New Porsche 911 GT3 RS, a sports car designed for both the street and the track

Porsche GT3 RS

Porsche has amply demonstrated that it is possible to keep in the garage the car you normally use every day to go to work, and also enjoy yourself on a “Track Day” driving on a circuit. The new 911 GT3 RS continues with the formula that was already tested with the first model of this type. The 2015 Geneva International Motor Show was the perfect event for its world premiere.

It has all the competition technology that a road-legal car can incorporate. Performance compared with the GT3 improves thanks to the changes made to its propulsion system, the use of lightweight materials and optimised aerodynamics. It beat the lap time of the Carrera GT supercar on the legendary Nürburgring (Nordschleife), stopping the clock at 7 minutes and 20 seconds, cutting no less than 9 seconds.

The heart that powers the 911 GT3 RS is a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated engine with direct fuel injection and six cylinders, which delivers a not inconsiderable 500 CV of power. It is paired with a PDK transmission that has been specifically developed for this model. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds and from 0 to 200 km/h in 10.9 seconds. Average consumption is 12.7 l/100 km on the NEDC cycle, and CO2 emissions are 296 g/km.

Porsche GT3 RS

The exterior clearly reflects its competition DNA, as the bodywork comes from the 911 Turbo with aerodynamic parts specific to the RS added; the side air intakes, the front spoiler lip and the large rear wing reinforce that image. This is already evident inside the cabin with standard features such as the roll bars at the rear and the bucket seats, which take as their model those in carbon fibre used in the 918 Spyder.

The materials used in manufacturing the GT3 RS have resulted in a weight reduction of 10 kilograms compared with the standard GT3. Carbon fibre is used in the engine and the boot lid, magnesium is used for the roof, and the recess in the central part of the bonnet is made of CRFP, in addition to other lightweight components made of alternative materials.

To achieve precision and dynamism in driving, the chassis has been optimised, and in addition the rear-axle steering and the Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, with a fully variable limited-slip differential on the rear axle, give the GT3 RS great stability in body roll and a higher speed through corners. All of this thanks to greater track width on both axles and wider tyres.

Porsche GT3 RS

As standard equipment, the Club Sport package includes provision for a battery cut-off switch, a six-point harness for the driver, a fire extinguisher with its mounting bracket and safety roll cages. The optional Sport Chrono package adds to the standard equipment integrated stopwatches and the Porsche Track Precision app, with which certain parameters can be managed through a smartphone, such as lap timing, vehicle speed, lateral acceleration, and acceleration and deceleration in the direction of travel.

It also incorporates special functions such as disengaging the clutch via the “neutral paddles” (an action comparable to pressing the clutch in a manual gearbox) and the speed limiter via the Pit Speed button, both adapted for competition use.

With all these credentials behind it, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS has once again become a true benchmark in the high-performance sports car segment. The final price in Spain is 208,509 euros. The first units will arrive in May 2015.

Source | Porsche

Technical specifications of this car

CoupePorsche 91119 versions · from 157,835 €