This 7th generation 911 GT3 now laps the Nurburgring in under 7 minutes.
When Porsche announced the newest 992-iteration of its celebrated 911 lineup, many hardcore enthusiasts were already (im)patiently waiting for the imminent arrival of the new GT3. Well if you are one those people, the wait is now over as the 7th iteration of this road-going track-ready Stuggart stallion has finally been launched recently.
Getting straight into the meat of this new GT3 here, the main star of the show which perhaps be its engine. Still a naturally aspirated unit as before, what is the big deal surrounding this 4.0 litre flat-six this time round is that it is claimed by Porsche to be identical to the track-only 911 GT3 Cup endurance racer.
Power-wise, this race-spec power plant pumps out an impressive 510 PS as it screams its way to the 9,000 rpm red line. Performance-wise on the other hand, the century sprint can be achieved in just 3.4 seconds, and when mated to the standard six-speed manual transmission (instead of the optional PDK), the top speed of this 992 GT3 is a blindingly fast 320 km/h.
Though being a sports car of the modern age, what is perhaps the more impressive statistic is that this latest iteration 911 GT3 can lap the full 20.8 km of the Nurburgring-Nordschleife in a shade under 7 minutes (6:59.927). Or to put it in other words, a full 17 seconds quicker than its 991.2-gen GT3 predecessor.
While that race-derived flat-six hung out the back of this particular Porsche had much to do with this impressive lap time, a not-insignificant chunk of the credit however must also go to the rest of the car as the GT3 (unsurprisingly) also gains plenty of exterior and other performance enhancements over the standard 911.
In fact, the development of this particular iteration 911 GT3 was performed in close collaboration with Porsche Motorsport. A fact which is backed up not only by that motorsport-spec engine, but also by the massive swan neck rear wing and rear diffuser that originated from the 911 RSR GT race car.
Additional exterior highlights that are worth a mention on the 992 GT3 includes lightweight glass windows, a carbon-fibre roof and a widened body to accommodate those forged light-alloy wheels that can be optioned in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres. Perhaps the easiest way though to tell the particular performance 911 apart from the rest of the range would be the twin giant nostril-like air scoops that are carved into its CFRP front bonnet.
Now digging a little deeper into what lies underneath those bloated arches, what is to be found are a race-inspired double wishbone front axle layout up front, a lightweight sports exhaust system out the back and an ‘optimised’ brake disks on all four corners. Just speaking a tad more on this new exhaust, it is claimed to save up to 10 kg over the standard unit, and also features infinitely electrically adjustable exhaust flaps that ‘harmonises a highly emotional sound experience’.
Moving inside the GT3, while it retains same cabin architecture as its more hum-drum 992 counterparts, there is nevertheless the usual sporty trimmings like the lightweight sports seats and Alcantara galore. On the tech front meanwhile, there is also a new track screen layout that comes complete with a virtual shift assistant, which Porsche claims are essential for driving on track.
Furthermore, this latest GT3 still features the usual interior weight saving measures such as the removal excess sound deadening, as well as the ditching of the rear seats to be replaced with a half roll cage. All this therefore adds up to this particular performance Porsche weighing in at only 1,418 kg for the manual-equipped model, and 1,435 kg for one with the optional PDK transmission.
Speaking of the PDK, one more interesting interior quirk worth pointing out is the ditching of the little gearshift nub that are to be found on the typical PDK-equipped 911s. That is because in its place here in the GT3 instead is a PDK shift lever that is almost identical to its manual transmission counterpart.
The base price of this 911 992 GT3 begins in Europe at €152,416 (RM 745,000), with taxes included but before the veritable variety of options start piling on. These options range from Guards Red or Shark Blue painted wheel rims and carbon fibre mirror caps, all the way to an exclusive Porsche Design GT3-inspired individual chronograph.
First deliveries of these GT3s will take place some time in May, with a more subdued Touring specification coming along later in the year. More importantly to Malaysian Porsche enthusiasts though, this new 911 GT3 is currently available for pre-order at Porsche Centres nationwide.
