who also has to commute, but what does it mean when these robotized transmissions shift faster and smoother than any set of human limbs could ever hope to?

That debate will rage for years to come, but when it comes to one of the world's purest driving machines, we could have our answer right here. According to reports circulating the interwebs, the next-generation Porsche 911 GT3 could lose the choice of a manual altogether, replaced by the PDK dual-clutch transmission. (Of course the stick could, mind you, come back for the yet more hardcore GT3 RS should enthusiasts object.)

That one bit will be enough to have purists up in arms, but that's not the end of it. An enthusiast on the Rennlist forum citing high-up Porsche sources also claims the GT3 will pack a 4.0-liter flat-six with some 480 horsepower on tap and nearly 200 fewer pounds to schlepp around. Purists may also take exception to the point that the engine is slated to move forward from its trademark position behind the rear axle to a more optimal mid-engine layout.

Finally, notions of a streetable implementation of the Williams-developed regenerative braking system from the GT3 R Hybrid is apparently off the table as well - at least for the GT3, anyway. Guess a hybrid, robotic-clutched, mid-engined GT3 would be one step too far, even for the people who came up with the Porsche Cayenne.

Gallery: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3

[Source: Rennlist via 0-60]

Rumormill: Next-gen Porsche GT3 to ditch manual transmission, rear-engine layout and KERS? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche 911 GT3 R debuts at Autosport International

Noah Joseph — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Porsche, Misc. Auto Shows, UK, Racing

2010 Porsche 911 GT3 R - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you think the Porsche 911 is a common sight at country clubs and law firm parking lots, that's nothing compared to the ubiquity of Neunelferen that dominate the race track. And this is the latest.

Replacing last year's GT3 Cup S, the new GT3 R was initially released back in November, but is now set to make its public debut at the Autosport International racing car show in Birmingham, England. Stripped down and track-tuned, the GT3 R is a pure racing machine, with a 4.0-liter flat-six driving 480 horsepower through a six-speed sequential transmission to the rear wheels.

It's been homologated to FIA GT3 regulations, so expect to see it dicing with the GT3-spec likes of the Alpina B6, Reiter Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Audi R8 LM and upcoming BMW Z4 - to name just a few - on race tracks around the world once the racing season gets off to a start.

Follow the jump for more details and info on Porsche's racing program in the UK, and check out the images in the revised gallery below for all the angles.

Gallery: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 R

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche 911 GT3 R debuts at Autosport International

Porsche 911 GT3 R debuts at Autosport International originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Epic custom Chevy SSR thinks it's a Porsche GT3

Noah Joseph — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Truck, Europe, Chevrolet, Porsche, Specialty

Chevrolet SSR with a Porsche complex - Click above for image gallery

If you like Porsche sportscars, may we suggest that you avert your eyes. Ironically, we'd still recommend the same if you aren't a fan of Stuttgart's Cayenne. Because if you thought that Porsche having an SUV was tough to swallow, that ain't nothin' compared to what's been done to this Chevrolet SSR.

Outfitted with the wheels, brakes and what appears to be a number of interior pieces from the Porsche 911 GT3, this particular SSR seems to be suffering from something of an identity crisis. (We dare not ask what the donor Porsche came away looking like). But that's not all: the owner appears to have made some unique modifications to the body as well, including a whale's mouth (ostensibly in, um... "tribute" to the GT3's whale tail spoiler, which rather surprisingly has not been fitted to the Chevy's bed cover) and rather small (presumably high-intensity discharge) headlamps.

If you're wondering when you might happen upon the unique creature, this mod job is far away from U.S. roads in Rügland, Germany, and comes to us via the magic of the internet. You're welcome. However, it can actually be yours for one easy payment of $105,000. No, we're not kidding. But if you're actually contemplating dropping that much cash on something like this, perhaps you might consider letting us steer you towards greener pastures, like, perhaps a genuine Porsche?

Gallery: Custom Chevrolet SSR GT3

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Epic custom Chevy SSR thinks it's a Porsche GT3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pavlov's Bell: Porsche reveals, prices new 911 GT3 Cup racer ahead of Frankfurt debut

Noah Joseph — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Porsche

2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup - Click above for high-res image gallery

On any given weekend, Porsche GT3 Cup cars are racing on circuits around the world. It's a trackside fixture, and just about anybody seriously competing in sports car racing at some point gets behind the wheel of the GT3 Cup. There are countless series and racing classes set up around the globe just for this car - and Porsche has just released a new version.

