► New, less extreme Porsche 911 GT3
► Touring Pack unveiled in Frankfurt
► No rear wing, manual only, £111,882
Just when you thought Porsche was obsessed about nothing other than its GT cars’ fast laptimes or its SUVs’ profit margins, it goes and launches a new, less extreme GT3 variant.
The new Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Pack was unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show, adding a new, broader and – whisper it – less extrovert appeal to the benchmark sports car.
What is the new 991.2 GT3’s Touring Pack?
Most visibly, there’s no vast rear wing cluttering up your rear visibility. Your view on this will depend on how hardcore a track-day warrior you are. But if you find Boeing-spec spoilers a tad embarrassing, chances are you’ll love this more low-profile look.
Crucially, there is another spoiler in its place: a more discreet, body-coloured pop-up ‘Gurney flap’, featuring a ‘tear-off edge’ to manage airflow around the rear of the car and maintain downforce at speed. Note the subtle new GT3 Touring badge on the engine lid, too.
The new 991.2-generation Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Pack is only available with the six-speed manual, not the PDK automatic. Which is an interesting choice for a car many will perceive as a more comfort-oriented, less-focused derivative.
Specs, performance and numbers please…
Mechanically, the GT3 TP is unchanged from the original. That means a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat six (one of the most soulful engines in production, trust us…) developing a fulsome 493bhp and 339lb ft of torque. Key stats are as follows:
- Top speed 196mph
- 0-62mph 3.9sec
- Redline 9000rpm
- Tyres 245/35 ZR20 (front), 305/30 ZR20 (rear)
- Price £111,802 on the road (the same as the PDK model)
Read our Porsche 991 GT3 review here
You won’t mistake this for anything other than a GT3. Its blistered bodywork remains 44mm wider than a boggo Carrera’s and the suspension is lowered by 25mm, while buyers can choose reflective brightwork or a Black Exterior Touring Package for smoked chrome.
Inside, the cabin has a softer leather upholstery, with less reliance on Alcantara surfaces. The steering wheel, gearlever, door cards and other details are trimmed in soft hide, not suede. We’ve sat in it and can report it’s comfy and has a pleasing back-to-basics ambience; the cloth-and-leather seats feel grippy, comfortable.
The Touring Pack name harks back to a version of the 1973 Carrera RS. ‘Sports car enthusiasts who particularly value an understated appearance combined with a high level of driving enjoyment are the intended audience,’ says Porsche.
Porsche GB boss Chris Craft told CAR the new 911 derivative would broaden the range’s appeal further still. ‘Many of our customers take their cars on track days, but others don’t and might appreciate a more subtle GT3. Now we can cater for both.’
Count us in! Let us know what you think of the new GT3 Touring Pack in the comments below.
Click here for all our stories from the 2017 Frankfurt motor show