Geneva 2013: Porsche 911 GT3 revealed

It just looks perfect.

From every angle the new 991 Porsche 911 GT3 has a purposeful stance that just looks right. Simply by looking at the new GT3 it begs you to drive it.

On to the official stats for the latest 911 GT3. It has a tidy 350kW (475hp) at 8250rpm and 440Nm of torque at 6250rpm on tap from its new DFI 3.8 litre flat-six cylinder engine. That’s 15hp more than the new 911 GT3 Cup, which uses the old Mezger engine. The new GT3 sees off 100km/h in 3.5 seconds and 200km/h will be gone in under 12 seconds. It has a top speed of 315km/h.

The rear axle is 44mm wider than the 991 Carrera S. The conrods are titanium and forged pistons, just a couple of the measures that allow the 3.8 litre to rev to 9000rpm. The new 20″ wheels are made from forged alloy. The unladen weight of the GT3 is 1430kg.

As predicted there’s an active rear-wheel steering system. At speeds below 50km/h the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels, but above 80km/h the rear wheel steer in parallel to the fronts. The result, Porsche says, is a more agile and dynamic GT3.

Of course, the elephant in the room is the PDK-only transmission. The GT3 specific 7-speed box, we’re told by Andreas Preuninger (more on that here), is lightning fast—changes take less than 100 milliseconds—and more involving than a manual. There was much debate at Porsche over the merits of PDK versus manual transmission and the move to PDK wasn’t taken lightly.

For those keeping score the 2013 911 GT3 can lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes 30 seconds.

There’s more pics below with a couple of videos along the way as well. Also available is Porsche’s full Geneva Motor Show Press kit which has lost more detail on everyone’s favourite 911. Today is a very good day!

UPDATE: We can confirm the 991 911 GT3 will go on sale in Australia towards the end of this year. Pricing to be announced closer to launch.

World premiere at the International Motor Show in Geneva

Porsche celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 911 with a new GT3

Stuttgart. The sportiest 911 will have its world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show: the new Porsche 911 GT3. In the 50th anniversary year of the 911, Porsche is now set to open a new chapter in race track performance sports cars. The fifth generation of the 911 GT3, a complete new development, will take the pole position among the thoroughbred Porsche sports cars with naturally aspirated engines. Boxer engine and transmission, as well as body and chassis are completely new and constitute a further development of the 911 GT3 concept with an impressive performance leap. Power: 475 hp. Power to weight ratio: 3.0 kg/hp. Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h: in 3.5 seconds. Top speed: 315 km/h. Lap time Nürburgring Nordschleife: under 7:30 minutes. As a technical highlight, it features the first active rear wheel steering in a production Porsche. As well as the optional full LED headlights. The new 911 GT3 keeps all the successful properties of a sports car suitable for racing, with even more driving dynamics, more sophisticated practicality – and a highly emotional fun factor.

The powertrain of the new 911 GT3 is composed of a 3.8-liter boxer engine yielding 475 hp (350 kW) at 8.250 rpm, a Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK) and a high-traction rear-wheel drive. The six-cylinder engine is based on the same engine as the 911 Carrera S, although they share only few common parts. All other components, particularly the crankshaft and valve gear, were specially adapted or designed for the GT3. For instance, Porsche designed titanium connecting rods and forged pistons. The basic modifications set the stage for an extremely high-speed engine that reaches up to 9.000 rpm. The Porsche dual-clutch transmission was also specially developed; the characteristics are directly based on a sequential gearbox from motor racing, thereby providing further performance and dynamics advantages to the driver.

For the first time, Porsche is using active rear wheel steering in order to achieve even higher precision and lateral dynamics. Depending on the speed, it steers in the same or opposite direction of the front wheels, improving stability and agility. Other new modules improving driving dynamics are the electronically controlled, fully variable rear differential lock, and the dynamic engine mounts. The newly developed all-aluminium chassis can still be adjusted by height, toe and camber. Contact with the road is made by the new 20-inch forged alloy wheels with central locking.

The 911 GT3 is based on the light, yet stuff body of the current generation 911 Carrera in hybrid steel-aluminium construction, however, it comes with independent front and rear parts. In addition, the 911 GT3 is 44 millimetres wider than a 911 Carrera S in the area of the rear axle. Another clear recognition feature is again the large, fixed rear wing. This makes a decisive contribution to the exemplary aerodynamics of the new 911 GT3, which combines low air resistance with even more power.

As a result, the new 911 GT3 sets new performance records. At full acceleration from standstill, the 100 km/h mark is breached after 3.5 seconds, and 200 km/h are reached in less than twelve seconds. The top speed is 315 km/h in the seventh, top gear of the completely newly adapted PDK transmission. The lap time on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, which the new 911 GT3 manages in under 7:30 minutes, is even more impressive.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 will be launched on the market from August 2013 on, and will cost in Germany 137,303 Euro including VAT and national specifications.

Download

• Porsche press kit—2013 Geneva Motor Show (128kb PDF)