A Kia Picanto of downforce
For a moment, the Porsche 911 GT3 was allowed to call itself the king of the 911 range. That already very fierce 911 must now recognize its superior in this brand new Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Indeed: with RS addition. This is not only expressed in more power, but also in almost insane spoiler work that presses the car against the road like a boulder in the boulder clay.
Highlights
- 525 hp from turboless 4.0 six-cylinder boxer engine
- Always with PDK automatic
- Twice the downforce of previous 911 GT3
- Aerodynamics at the front, rear spoiler above the roof edge
Of the current Porsche 911 generation presented in 2019, the 510 hp GT3 has been the top model to date and thus the sportiest member of the 911 family. Sportiest, but not the fastest in a straight line. For example, the 911 Turbo and Turbo S successively stamp 581 hp and 650 hp to the wheels. The 911 GT3 could call itself the most dynamic model with its naturally aspirated and thus turbo-less 4.0 six-cylinder boxer engine and with numerous hardware from racing. However, the 911 GT3 is now being knocked off the throne by this brand new and even more hardcore 911 GT3 RS.
Traditionally, the GT3 that Rennsport-cure has undergone the superlative of the 911 GT3. In a sense it is a track car that you can use on public roads. Of course, the new GT3 RS is a bit stronger than the ‘regular’ GT3, although the power gain is relatively small. The new Porsche 911 GT3 RS has the same 4.0 six-cylinder boxer engine as the GT3. It is a machine that is derived from the six-cylinder that is also in the 911 GT3 R Endurance track car. In the GT3 RS, that power station is 525 hp strong thanks to, among other things, new camshafts. The previous 911 GT3 RS kicked it up to 520 hp. Until the arrival of the new 911 GT2 and GT2 RS, the new king of the 911 family sprints to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds.
Porsche 911
Pizza
Even more than with the 911 GT3 without RS addition, the highest possible performance is at the top of the priority list and so you can’t get the 911 GT RS with a manual transmission. Shifting is always done with a PDK seven-speed automatic transmission. That transmission has shorter gear ratios than the 911 GT3, with the logical consequence that the RS cannot approach the top speed (318 km/h) of the GT3, but is faster at lower speeds. If you pedal the 911 GT3 all the way through, you should be able to reach a speed of 296 km/h. Behind the 20-inch wheels with central nut hides more intense braking to calm the 911 GT3 again. Porsche speaks of aluminum claws with six pistons on the front axle and discs with a diameter in which even Domino’s does not bake pizzas: 40.8 centimeters. For extra bite force, Porsche has its carbon ceramic braking system on the option list.
Heavy downforce
As mentioned, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS is mainly about dynamics and to a lesser extent about speed in a straight line. What is the main reason for his profit? Including the cooling. You will have noticed the striking cooling vents in the front cover of the new 911 GT3 RS in the photos. Underneath is an immense radiator, exactly where you can store your luggage in the milder 911s. By using a huge radiator, borrowed from the 911 RSR Le Mans racer, instead of three in more common places, Porsche has been able to make room for active aerodynamics, the main topic on which the 911 GT3 RS has significantly improved. The newest member of the 911 family features continuously variable front elements, distinctive front wheel sections and a truly immense two-piece rear wing. This intense wing and spoiler work delivers the Porsche 911 GT3 RS at a speed of 200 km/h no less than 409 kilos down force on. Twice as much downward pressure as the previous 911 GT3 RS generated and no less than three times as much as the RS-less 911 GT3 presented last year. Three times! At a speed of 285 km/h, the total downforce is no less than 860 kilos. It’s like pressing the 911 GT3 RS against the asphalt with a Kia Picanto.
Porsche 911
DRS
More interesting news on the way the Porsche 911 GT3 RS cuts through the sky? Secure. It is the first production Porsche to receive a Drag Reduction System (DRS). To enable a high top speed, DRS makes it possible to lay the wings of the 911 GT3 RS flat, resulting in lower air resistance. If, for whatever reason, you have to go full into the anchors, the wing work will do the opposite. An air brake function for Porsche’s hard-hitting newcomer. The rear spoiler has grown significantly in every respect compared to that of the previous GT3 RS. Its upper part is hydraulically adjustable. Fun fact: the spoiler is even so high that it protrudes above the roof. At least as striking are the large slats in the front fenders and the openings in the rear wheel arches. These serve purely to improve aerodynamics and play no role in breathing or cooling the six-cylinder.
Porsche naturally gives the 911 GT3 RS an adjustable chassis. Rear-axle steering and various driver assistance systems are designed for the even sportier character of the RS. In Track mode you can set the damping yourself and the way the rear differential behaves can also be adjusted. There are four rotary knobs on the steering wheel to adjust the 911 GT3 RS to your preferences. The doors, fenders, front hatch and roof are made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. As a result, the 911 GT3 RS weighs only 1,450 kilograms despite its extras. Special racing bucket seats also contribute to keeping the weight limited. Furthermore, you close the doors with pull loops and you have to do without an extensive infotainment system.
Porsche 911
Can it be even more intense?
As standard, the new 911 GT3 RS has black leather upholstery and carbon fiber trim in the interior. At no extra cost, you can order the Clubsport package from Porsche, which includes a roll bar, a fire extinguisher and a six-point seat belt for the driver. If that’s not enough, you can check the Weissach package for a fee. You can recognize a 911 GT3 RS with Weissach indulgence from the outside by the visible carbon fiber on the front lid, roof, side mirrors and parts of the rear wing. But the package includes more. For example, stabilizer bars at the front and rear and part of the rear axle are exchanged for carbon fiber reinforced plastic ones. The roll bar is also made of that lightweight stuff. The Weissach package also brings paddle shifters with what Porsche calls ‘magnetic technology’, paddles with a clearer pressure point that give a more noticeable ‘click’ when shifting. At an additional cost, you can also opt for magnesium wheels that further reduce the weight of the 911 GT3 RS by eight kilos.
The new Porsche 911 GT3 RS can be ordered immediately and will be available at the Dutch Porsche Centers from November. It will soon become clear what the new top-911 will cost.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl