What do you do with a Porsche GT2, a Corvette Z06, and an abandoned aircraft runway? That's obvious: you line both cars up, nail the throttle and crown the victor. Thankfully, that's exactly what the chaps at Autocar did when they pitted the new GT2 against the Z06 on a long piece of straight pavement. No timing lights, no start/finish line, just two guys with heavy right feet and a camera crew to capture the action.
To refresh your memory, the GT2 is the hottest car currently in Porsche's inventory. Under its decklid, a 3.6-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder powerplant pumps out an impressive 530 hp and 500 lb.-ft. of torque. The Chevrolet Z06 has been in showrooms a bit longer, but nothing holds back its 7.0-liter eight-cylinder engine packing a 505 hp punch with 470 lb.-ft. of torque. Oh yeah, we should mention (before you all point it out) the German costs about twice as much as the American.
We won't tell you who wins the Porsche vs. Chevrolet battle, but we will say the contest will be significantly more "balanced" when the blokes can bring the upcoming 620 hp 2009 Corvette ZR1 to the tarmac. Thanks for the tip Mike!
Click above for high-res gallery of dressed-to-kill GT2
We've already chronicled the debut of the Porsche GT2, and shown you pics of it from the Frankfurt Motor Show, but the red one on display here at the New York Auto Show looks hotter than any other we've seen. We think it's those new factory-option black rims, but there's definitely something special about this hottest 997 offering. 530 HP from a twin-turbo version of the automaker's famous flat-six, 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, a 204-mph top speed, and 18.8 mpg makes a nice cherry on top, too. Check out the gallery and see what you think.
click above for more photos of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
Porsche is the biggest name in endurance sportscar racing worldwide, and its racing engineers plan on keeping it that way. Following the introduction of the GT3 Cup S comes a new-and-improved version of its big brother, the GT3 RSR. The most powerful 911-based racer Porsche makes, the RSR produces 465 horsepower from its 3.8-liter flat-six, and revs all the way to a 9400rpm redline. Although the engine carries over unchanged from the previous version, improvements have been made to the aerodynamics, suspension and transmission. Most visible is the new front end, with additional "flick" spoilers, enhanced air intakes and aerodynamically-optimized air outlets. The suspension offers a wider range of adjustability, and the RSR now features the six-speed sequential gearbox from the even-badder RS Spyder sports-prototype.
Despite its alphanumeric designation, the GT3 RSR actually competes in the GT2 class, where it will face stiff competition from the likes of the Corvette C6R, Ferrari F430 GT2 and the upcoming Aston Martin Vantage GT2. Thirty-five orders for the new GT3 RSR have already been placed, at nearly €350,000 apiece, and are being filled by Porsche's Weissach workshop. Check out the images in the gallery below and the press release after the jump.
Squeezing 480 HP from a 3.6L flat-six is an impressive feat, and the latest 911 Turbo does it with a level of sophistication, refinement, and reliability that would have been thought impossible just a few years ago. Everything is relative, though, and "more" is always the operative word when it comes to Porsche's GT2. So, how does one squeeze fifty additional ponies from an such a powerplant? Considering all the different challenges - emissions, durability, drivability, and fuel economy - it's certainly not an easy task. Fortunately, Porsche has no small amount of experience squeezing more power from turbocharged boxers, and that knowledge was put to good use on the new 2008 GT2.
When the dust settles at the Los Angeles auto show next month, at least 14 world debuts will have taken place, along with 30 North America unveilings. Amidst the premiers, expect to see a concept version of Hyundai's new RWD sports car (also to be shown in London), along with Nissan's restyled Murano CUV.
click above image to view updated high-res gallery of 2008 Porsche 911 GT2
We thought we had our fill of the 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 when we caught it in Frankfurt ahead of the car's official unveiling. Our live pics, as good as they are, don't do the amped-up 911 Turbo variant justice. How does one capture 530 HP and a 204 MPH top speed in pictures? Click on the gallery below that contains 34 new images to find out. Back in the '80s, these pics would have plastered our bedroom walls. Today, they're our new desktop wallpaper. Enjoy.
click above image for high-res gallery of live shots
We're a little eager for this year's 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show to start, so while attending the official soiree of media professionals at the Frankfurt Messe, we poked around until something caught our attention. That would be the 2008 Porsche GT2, the most fierce piece of hardware that Stuttgart has to offer. We already know its specs: 530 horsepower from a twin-turbo version of the automaker's famous flat-six, 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, a 204-mph top speed, and 18.8 mpg makes a nice cherry on top. Numbers on a page didn't prepare us, however, for the awesome presence of Porsche's new GT2. Take a look at the rear rolling stock, for instance, which look Viper thick at 325mm across. Actually, Vipers wear 345 in the rear, but the Porsche's rear rubber is tucked inside a much smaller derriere. Or how about those ginormous disc brakes, which we guess are carbon ceramics based on the fact the calipers were painted yellow. The seats, as well, are bolstered like a big bear hug, while being as thin as your favorite lawn chair to save weight.
We poked around the empty room in which Porsche will officially unveil the GT2 in public tomorrow, but were eventually tossed out like a used set of the GT2's rear tires. Check out the entire group of pics we managed to nab in our gallery below, before getting the big boot, that is.
From its 530 hp, low curb weight of 3,179lbs, and 204 mph top speed, the 2008 Porsche GT2 is a supercar in every sense of the word. Heck, even its €189,496 sticker places Porsche's most potent 911 in the land of the F430 and the Gallardo. Where the Ferrari and the Lamborghini can't match up against the GT2 is where it matters most, on the track. Not just any track, either. We're talking about the track by which all great sports cars are judged... the vaunted 'Ring. Porsche claims the new GT2 can lap the legendary 14-mile course in a mere 7:32, which is 10 seconds better than even the 599 GTB. That ridiculous lap time puts the GT2's average speed at over 110mph, which is just sick. Must be the Titanium exhaust. The 2008 Porsche GT2 is scheduled to appear in Frankfurt in September, and the newest 997 will hit European streets in November.
In the wake of the Porsche 911 GT2 brochure leak on Thursday, Carscoop has posted the first official images of the mighty new 'bahn-stormer. They're clearer than the ones included in the brochure sca, which you can view by click ing here. The car'sessentials break down as follows:
2008 Porsche 911 GT2
3.6-liter twin turbo flat six
530 horsepower at 5,600 rpm
505 lb.-ft. of torque from 2,200 to 4,500 rpm
0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds
0-100 mph in 7.1 seconds
Top speed of 204 mph
Curb weight:: 3,175 lbs
Titanium exhaust
6-speed manual gearbox
Launch control system
The brochure spells it all out in greater detail, but suffice to say that the new GT2 is one of the most serious sports cars to come from Porsche -- ever, and it appears to be more than worthy of the "Respect Required" tagline the automaker applies to it. Click the gallery below for the newest photos. We'll add to it as more become available.
So what's better than spy photos of the latest and greatest high-performance German iron aluminum and carbon fiber? Video, natch. Thankfully, the camera-wielding purveyor of Autoholic shot some video of the BMW E92 M3, Porsche GT2, CLK DTM Black edition and the Audi R8 doing what they do best: consuming copious quantities of the Green Hell's spray-painted tarmac. Enjoy and try to figure out what the very last vehicle in the video is. We're not entirely sure.
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