Based on the upgraded 911 GT3 RS, the GT3 Cup gets a host of enhancements for track use. The bodywork is wider, it sits lower, it's got more downforce, a competition-spec exhaust, racing wheels housed in flared wheel wells, firmer suspension settings and more - all to improve the most hardcore 911's competition capabilities. There's also a new steering wheel with controls mounted on the fascia and hooked up to a full adjustable column, while the Supercup version, used for F1 support races, comes with carbon-ceramic brakes.

The 3.8-liter 450 horsepower flat-six carries over from the street-legal GT3 RS, but even that is bigger and more powerful than the GT3 Cup it replaces. You can order it in any color you want, as long as it's white, and it'll set you (or your team) back 150,000 euros - about $215k - minus loose change. The new GT3 Cup is a confirmed debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, and we'll be there to reel off some live photos for your enjoyment, but in the meantime, you can scope out the full details in the press release after the jump and the high-res images in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Pavlov's Bell: Porsche reveals, prices new 911 GT3 Cup racer ahead of Frankfurt debut

Pavlov's Bell: Porsche reveals, prices new 911 GT3 Cup racer ahead of Frankfurt debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spotted running wild: Porsche GT3 RS in SoCal

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 15 May 2009 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Porsche

Porsche 911 GT3 RS running wild - Click above for high-res images

Typically when we're photographing cars for a review, we pick a location where we'll be largely be left undisturbed. Last week was a bit different since I was in Southern California on business rather than my usual Michigan home. While shooting a press car at a spot overlooking the Pacific, I heard a loud growl approaching up the canyon road. I turned around just in time to catch a couple of shots of a Porsche 911 GT3 RS being exercised as its creators intended rather than just cruising in the hands of some South Beach or Hollywood poseur.

While California has its share of issues with fires, land slides, earthquakes, drought and on and on, there are some upsides to the region. The area northwest of Los Angeles is filled with mountains and canyons sprinkled with some of the most amazing driving roads on this planet. I've been fortunate enough to drive some great cars in this region over the past several years but nothing quite like GT3 RS. There wasn't a radar gun handy, but this particular Porsche was traveling at a rate slightly higher than the posted speed limit.

A very fortunate driver and passenger indeed.

Gallery: Spotted running wild: Porsche GT3 RS

Spotted running wild: Porsche GT3 RS in SoCal originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 May 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Walter Röhrl wrings out the 2010 Porsche GT3

Chris Shunk — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:33:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Porsche

Walter Röhrl drives better than you can. In fact, he drives better than most people presently walking this Earth. The rally legend and Porsche test driver recently took the 435 hp Porsche GT3 and lapped the 'Ring in a blistering 7:40. Now he's tossing the track-ready 911 variant on video for all to see. Hit the jump to watch Mr. Röhrl show the 2010 911 GT3 who's boss. It's too bad we can't switch off the underwhelming promo music so we can focus in on the beautiful noises emanating from the GT3's tailpipe, but Röhrl's handiwork more than makes up for it.

Gallery: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Walter Röhrl wrings out the 2010 Porsche GT3

VIDEO: Walter Röhrl wrings out the 2010 Porsche GT3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2009: All-new(ish) 2010 Porsche 911 GT3

Noah Joseph — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:39:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Porsche

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2010 Porsche 911 GT3

The great thing about being Porsche - you know, aside from making Cayenne-loads of money and buying enormous companies like Volkswagen - is that you've always got another new model to unveil. The 911 range alone spawns an endless succession of derivatives, and just when they're done with one generation, they give it some new headlights and bore out the flat-six and presto! A brand new 911, and all the variants thereof. The latest, which Porsche unveiled here at the Geneva Motor Show, is one of the more hardcore versions. The new GT3 packs a 435-hp naturally-aspirated 3.8-liter boxer six that can rocket the Teutonic terror to 60 mph in a tick over four seconds. Be warned: This is a driving-focused package geared more towards enthusiasts than country-club goers. Decked out in bright red with a giant rear wing and more vents than an air-conditioner factory, the new GT3 looked every bit the business at the back of Porsche's Geneva show stand. See for yourself in the gallery of live, high-resolution photos below, with stock shots in the gallery below that and all the details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3

Gallery: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3

Continue reading Geneva 2009: All-new(ish) 2010 Porsche 911 GT3

Geneva 2009: All-new(ish) 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: New Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Noah Joseph — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Porsche

With the coupe, cabrio, targa and turbo variants of the latest Porsche 911 already out on the road, Zuffenhausen is preparing similar updates for its flyweight road rocket, the GT3 RS. Test mules have been spotted roaming the French alps, which in this season would probably be the last place we'd want to drive a rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive track car. But then we're not zany German engineers, now are we?

