► Facelifted 911 GT3 retains 503bhp 4.0-litre flat-six
► Touring version gets optional rear bench
► Priced from £157k
According to Porsche’s Director of GT cars, Andreas Preuninger, the hardest part about updating the 911 GT3 is keeping it as good as the last one. Emissions and safety regulations are constantly evolving, such that maintaining the 503bhp 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six and circa 1.4-tonne kerb weight was a significant challenge.
But what about making it better than before? ‘We can’t offer more horsepower due to emissions, but we can offer more sensation’ claims Preuninger. Read on to find out Porsche has polished the GT3.
What’s new?
For the first time in GT3 history the Weissach pack is available (for around £16k) and brings carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) components such as anti-roll bars, coupling rods and even the roof, plus there’s the option for a CFRP roll cage and magnesium lightweight forged wheels that save 9kg all round.
However, if you prefer the Touring version (this is also the first time that both variants have been launched simultaneously), a separate lightweight package is also available (stabiliser, coupling rods and shear panel on the rear axle made from CFRP) for a sum yet to be confirmed.
At its lightest, the GT3 comes in at 1,420kg (it was previously 1,418kg) meaning its positioning as the lighter, purer car among its rivals remains intact. We understand a hybrid element was (very briefly) considered, but was quickly dismissed given the 80kg weight penalty.
Another feature that Preuninger and his team looked into but didn’t make the cut was different suspension settings for the regular GT3 and Touring. A lot of (911) ST knowledge went into the suspension’ explains Preuninger. ‘An engineer spent 1.5 years tuning the suspension. We wanted to separate setups but found it was not necessary’
Efforts have also been made to make the steering less nervous around the straight ahead position, while a reduction in pitching when braking from high speeds is designed to deliver the correct aerodynamic balance across the front and rear axles. The idea to push the front ball joint of the lower trailing arm further down on the front axle, meanwhile, was gleaned from the GT3 RS.
Also noteworthy is an 8% shorter final drive on both the seven-speed PDK and six-speed manual – something designed to enhance the driving sensation. Performance figures remain the same at 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds (PDK) and a 193mph top speed.
You mentioned rear seats?
It sounds like a strange idea, but apparently the most requested feature (by quite some way) from existing GT3 owners was the possibility to have a rear bench. But how does that work with the lightweight bucket seats that Preuninger himself claims are the most important option on the car?
Well, Porsche’s gone and made the most flexible bucket seats out there – probably… Not only do they fold to allow access to the rear, they also have an integrated thorax airbag, electric height adjustment, manual longitudinal adjustment, the ability to remove part of the headrest (helpful for when wearing a helmet during track driving) and optional three-stage heating.
Anything else?
Styling changes are minimal, but look closely and you’ll spot a re-contoured front diffuser, a slightly different shape on the spoiler lip, tweaked Matrix LED headlights and new angled side plates on the GT3’s wing.
Inside, there’s now a fully digital dash (the analogue rev counter has sadly been ditched) but with a revised layout over the old semi-digital dash. This means that the instruments on the far left and right are no longer blocked by the steering wheel. Also nice is the ability to rotate the rev counter so that the 9,000rpm red line is central at 12 o’clock. Neat.
Oh, and Porsche’s pretty proud of how easy it is to turn off those pesky (but mandatory) driver assists. They’re merely a button press and a swipe of the touchscreen away from being deactivated.
When can I buy one and what does it cost?
The new GT3 can be ordered from the end of 2024 with first deliveries at some point in the first half of 2025. UK prices start from £157,300, while the Weissach package adds £15,597 or £19,530 with the CFRP roll cage. Pricing for the lightweight package has yet to be confirmed.