Just 500 examples of the Porsche 911 GT2 RS will be made and if you don’t have your name down for one you are too late. Porsche is proudly boasting that all examples of its 620ho supercar are now sold. That means your best chance to see one right now is to go to the Australian International Motor Show where there is a stunning red example on the Porsche stand.
This Audi R8 was recently photographed at a service station near the Nürburgring in Germany. It’s a bit of an odd one. Are those red markings on the body work part disguise, or part bad taste? Is that lower front splitter an aftermarket add-on, or a work in progress? Are they really new exhaust exits up high, coming straight from the engine bay? Speaking of which, could there be an even more powerful V10 underneath that plastic engine cover?
But, a bigger question remains; is there really scope for yet another, driver focused, iteration of the R8 given Audi has already give us the R8 GT? Maybe this could be a rear-wheel drive only beast to take it up to the Porsche GT2 RS.
So, we have a lot of questions about this car, let’s hope Audi has some answers for us soon.
[Source: Auto Express | Pics: autoscoop.biz]
UPDATE: Word on the tweet says this car may simply be an MTM development prototype, rather than Audi being up to any new tricks. I thought there were too many unanswered questions on this one.
Ford Australia have just confirmed they will be bringing the Focus RS down under. If you want to play with Ford’s extreme hatch you will need to pony up $59,990 plus on road fees and charges. It will be available in three colours; Ultimate Green, Performance Blue and Frozen White. The introduction of the Focus RS to Australia will be limited to 315 cars. All signs currently point to an October release date.
Marin Burela, Ford Australia President, expressed his excitement at today’s news, “Customers, the motoring press, Ford enthusiasts and hot hatch fans have all been constantly asking us about Focus RS and when it might be coming to Australia, so we’re very pleased and incredibly excited to be able to confirm for everyone today that it’s on its way and will be here soon.”
In case you had already consigned the hype about the RS as yesterday’s news, it is powered by a 224kW 2.5 litre turbocharged five cylinder Duratec engine. There’s a gobsmacking 440Nm of torque on offer, as well. Powered by the front wheels only, Ford have tried to reign in that power by fitting the RS with a fancy “RevoKnuckle†MacPherson strut set up in conjunction with a Quaife limited slip diff.
At its launch early last year the Focus RS was attracting plenty of attention from the UK motoring journos, including Jason Plato from Fifth Gear and Steve Sutcliffe from Autocar. Even Mark Webber has had his say.
So, what do you think; has the moment passed for the two-year old RS? Is it’s $10K premium over the all-wheel drive Golf R too much to ask? Is that Ultimate Green paint job having a laugh, or could you see yourself behind the wheel of this extrovert?
Ford’s full press release is available after the break. Further information can be found in the UK sales brochure, which can be downloaded in PDF format HERE (724kb).
Chris Harris from Evo has just filed a report on the stonking Porsche 911 GT2 RS. He’s rated it five stars. Sure, he might be a bit of a Porsche fanboi at heart, but here’s how he explains his thoughts, “This is a remarkable car. Veyron aside, it’s the fastest road car I’ve driven – but it’s completely useable and it still involves you in the process. Want.”
Make sure you follow the link below for the full review. There’s at least one GT2 RS coming to Australia, too. It will be in the calm guiding hands of Jim Richards. He’s selling not one, but three race-prepped 911s to help pay for it—I bags the 997 GT3 RS!
[Source: EVO]
The fabulous 620bhp Porsche 911 GT2 RS made its public debut at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed. In this video (available below) Andreas Preuninger, Manager of High Performance Vehicles for Porsche, talks us through some of the things that make the GT2 RS so special.
[via The German Car Blog]
Posted on the teamspeed forum today is some official looking text that appears to be a press release for the 911 GT2 RS. The info states the GT2 RS is the most powerful street Porsche ever and looks to be sourced via Porsche US. According to the text the key points are:
We shall have to wait and see if this leak forces Porsches hand to release info sooner than they hoped. Although, it was expected official confirmation of the GT2 RS would come this week anyway. Let’s see how legit this info is. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is bang on the money.
More news emerged last week on the next Porsche 911 GT2 model. It now appears the next GT2 will also be bestowed with the RS badge. However, it is understood there will be no “lesser” model bearing just the GT2 nameplate. It’s GT2 RS or bust, it would seem.
With an expected power rating of 600bhp 620bhp from its 3.8 litre twin-turbo engine the GT2 RS should hit 100km/h in the low-mid 3 seconds range. Torque should be out of this world, offering blistering in-gear acceleration, as well.
The GT2 RS shares many components with the GT3 RS. So there’s a wider track up front and centre-lock alloys will also be used on the GT2 RS. Of course, it’s a GT2, so that means rear-wheel drive only. Best keep that right foot in check.
Official details on the GT2 RS are expected from Porsche soon. Perhaps as soon as the car laps the Nürburgring Nordschleife in its target lap time of 7 minute 22 second. Finally, then, Porsche will have a Nissan GT-R beater.
More pics over at the Car magazine website, and there’s also a brief video available below.
[Source: Car]
UPDATE: Over at the teamspeed.com it has been revealed the GT2 RS was previewed at an exclusive function in Leipzig last week. According to the info posted the GT2 RS will be 90kg lighter than the current 997.1 GT2. The new RS version will be limited to 300 cars and official details could be revealed by Porsche later this week. An extra image of the GT2 RS from the preview event can be seen below.
