This is the new Porsche 911 GT2 RS, the most powerful 911 yet, with close to 600bhp being produced by its rear-mounted engine.
Porsche 911 GT2 RS? So will there be a ‘regular’ Porsche 911 GT2 to go alongside this RS version too?
Nope, there’s only this one mad version – despite Porsche’s penchant for producing endless variants of the 911 – and Stuttgart is using all its know-how to make this the fastest 911 yet. The RS tag means this GT2 is likely to be completely and utterly bonkers.
Look closely at CAR’s new spy pictures and you’ll spot the subtle front wheelarch extensions lifted from the GT3 RS that allow for a wider front track. Other GT3 RS adoptions are thought to include fabric interior door handles, a titanium exhaust and a full roll cage, while Porsche’s Active Drivetrain Mounts (PADM) and adjustable suspension should be standard.
Also lifted from the GT3 RS (and ‘boggo’ GT3) are the centre-lock alloys, the air vent ahead of the bonnet, and the stripped-out interior. Ceramic brakes keep the kerbweight down too, as does the rear-drive chassis – there’s no fancy four-wheel drive system here.
Options like a lithium-ion battery help shave a further 10kg. The latest news out of Stuttgart is that the new 911 GT2 RS will weigh 90kg less than it predecessor, thanks in part to carbonfibre air intakes and vents, and other GT3 RS diet secrets.
And just how much power do those two rear wheels have to deal with?
We hear 600PS, so that’s 592bhp from the direct-injection, twin-turbo 3.8-litre flat six. And expect near to 600lb ft of lugging torque as well. Combine that grunt with a launch control system and the new 911 GT2 should hit 62mph in under 3.5 seconds, and the torque figure should provide scary mid-range acceleration.
Of course, a six-speed manual is the only gearbox option and Cup tyres will mean it’s a handful in the wet. But on a dry track it should be epic – a Nurburgring time of 7min 22sec has been mooted, meaning it’s quicker than that pesky Nissan GT-R.
Other tweaks and changes over the first-gen 997 GT2 include the latest LED rear lights and a revised interior.
The new Porsche 911 GT2 RS was revealed to a select group of VIPs and dealers this past weekend, and will be go on sale in summer 2010. As for price, we expect it to be north of £150k. Only the rich (and raving mad thrill seekers) need apply.
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