MICHAEL KARKAFIRIS wrote:The wait is over, Porsche has finally revealed the most powerful road-legal 911 ever in the form of the new GT2 RS.
The German company pulled the wraps off their new beast at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the numbers are just jaw-dropping: the twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six pumps out 690 horses (700PS), allowing for a 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds (0-60mph in 2.7).
The engine is mated to a customised seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic (no manual is available) that enables “power to be transferred with uninterrupted traction”. Flat-out it’ll do 211mph (340km/h).
The engine is based on the unit found in the Turbo S model, only now it features larger turbochargers, an additional water-spray cooling system and a bespoke lightweight titanium exhaust system.
Unlike its Turbo cousins, the GT2 RS sends its power to the rear wheels alone but the chassis is full of tricks to help it put its colossal power on the road. Rear-axle steering is one of them, along with a specially calibrated PSM and ultra sticky tires (265/35 ZR 20 at the front and 325/30 ZR 21 at the rear). Stopping is provided by a set of standard ceramic brakes.
The bodywork is littered with carbon-fiber, with the bonnet, front wings, rear side intakes and parts of the rear end all made from the lightweight stuff. The roof is made from magnesium as standard. Porsche says the new GT2 RS tips the scales at 1,470kg (3,240lbs) with a full fuel tank.
Customers will be able though to opt for the Weissach package, which trims a further 30kg off the weight, thanks to the additional use of carbon-fiber and titanium parts. This includes the roof, the anti-roll bars and the coupling rods on both axles made out of carbon-fiber while the package also includes a set of magnesium wheels.
The interior is dressed with red Alcantara, black leather and carbon trim details. The optional Chrono package expands the infotainment’s functions to include a performance display that shows things like lap times and a lap trigger of its own, which is controlled through the Porsche Track Precision App.
Pricing for the 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS starts from £207,506 in the UK, with the Weissach package asking for a further £21,042. US customers on the other hand will have to pay at least $293,200, with the car expected to reach this side of the pond in early 2018.
