Porsche 911 GT3: First Look

Motoring Channel Staff - 27/Feb/2006

First it was the 911 Carrera that shocked the motoring world back in mid 2004, when it debuted the new generation - but classic-looking - circular head-lit current model, which was recently followed by the devastating 911 Turbo with 353kW of power and its intriguing overboost feature.

And now the next-generation, stripped-down, hardcore road-racing Porsche has broken cover, just in time for the Geneva Motor Show.

From Stuttgart in Germany, meet the 911 GT3.

As Porsche explains, the abbreviation GT3 in the 911 model range stands for pure, unadulterated driving pleasure, and will rival exotic sports cars like the Ferrari F430, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Lamborghini Gallardo.

The stripped down 2006 model Porsche features a light weight body and highly strung 3.6-litre naturally aspirated boxer engine mounted in the rear of the car that combine to provide the 2-seater with rapid levels of acceleration and class-leading handling attributes.

And while its engine may be short on capacity when compared to its British and Italian rivals, it's light weight enables it to keep pace with the worlds best sports cars.

With its uncompromising dynamics, Porsche says that it's new road model will deliver the goods in normal day-to-day driving as well as on the racetrack, the latter being it's true calling.

The 305kW (415bhp) 3.6-litre flat-twin engine produces a specific output of 84.7 Kilowatts (115.3 bhp) per litre of displacement, affording the sleek vehicle with the kind of performance that places the new-generation GT3 in its displacement class at the pinnacle of road-legal production sports cars with naturally aspirated engines.

The 6-cylinder engine reaches its nominal output of 305kW @ 7600rpm. At 8400rpm meanwhile, the rev limiter bites, which is some 200 revolutions higher than for the previous model GT3.

In addition to this high engine speed concept, the optimised airflow rate of the engine intake systems considerably improves performance. This is made possible by the variable intake system with a throttle valve enlarged from 76 to 82 millimeters, the optimised cylinder heads and an exhaust system with low backpressure.

New for the GT3 is a change-up display, which lights up on the rev counter shortly before the relevant engine speed is reached, not unlike the system featured on the Nissan 350Z, and can provide an additional signal at the best time to change gear. On the topic of gears, drivers will be greeted with a revised 6-speed manual transmission at their disposal, one which Porsche says will impress with its very short gear lever travel. The gearbox also gets revised ratios: the gears 2 to 6 have been given lower ratios, improving acceleration in these gears and naturally complementing the high revving boxer engine.

Porsche says that the measured values prove just how well the engine and gearbox are harmonised: the GT3 accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.3 seconds - just three tenths of a second off the V10 Lamborghini Gallardo and V8 Ferrari F430's pace, and reaches 160km/h from a standing start in 8.7 seconds. It has a top speed of 310km/h (192.6mph). If you look at the grey breakout table at the bottom of the page, you'll note that both the Ferrari and Lamborghini have much larger engines - 4.3 and 5.0-litres respectively - making the Porsche's vital statistics even more impressive.

From a visual point of view, the GT3 gets the now obligatory curvy rear wing to keep the rear end stable at higher road speeds by increasing downforce, while also creating a vortex directly above the rear engine bay, making it easier for the engine to draw in air. Centrally mounted exhaust pipes and small engine-bay extraction outlets are the only other new visual cues on the otherwise solid 911's rear end.

The front end of the car is characterised by three large air dams in the front apron and two smaller, vertically positioned intakes flanking the central air dam. Combined, and with the 997-Type Porsche's circular headlights, they give the car's face a more aggressive look, while a lower ride height and large 19-inch alloy wheels finish the job tastefully and with a good amount of sportiness.

Interestingly, Porsche has decided to bestow the new 911 GT3 with an active chassis for the first time. Officially called Porsche Active Suspension Management, or PASM, the system offers two sporty chassis in one: the basic configuration is largely similar to that of the previous model and is suitable for driving on alternating road surfaces, the likes of which you encounter on a drive from the outer suburbs to the city centre. In sport mode, the system switches to harder damping, thereby enabling even better dynamism and higher levels of grip, best suited to winding roads and perfect for the racetrack work.

For the best-possible transmission of engine power to the road, Porsche has revealed that the GT3 is equipped with a comprehensive traction package, which includes not only the standard-equipment 19-inch sports tyres but also a mechanical limited slip differential. In addition, the new electronic Traction Control – adapted from the Carrera GT high-performance V10 sports car – ensures safe traction under any driving conditions by providing traction-slip and drag-torque control functions, and can be switched off completely if required.

The basic Euro price for the 911 GT3 is €93,000 and in Germany, it will be offered including sales tax and country-specific requirements for €108,083. In the USA, the new GT3 will be available in dealerships from August 2006 for $106,000. The new 911 GT3 will be unveiled to the worlds public for the very first time on February 28, 2006, and is set to reach showrooms in Europe in May 2006.