Porsche has just issued the first photos of the new 911 GT3. It’s the second-generation 997 family iteration of the evergreen GT3 and will be launched at the 2009 Geneva motor show on 3 March.
The wizards of Weissach know not to mess with a winning formula. Whether you’re a 911 fanatic or a sceptic who thinks it’s yesteryear’s leftovers and a triumph of style over substance (and we know CAR Online users fall into both camps!), there’s no denying the GT3’s abilities on road. CAR hailed the original 997 GT3 ‘the greatest 911’ of all time and you can read our review of the first-gen 997 model here.
Porsche 911 GT3: the background
The new GT3 lands in the UK in autumn 2009 and Porsche is touting it as the ‘most sporting and dynamic roadgoing 911 ever with a naturally aspirated power unit’. In other words, exclude the blown Turbo and GT2 iterations, and this is the hardest 911 to date.
It’s designed for use on road and track and the 3.8-litre flat six is tinkered with to produce 429bhp – up 20 ponies on its predecessor. Much of that power jump is managed by improved head gas flow and the exhaust camshafts are now controlled by Porsche’s VarioCam system.
The second-generation 997 GT3 is knocking on the door of supercar performance, with 0-62mph in just 4.1 seconds, 99mph (160kph) in 8.2sec and 194mph flat out.
And the price of all this performance?
Ah, yes. There’s a sizable step up in the price tag attached to the GT3’s windscreen compared with a standard £69k Carrera S. You’ll have to stump up £81,914 premium to bag one this autumn – at least that’s only a modest rise over the outgoing GT3’s £79,540.
The price includes a tuition course at the new Porsche Driving Experience Centre at Silverstone. Click here to read CAR assistant editor Ben Barry’s experience on the course and watch our video.
Porsche 911 GT3: the chassis mods
The 911’s chassis is upgraded as part of the transformation from Carrera S to GT3. Springs and anti-roll bars are stiffer and the alloys are lighter, attached by a centre-locking nut and fitted with the new UHP-branded tyres. (That stands for ultra-high performance – you’ll see similar rubber on new Bentleys, too).
The PSM stability pack electronics are retuned to allow more fun before the traction and slide control police step in, while the aero package has been – very obviously – modified with revised spoilers and dams.
Downforce front and rear is increased and Porsche claims the overall air pressure squishing the car to the tarmac is double that of the previous GT3. If those spoilers aren’t a giveaway, the bi-xenon headlamps, LED rear lights and redesigned air intakes and outlets will be further ammo for the Porsche anoraks.
Sounds like typically anal and detailed Porsche revisions, then?
Basically yes. We could write reams about the minutiae of the GT3 upgrade, but little of it will surprise you. Porsche, after all, is an expert at rewriting the small print of its products to hone the driving experience – so the brakes and stiffer race-spec engine mounts are all upgraded on this track-focused 911.
There’s even an optional spoiler-saving lift system that raises the front axle by 30mm at the touch of a button to avoid chin scrapes when entering underground garages and the like.
How will the new GT3 drive?
Perhaps it says a lot about Porsche in 2009 that we could probably write the first drive now – months before we’ve even driven the car… The new GT3 will be electrifyingly quick (but not quite Turbo fast), it’ll corner with razor-sharp precision and our road test heroes will enjoy sliding it for the cameras. Cue concluding paragraph ruminating over how much better the forthcoming GT3 RS will be…