New 911 GT3: figures explained
Yesterday’s unveiling of the new 911 GT3 at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show revealed several changes to Porsche’s universally admired, naturally aspirated road-going sports car, which now boasts a 0-62 time of 3.5 seconds and an impressive Nurburgring lap time of 7 minutes 30 seconds.
Chief among the changes is the decision to discontinue the ‘Mezger era’ of GT3 engines, with the new 991 GT3 instead adopting a vastly reworked version of the direct-injection 991 Carrera S unit. A specifically adapted crankshaft and valve train, plus titanium con rods and forged pistons are all part of the new engine which now revs all the way to a glorious, motorsport inspired 9,000 rpm, with the maximum 475bhp extracted from the 3.8-litre flat six at the heady height of 8,250rpm. Make no mistake then, the new unit loves to rev like never before.
Elsewhere for the first time, Porsche have only made the GT3 available with seven speed PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) transmission. Although the move was widely expected, the decision by Porsche to offer PDK-only GT3s has undoubtedly ruffled the feathers of purists previously smitten with the stripped back, raw nature of a GT3. We think then that despite the initial outcry, the PDK-only new GT3 will be a sales success, with a manual option not likely to be offered in the future.
The new GT3 also benefits from active rear-wheel steering, where the angle of the rear wheels can be altered by up to 1.5 degrees depending on the speed of the car. Up to 31mph, the system steers the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front wheels, reducing the turning radius. At speeds above 50mph the rear wheels are directed in the same direction as the front wheels, providing a geometric virtual wheel extension of up to 500mm, ensuring an increase in stability effective at high speeds. A further aid to agility can also be found at the rear of the car. In an aesthetical first, the new 911 GT3 is 44mm wider than a 911 Carrera S across the rear axle, meaning the new GT3 does not adopt the traditional narrow body of the model’s Carrera 2 variant.
The new 991 GT3 is available to preorder now with prices starting at £100,540. First deliveries of right-hand-drive examples can be expected by November of this year. An in-depth examination of the new 911 GT3 can be found in issue 99 of Total 911, released on 27th March. what do you think of the new GT3? Tweet us your thoughts to @Total911 or email us on [email protected].
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