Dan Prosser from Evo magazine presents a very intriguing challenge here by pitting a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS against a BMW i8 on the track.
We’ll let the cat out of the bag early, the i8 couldn’t match the 911 for outright lap times. In fact, it’s not even close. But can the i8 match the 911 for laughs and entertainment? Beyond that, is the i8 a serious dynamic competitor for the 911?
You’ll have to watch the video to find out.
The latest model in the 991 911 rollout is upon us, the Carrera GTS. It’s the second time Porsche has released a Carrera GTS and this time it’s available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations.
If you missed the memo back in 2010, the GTS sits between the Carrera S and the GT3. All GTS models boast the wide body of the Carrera 4, and are complemented by 20″ matt black alloys.
Peak power from the 3.8 litre flat six is up to 316kW, which is 22kW more than you get in a Carrera S and 34kW less than a GT3. With a 7-speed PDK fitted to a GTS coupé you’ll knock off 100km/h in 4.0 seconds. You can also buy your GTS with a 7-speed manual gearbox if you wish.
Australian deliveries will start in Februray next year, although you can order now if you wish. List pricing starts at $268,700 for a manual Carrera 2 GTS and tops out at $312,690 for a Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet with a PDK transmission (see full price list below for more detail).
The next model on the 911 rank is the Carrera GTS. That mashed up looking thing above is it, apparently. We rather liked the old one, so let’s hope Porsche gets it right again. We’ve no reason to doubt they won’t.
Designed to bridge the gap between the Carrera S and the GT3, this new GTS will take the 3.8 litre flat six from the S and give it a bit more power (expect around 315kW, up from 294kW), but not as much as the GT3 (which has 350kW).
The last model was rear-wheel drive only but there’s a suggestion this new model could be all-wheel drive—which we’re not so sure about—and that it could also get a manual transmission. Hmm, that doesn’t seem to follow Porsche’s recent trend either, but we’d like it if PDK got to remain on the option list of at least one upper-end 911.
It’s expected the GTS will be on sale sometime next year and will also bring with it a cosmetic facelift, some of which will carry over across the entire 911 range. Just the usual nip and tuck, new lights and body kit etc. If you can’t wait that long then you’ll be pleased to learn there’s a chance the facelifted 911 and GTS could appear on the show car circuit before 2014 is done and dusted.
One thing that is new is the appearance of centrally mounted exhaust tips. Yes, the GT3 has those, but not like the ones on this test mule, which are a bit more spread apart (see below). More pics, including a Cabrio prototype, can be seen by following the source link, as well.
[Source: World Car Fans | Thanks to John for the tip]
A while back I arranged with a mate in Melbourne to test his 997 Porsche 911 GT3 for AUSmotive. Then, a couple of weeks before I arrived he did something stupid and traded it in. True story! But it’s okay, because he managed to come up with what I soon discovered was a worthy substitute. As the title suggests it was a 911 Carrera GTS.
Only thing was, I was sworn to secrecy for a time, for a number of reasons which I shan’t bore you with here. The test took place late at night, actually it was probably early morning, and it was all a bit The Fast and the Furious. It was quite exciting. And that’s even before I’d set eyes on the car.
You see, due in part to being based in Canberra, it’s not that easy for AUSmotive to arrange access to press cars. You also have to remember that this humble website isn’t exactly the first thought that comes to mind of those handing out the keys. Least of all the no doubt lovely and sincere folk at Porsche Cars Australia. (Do you think they’re reading?) So, with grace and great appreciation I have to strike when opportunity presents.
Enough background, time to share. This test would be my first 911 experience. Indeed, it was my first Porsche experience. I was anxious, excited and just a little bit nervous.
Porsche has made the shock discovery that 0.01% of the sportscar market has been left unattended. Fear not, they are about to release the 408hp 911 Carrera GTS. This seems like the fifty-seventh variation of the 911 offered by Porsche and they say it is designed to close the gap from the regular Carrera to the GT3.
The GTS will make its worldwide premiere in Paris very soon and you can read all about it after the break.