PRESS RELEASE: Porsche has taken the new 911 GT3 off the leash. The seventh edition of this high-performance sports car was also developed in close collaboration with Porsche Motorsport. It transfers pure racing technology into a production model even more consistently than ever before: the double wishbone front axle layout and sophisticated aerodynamics with swan neck rear wing and striking diffuser originate from the successful GT race car 911 RSR and the 375 kW (510 PS) four-litre six-cylinder boxer engine is based on the drivetrain of the 911 GT3 R, tried and tested in endurance racing. The acoustically impressive, high-revving engine is also used practically unchanged in the new 911 GT3 Cup. The result is a brilliant driving machine: efficient and emotional, precise and high-performance – perfect for the circuit and superb for everyday use.
The distinctive strength of the Porsche 911 GT3 lies in the sum of its characteristics. With a top speed of 320 km/h (318 km/h with PDK) it is even faster than the previous 911 GT3 RS. It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. Porsche also offers the new model with a six-speed manual transmission for a particularly puristic driving experience. The sophisticated aerodynamics benefit from the experiences gained from motor racing and generate significantly more downforce without noticeably affecting the drag coefficient. In the performance position, the manually set wing and diffuser elements significantly increase the aerodynamic pressure for high cornering speeds. This is, however, reserved strictly for outings on the circuit, as it is there that the 911 GT3 can play all its trump cards. During final testing, it lapped the Nurburgring-Nordschleife, traditionally the ultimate proving ground for all sports cars developed by Porsche, over 17 seconds quicker than its predecessor. Development driver Lars Kern took just 6:59.927 minutes for a full 20.8-kilometre lap. The shorter 20.6-kilometre track, which had previously served as a benchmark, was completed by the Porsche 911 GT3 in 6:55.2 minutes. Running on the optionally available Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres, the new model consistently delivered its performance over several laps in the expert hands of Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister. For Bergmeister, it is “by far the best production car” that the experienced professional driver has ever driven in the “Green Hell”.
Despite a wider body, larger wheels and additional technical features, the weight of the new GT3 is on a par with its predecessor. With manual gearbox it weighs 1,418 kilograms, with PDK 1,435 kilograms. The front bonnet made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), lightweight glass windows, optimised brake discs and forged light-alloy wheels ensure weight discipline, as does the cover for the rear seat compartment. The lightweight sports exhaust system reduces the weight by no less than ten kilograms. With infinitely electrically adjustable exhaust flaps, it harmonises a highly emotional sound experience with the Euro 6d ISC FCM (EU6 AP) emissions standard. The combined consumption of the 911 GT3 is 13.3 litres/100 km (PDK 12.4).
Its racing genes are expressed in practically all the details of the new Porsche 911 GT3. The cockpit is in line with the current model generation. A new feature is the track screen: at the touch of a button, it reduces the digital displays to the left and right of the central rev counter, which reaches up to 10,000 revs, to information such as tyre pressure indicator, oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel tank level and water temperature, which are essential when driving on the circuit. It also includes a visual shift assistant with coloured bars to the left and right of the rev counter and a shift light derived from Motorsport.
Especially for the Porsche GT models, customers are increasingly requesting customised equipment. For this reason, the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur range is also available for the new 911 GT3 and is supplemented by GT 3-specific options such as a lightweight roof made of exposed carbon fibre. Other highlights include exterior mirror tops made of carbon, darkened LED matrix main headlights and matching Exclusive design rear lights with an arc of light with no red components. Guards Red or Shark Blue painted wheel rims enhance the black alloy wheels. In the interior, equipment details such as the dials for the rev counter and Sport Chrono stopwatch, seatbelts and trim strips set elegant accents in the body colour or other desired colour.
As exclusive as the Porsche 911 GT3 itself is the individual chronograph that Porsche Design offers exclusively to customers of the high-performance sports car. Like its motorised role model, it boasts a dynamic design, consistent performance and high-quality workmanship. Its housing reflects its Motorsport genes. Just like the connecting rods of the GT3 engine, it consists of robust, lightweight titanium. The timepiece is powered by an individual winding rotor reminiscent of the wheels of the 911 GT3. The coloured ring of the dial can be customised in the paint colours of the 911 GT3.
Porsche is offering the new Porsche 911 GT3 with a starting price of 152,416 euros including VAT and country-specific equipment. Delivery is set for May 2021.
