 |
| porsche gt3rs
This is a mid-generational update rather than a full-scale rebirth, but there’s plenty of new stuff to get excited about.
Most important is that motor: 4.0 litres, 493bhp and 339lb ft. If that sounds remarkably similar to the 991.1 GT3 RS motor, then forget about it.
Porsche says this is a new engine that appears in the GT3 Cup racers and is built for a spine-tingling 9000rpm redline, a height it can reach thanks to axle-mounted rocker arms, a stiffer crankshaft and bigger bearings. Serious stuff.
Praise be you can, although regrettably this early example doesn’t have it. We’ll revisit the GT3 another time with what is probably the ideal spec for road driving (and for holding its value) but don’t dismiss the PDK.
A precise snap change at 9000rpm is not something you want to get wrong but PDK gets it right every single time; when you’ve got the throttle pinned it slides the next gear in with the precision and speed of a card shark taking your money.
|
Clearly it's fast then?
By any measure. Given that in supercar land these days 700bhp-plus has become almost expected, it’s worth remembering the GT3 makes do with 'only' 493bhp. Do the two-pedal dance and it will fire itself to 62mph in 3.4 seconds and to 100mph in just 7.9, with a magnificent, cultured holler accompanying you the whole way.
Deliciously precise and devilishly fast, no turbo engine – not even built by Porsche – will ever be this good.
That's all very nice, but what's it like in the bends?
Remarkable, but not necessarily in the way you might think. There’s a school of thought that the modern supercar has become so friendly and easy to drive in normal conditions that the rawness and edge has been lost.
The first five minutes in the GT3 might convince you that Porsche has fallen foul of the same trend; even with the Clubsport pack’s rollcage clanking away behind you and the serious bucket seats, it is remarkably composed on your average sub-quality road. It’s significantly more comfortable than the outgoing car and appears as agreeable as a regular 911. What are they playing at?
2017 Porsche 911 GT3 review by CAR magazine
Fear not. With PASM in its standard mode you can tackle pretty unruly B-roads at higher speeds and the sublime tuning of the springs and dampers sucks it all in, no doubt assisted by the helper springs on the rear axle that allow a softer set-up. It gives you greater freedom to exercise that sensational motor without fear of the road conditions getting the better of you.
And this is the most accessible GT3 ever. Stay the right side of heroic and there are spectacular depths to its ability. Drive it in textbook fashion and it grips and steers with composure and reassurance, all while covering ground at a significant rate. But if you’re more Keke than Nico you can dance around the outer limits, trail braking into bends to get the nose locked in and teasing the rear out with micrometric precision on the throttle.
Where new GT3 beats old is that you can do this more of the time – with the single proviso that on the standard-fit Cup tyres a sprinkling of rain requires an extra large slice of restraint. A bigger buzz more of the time; sounds like a worthwhile improvement to us...
Is there anything else that's new on the 991.2 GT3?
In classic Porsche fashion, it’s all about detail tweaks. The front and rear aero packages have been redesigned, with a mix of polyurethane and carbonfibre to save weight. Downforce is increased over the previous GT3 and the engine scoops have been redesigned to increase the air supply. A true spotter will pick up the differences, everyone else will just be wowed.
2017 Porsche 911 GT3 road test
What else do I need to know?
Only how much money you can lay your hands on. The £111,802 GT3 isn’t a limited-edition model, but the total number built is limited by the availability of parts. If you have the means, don’t even hesitate. But buy it for keeps.
Verdict
This was hardly a car Porsche was going to get wrong. In fact it could have made some token changes and still sold every single one without breaking sweat. But GT3.2 is so much more than that, building on the brilliance of the old car by making it more accessible and usable but without any dilution of the sensory magic that makes it such a joy to drive in the first place.
We know what you’re thinking: another 911, another glowing review. But spend five minutes exploring the GT3’s ability on a suitable road and we guarantee you won’t think any differently.
Source Article : http://www.carmagazine.co.uk