We can expect that the latest 911 GT3 RS will receive the same updates as its brethren (including the Turbo's LED light strips up front) and be updated with the retro decal stripe and badge graphic down the quarter panel, plus colored wheels, contrasting wing-mirror housings, a big rear wing and an interior roll cage. A carbon fiber rear wing and hood plus a plastic rear window will help keep the weight down versus the conventional 911 Carrera, which should help the new RS hustle to 60 in a scant four seconds flat.

[Source: Wheels24.co.za via German Car Blog]

Spy Shots: New Porsche 911 GT3 RS originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Nissan GT-R vs BMW M3 vs Porsche 911 GT3

Chris Shunk — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Supercars, BMW, Nissan, Porsche, First Drives

Britain's Autocar hit the track with the BMW M3, Nissan GT-R, and Porsche 911 GT3 to see which of the musclebound sports cars could best its immediate competition, and they captured the three-way face-off on video. There's been plenty of GT-R vs. Porsche chatter since the Nissan's launch, but how would Bimmer's latest juggernaut fare against a tag-team of the GT-R and Zuffenhausen's latest road carver? We're not going to spoil it for you. Follow the jump to see if Godzilla devours Germany or if Nissan's monster is repelled by the defensive outposts in Munich or Stuttgart.

Gallery: Nissan GT-R (US-spec)

Gallery: 2008 BMW M3

Gallery: 2007 Porsche 911 GT3

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Nissan GT-R vs BMW M3 vs Porsche 911 GT3

VIDEO: Nissan GT-R vs BMW M3 vs Porsche 911 GT3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autocross carnage - GT3 takes out a WRX, Celica GT, A3

Chris Tutor — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:34:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Porsche

I've been to several SCCA Autocross events, run in a couple, and can proudly say the most damage I've seen consists of a dirt-filled grille and a flat tire. But the SCCA folks don't make you sign those release forms and wear those cool hair-pulling bracelets for nothing.

No, the very reason you sign away any right to compensation recently happened at an AutoX competition in Oregon. After running the first three times in his Porsche 911 GT3, that car's owner handed the keys to a friend for the fourth run.

At the end of that fateful fourth run, driven, we remind you, by the owner's "friend," the clutch was depressed instead of the brake. Yeah.

The $100k+ Porsche slammed into and bounced off of a Toyota Celica GT and then hit a Subaru WRX which took out an Audi A3. While the Celica was a competitor's car (owned, ironically, by the safety steward who laid out the course), the A3 and Subaru owners were just spectators.

It's hard to tell how this one will turn out, but discussion in the VWVortex forum is questioning the safety of the course design, but also bringing up safety issues at Portland International Raceway. Thankfully no one was injured. Not that we know of, anyway. However, if one of my friends wrecked my GT3, well...

Check out the gallery as well as the continuing discussion at VWVortex.

Thanks for the tip, TGM3!

Gallery: Porsche GT3 takes A3, Celica, WRX

Autocross carnage - GT3 takes out a WRX, Celica GT, A3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Six Days with the Porsche GT3

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 12:53:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Porsche

To say that I was smitten after seeing the 997 variant of the GT3 in person yesterday is a bit of an understatement. It's pure functionality as only Porsche can deliver. So when you put two of my favorite things together - the GT3 and DJ Shadow - I've got to share. The soundtrack accompanying the video is part of Shadow's live set, Live: In Tune and On Time, performed during his tour promoting the Private Press.

Enjoy! I already have numerous times.

VIDEO: Six Days with the Porsche GT3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TGIF: Porsche launches GT3 minisite

Stuart Waterman — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Geneva Motor Show

Now here's something to brighten up your Friday cubicle-time - Porsche just fired up a minisite dedicated to the new GT3. The car officially debuts at the Geneva Motor Show, but all the info is now up on Porsche's website, including very entertaining video of Porsche factory race driver Lucas Luhr, who will drive the Porsche LMP2 prototype in the American Le Mans Series this year, hot-lapping the GT3 (screenshot above). (Warning: the sound track may not be worksafe. If you're at home, crank it up! Broadband highly recommended.)

The site has links to the usual static studio photos of the GT3, but the video of the car on the racetrack is really what it's all about - enjoy!

Thanks for the tip, Paul!

TGIF: Porsche launches GT3 minisite originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Feb 2006 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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