There is always one version of the factory built Porsche 911s that stands head and shoulders above the rest of its backwards engineered brethren. There are some fans of the Stuttgart based sports car manufacturer that prefer the acceleration and grip of a Porsche 911 Turbo which can make any driver look like Sir Walter Rohl; or the wild power of the rear wheel drive only GT2. However you will see seasoned racers behind the wheel of a high revving naturally aspirated Carrera wearing a very racy GT3 badge. This last version of the 911 offers true racetrack performance in a street car and it just got a much beefier RS iteration. In fact the new GT3 RS will take over homologation duties from the slightly lesser car. That is because Porsche has bumped up the displacement resulting in an extra 15 HP, the flat six now makes a Honda poking 118 HP per liter. If there is a reason why you don’t see turbo 911s in competition, this is it.
Porsche engineers have also adapted the Porsche Active Stability Management to work with the track day special RS and widened the car’s track underneath both in front and in back. The GT3 RS wears a set of 245 tires up front and 325 series (12 inches) tires in the back to get the 450 HP to the pavement, both are wrapped around a set of color matching 19 inch wheels. The RS is exclusively shifted via a six speed manual, in this case the gears have been shortened to work with the broader power curve to produce incredible acceleration.
The RS also features a set of high tech dynamic engine mounts that depending on driving conditions, change their stiffness enhancing the link between the engine and chassis under extreme circumstances. Even the battery has become a 21st century item. Replacing the standard unit with a lightweight lithium ion unit that sheds around 22 lbs from the 911’s curb weight. Speaking of lightweight materials, no high performance machine would be complete without a little of the black wavy stuff and the RS is no different. The rather large rear wing is made of carbon fiber while the uprights are made out of strengthened aluminum and the exhaust is made from some pretty exotic titanium. The RS will go on sale in Germany next January with a base price of 122,400 euro, before taxes.
PRESS RELEASE
New Porsche 911 GT3 RS
The Most Sporting Road-Going 911
Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is sending the new 911 GT3 RS to the starting line: Delivering even more engine power, offering lower weight, and featuring shorter transmission ratios as well as body and suspension elements upgraded to an even higher standard, the new 911 GT3 RS sets the foundation for homologating the racing version of the 911 GT3 and therefore offers everything it takes for ongoing success on the race track, continuing the series of absolutely uncompromising, sporting 911s homologated for the road.
The heart of the new 911 GT3 RS, the power unit, is based on the engine already featured in the 911 GT3. Like the latter, the RS power unit now displaces 3.8 instead of 3.6 litres, delivering even more power and revving up even faster and more dynamically.
The engine featured in the new 911 GT3 RS delivers 15 bhp more than its counterpart in the 911 GT3, that is maximum output of 450 horsepower from the fast-revving naturally-aspirated power unit. This means specific output of more than 118 bhp per litre from the six-cylinder, an extremely high figure for natural-aspiration technology even in the strictest worldwide comparison. And unlike many other high-performance engines, the power unit in the new 911 GT3 RS remains fully suitable for everyday use.
The new 911 GT3 RS comes exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox optimised for short gearshift travel, low weight and high efficiency. To enhance the level of performance throughout the entire range of engine and road speed, the gears come with a shorter transmission ratio than on the 911 GT3, deliberately making concessions in terms of even higher top speed.
To further improve its sporting behaviour, the new 911 GT3 RS comes for the first time with a purpose-built and specially set up PASM suspension, with wider track not only at the rear, but also on the front axle. Accordingly, the body of the new 911 GT3 RS is wider not only at the rear, but also at the front through the use of additional wheel arch covers.
The front axle comes with nine-inch-wide wheels running on 245/35 ZR 19 sports tyres, the rear axle features twelve-inch-wide wheels incorporating 325/30 ZR 19 sports tyres.
The dynamic engine mounts featured as standard also serve to improve the car’s driving dynamics to an even higher level. Depending on driving conditions, the mounts change in their stiffness and damping effect, improving the connection between the engine and the body when driving under very dynamic conditions.
As yet a further point the car’s aerodynamics develop even more downforce than on the GT3, again benefiting the qualities of the car on the race track. Racing qualities are also why Porsche is introducing another new option in 2010, a lithium-ion battery delivered with the car and, replacing the conventional lead battery, reducing weight by more than 10 kg or 22 lb.
The new 911 GT3 RS shows its close connection to motorsport also through the dynamic looks of the car borne out in particular by its low ride height, the new, extra-large carbon-fibre rear wing with its specifically designed wing supports made of aluminium, the characteristic dual tailpipes on the extra-light titanium sports exhaust, as well as special front and rear parts exclusive to this model.
Sales of the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS are starting in Germany in January 2010. The Euro base-price is Euro 122,400.- without value-added tax and national specifications.
