How quick is Porsche’s newest 911 GT3? More than 17 seconds faster than its predecessor on a lap around the Nurburgring Nordschleife, Germany’s famed 12.7-mile race track-turned-sports car development circuit.
The new and seventh-generation GT3, deliveries to being in May, lapped the historic circuit known as “Green Hell” in 6:59.927. Development driver Lars Kern was at the steering wheel, and speaking of wheels, they were equipped with the optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, and with the rear wing and the car’s diffuser elements manually set for high cornering speeds.
The latest 911 GT3 “transfers pure racing technology into a production model even more consistently than ever before,” Porsche proclaimed, listing such things as “the double-wishbone front axle layout and sophisticated aerodynamics with swan-neck rear wing and striking diffuser (that) originate from the successful GT race car 911 RSR,” as well as the 510-horsepower 4.0-liter 6-cylinder boxer engine “based on the drivetrain of the 911 GT3 R, tried and tested in endurance racing.”
“The result is a brilliant driving machine: efficient and emotional, precise and high-performance – perfect for the circuit and superb for everyday use.”
Porsche claims a top speed for the car of 320 km/h (198 mph) and a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.4 seconds.
The car will be available with a 6-speed manual or Porsche’s PDK automatic transmission.
“Despite a wider body, larger wheels and additional technical features, the weight of the new GT3 is on a par with its predecessor,” Porsche notes. “With manual gearbox, it weighs 1.418 kilograms (3,126 pounds), with PDK 1.435 kilograms (3,163 pounds).”
Weight-saving comes from such things as carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic hood, lightweight windows, brake discs, alloy wheels and exhaust system.
Among the car’s new features is a track setting for the digital dashboard that includes a visual “shift assistant” featuring colored bars and a shift light.
Optional equipment includes a lighter carbon-fiber roof, Guards Red or Shark Blue-painted wheels, Sport Chrono stopwatch and seatbelts in body color.
Pricing starts at €152,416 ($184,850).
For more information, visit the Porsche website.