Mention the model name Porsche 911 GT3 to any car person and chances are they’ll start to go weak at the knees. Add two more letters to that model, namely RS (for Renn Sport) and you’ll complete the task of turning an otherwise sane looking person into a drooling mess. The RS is the quintessential road and track weapon. Well, the quintessential German road and track weapon, at the very least.
So, then, what better way than to have all that explained to you by a Scottish bloke driving around the Porsche Experience UK test facility in England. You can see said video after the jump, and as an added bonus you will also see an extensive range of RS models, starting right back with the original 1970s version and finishing off with the latest 997.2 iteration. Ladies and gentlemen, start your downloads.
Audi have sprung a very nice surprise for fans of the TT RS. Originally due here early next year, they’ve managed to unwrap a few examples in time for Christmas. Nice work!
If you dig this car you’ll know all about it, so you don’t need me to remind you about the angry sound produced by the 250kW in-line five cylinder turbo. But, in case you have forgotten you can click the button below for some five pot aural delights.
One thing you may not know is the asking price. Entry level pricing for the Coupé starts at $133,700 plus all those horrible taxes and delivery charges. So, we’re talking north of $140K by the time you drive off the showroom floor. Audi hope to sell around 80 TT RS models every year. No word in all their guff today about the Roadster, so leave that with me for a bit.
The TT RS has been on sale in Europe for some time now, so you can also take a squiz at some review clippings. Despite the work Audi has done in making the TT RS look and sound superb, it would seem from those reviews they left a bit of work to do with the driving experience.
After the jump you can see a full complement of Australian images (all available as wallpaper-friendly 2000px super images, just click on the pics you like), as well raft of press information. Knock yourselves out.
[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/TT-RS.mp3]
Images of the Audi TT RS have spread across the interweb overnight, and here’s a few for you to take a look at. The TT RS will be revealed, officially, in Geneva next month. That’s if Audi doesn’t counter this leak by releasing official images and specs beforehand.
In the meantime, what we “know” is that the TT RS will return to the UR Quattro‘s roots and be powered by an inline five cylinder. The 2.5 litre is good for 340hp (250kW) and a very tasty 450Nm of torque. With a six speed manual and, of course, an all-wheel drive system, one should be able to propel the TT RS from rest to 100km/h in under 5 seconds.
The bigger front air dam on the lower edges of the front grille are the biggest visual clue separating the TT RS from the regular S model. There’s also a more aggressive rear spoiler.
More details and wallpaper sized images as they come to hand. For now, there’s a few more pics below and a YouTube clip which is said to be the engine note of the TT RS. If that’s true, then … Schwing!
Source: CarScoop & TopGear.com
Der neue Porsche 911 GT3 RS has been spotted in the French Alps. Sure, it looks just like the old model, but those zany Zuffenhausen engineers sure know what they are doing when it comes to building a track focused road car.
The 3.6-ltre flat six, donated from the regular GT3, will get some loving to see it has a few more ponies under the bonnet, erm boot, and should bring the car’s 0-100 sprint time to a mere 4.2 seconds. They say v-max will be a comfortable 310km/h.
Just like the last model there will be a plastic rear window, plenty of carbon fibre bits and factory built roll cage. A splash of colour will be thrown around with some retro stickers along the bottom sill, no doubt, and some matching paint will find its way to the wheels and wing mirrors.
Sure, the GT3 RS is no HSV, I mean it doesn’t even have enough cylinders for that, but still … I just want one!
Source: Wheels24.co.za
The RS2 was Audi’s first ‘RS’ quattro model. A collaborative work between Audi and Porsche in the mid 90s, the RS2 was not only the world’s fastest production wagon, it was also one of the fastest cars money could buy.
On sale for just three years (1994–96) the RS2 was based on the S2 and built on the Audi 80 platform. The S2 was built in coupé, estate and saloon models by Audi, although, the only variation imported to Australia was a very limited number of coupés. An initial run of 2200 RS2s was planned, in Avant guise only, but demand saw the final production end closer to 2900 units. Just 180 of these were made in RHD and none were imported to Australia—despite plans from then importer Inchcape to bring 25 RS2s down under, to be sold at an estimated cost of $145,000.
(Clearly the above image shows there is at least one RS2 in Australia, and you can read more about this car after the jump.)
Transformation of this otherwise humble estate car into a serious performance weapon took place at Porsche’s Zuffenhausen factory. Audi would deliver basic S2 shells and Porsche would then work their magic. They did this by giving the 2.2 litre inline 5 cylinder engine a bigger turbo, along with several other modifications, including a larger intercooler, larger injectors, modified camshafts, modified exhaust system and a revised engine management system. Porsche also supplied the wheels, brakes (via Brembo) and, of all things, the wing mirrors. The engine was good for 232kW/450Nm, enough to propel the RS2 from rest to 100km/h in just 4.8 seconds.
Porsche also tweaked the suspension, with revised Bilstein struts and stiffer anti-roll bars, sharpening the generally mild and dull characteristics of the Audi 80 platform.
Despite these revisions the RS2 couldn’t really shake the fact it was based on the 80 and tipped the scales at 1600kg. As good as the RS2 was, it was unable to achieve universal acclaim from the motoring media of the day. Subsequent RS models from Audi, including the RS6, have certainly improved the breed. One thing the RS2 did do, though, was show the world that a niche market did exist for estate cars with supercar performance.
In fact, so strong was the performance of the RS2, when tested by UK publication Autocar it was revealed the Audi-Porsche lovechild could accelerate to 30mph in just 1.5 seconds. Amazingly, at the time, that was faster than both the McLaren F1 road car and Jacques Villeneuve’s Williams F1 car. The quattro system obviously did a great job of getting power through its wheels then!