Porsche 911 GT3 |
The very first thing you'll notice about the '991' era Porsche 911 GT3 RS is the imposing aerokit, composed of that jutting front side splitter, gaping vents over leading steering wheel arches, deeper rear end bumper with dual central-exit exhausts and an enormous wing. It offers 80 % of the downforce of the full-on GT3 R competition car, and with a carbon fibre wings and bonnet, a magnesium roof covering and polycarbonate back display screen and house windows, it is also light, weighing in at only 1,420kg.
Pumping out 495b horsepower and 460Nm of torque, the 4.0-litre level six is 25bhp and 20Nm through to the standard GT3, however the extra capacity means less rev limit of 8 slightly,800rpm here. That's no bad thing though, for such a major device it's still an unbelievable feat of executive. When rival manufacturers like Ferrari and McLaren are deciding on turbos to lower CO2 emissions and raise ability, Porsche's designers have resolutely caught to their weapons for the most hardcore model in the number.
It's all the better for this, too. In the event that you wring the engine out to the redline the spine-tingling howl is addictive and intoxicating. With lots of torque available it is also incredibly flexible. Brief transfer using the excellent snappy and even seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearshift (like the standard GT3, there is no manual option) and you could still make fast progress because of the almost imperceptible changes. Keep ft . to the ground and with launch control the RS shall officially sprint from 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds, romping to a high speed of 193mph.
Acceleration is savage, and our test car was installed with huge ?6,248 optional PCCB carbon ceramic brakes that dished up up massive preventing electric power and lovely feel time upon time, therefore the way it slows complements just how it runs.
The 911's rear-engined design means there's significant traction off of the brand and huge hold in the sides. But regardless of the razor sharp contest car appears, the RS doesn't take care of over a knife-edge. Instead, there's an unbelievable degree of balance and predictability. You need to be correct and quick with your inputs to draw out the most from the GT3, but with a communicative framework and wonderfully specific steering feedback the automobile always relays clear information back again to the driver.
It's your decision to do the others, but obtain it right and the rewards are huge. Wider paths front and rear end imply the 911's low nasal darts into sides, and you could have the G-forces building with your assurance as you negotiate in to the experience and understand how the automobile behaves. It's thanks a lot partly to the steering, as this is actually the best aided set up in virtually any 991 model Porsche yet electrically.
Twinned with a wonderful adjustability you can enjoy at normal rates of speed on the highway even, it's visceral, but extraordinary fun. That is all expected of an automobile to emerge from Porsche's RS team, but what isn't is merely how functional the GT3 RS is on a regular basis.
The past RS was stiff and uncompromising, with a company ride - even though this new model is merely as hardcore on the road, the suspension system is plush and compliant, and in the softer of the adaptive dampers' two adjustments, it's no harsher over bumps than our 2015 Performance Car of the entire year, the 911 GTS.
Of course, stiffen it up in Sport method and it seems every in . a refugee racer. Big tyres do result in a touch of tyre roar at motorway speeds, and less sound deadening to save lots of weight means you'll hear every stone pinging off the lower of your body. But it's still an extremely civilised car for long journeys, with the set carbon fibre bucket chairs from the 918 offering lots of comfort.
Sat-nav is an advisable ?2,141 extra, while this motor car ?1,805 Lava Orange coloring and ?393 dark tires do the eye-popping styling justice really. The sole compromise you need to make reaches the petrol station. A 64-litre energy reservoir and quoted efficiency of 22.2mpg mixed and 296g/km CO2 suggest the 911's cruising range isn't especially far.