Ciprian Florea wrote:It’s been some three years since the 991-generation 911 GT3 made its debut and a good couple of years since it became sold out. A new GT3 is long overdue, but the wait will be over in 2017 because Porsche just unveiled an updated model at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Not surprisingly, it has been upgraded to 991.2-generation looks inside and out and fitted with new technology and a new engine.
A quick look is enough to notice what changed styling-wise. Up front, we have a remodeled bumper with a wider center intake and larger side vents. The LED daytime running lights above are slimmer, while the black winglets improve aerodynamics. Further changes are visible around back, in the shape of a new diffuser with black elements, a restyled license plate recess, new-style taillights, and a reshaped, larger wing.
There aren’t many changes to talk about inside, but customers will be greeted by a new steering wheel sourced from the 918 Spyder, enhanced side bolstering for the seats, electronically adjusting backrests and three optional seat variants. There’s the adaptive Sports Plus with 18-way power adjustment, bucket seats with folding backrest and integrated thorax airbag, and race-inspired, full bucket seats from from carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. On the tech side, it gets the Connect Plus module and the Track Precision app as standard. The latter enables GT3 drivers to display, record, and analyze driving data on their smartphone or tablet.
There’s bigger news under the hood, where the 3.8-liter flat-six, the engine that caused a deal of trouble by catching fire in some cars in 2014, was replaced by the larger, 4.0-liter boxer. But while some expected Porsche to borrow the unit from the GT3 RS, the GT3 actually got the same engine as the GT3 Cup race car. The Germans claim that the 500-horsepower mill is virtually unchanged and mates to a revised seven-speed PDK as standard. Tipping the scales at 1,430 kg with a full fuel tank, the GT3 sprints to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds on its way to a top speed of 199 mph, four mph more than the previous model. A six-speed manual gearbox is available optionally, but reduces the 0-to-62 mph sprint to 3.9 ticks.
Other enhancements include rear-axle steering, a retuned chassis for better driving dynamics, a lowered ride height, and dynamic engine mounts. Pricing is set from €152,416 in Europe, but a U.S. sticker is not yet available.
While a more powerful 911 GT3 was to be expected, it’s a bit surprising that Porsche went for the 4.0-liter flat-six. This basically makes the GT3 as powerful as the GT3 RS, meaning that Porsche needs to come up with an even more powerful unit for the next RS. The really good news here is that the German firm finally came to its senses and added an optional manual transmission for the GT3. While the PDK is indeed a quick gearbox that maximizes performance on the road and the track, a three-pedal version was mandatory on this car and enthusiasts have been asking for a manual for years. Better late than never I guess.
DRIVETRAIN SPECIFICATIONS
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Wheelbase (Inches) 96.7 Length (Inches) 179.6 Height (Inches) 50.0 Width (Inches) (w/ mirrors folded) 77.8 (72.9) Engine 4.0-liter six-cylinder horizontally Horsepower 500 HP @ 8,250 RPM Torque 339 LB-FT 0 to 60 mph 3.8 seconds with manual (3.2 seconds with PDK) Top Speed 198 mph manual (197 mph PDK) Driveline layout Rear-wheel drive Transmission 6-speed manual/PDK Curb Weight 3,116 Lbs
