Geneva Motor Show, like every year, drops a lot of jaws. Things aren’t any different for 2015. From 1500 bhp hyper-cars with no gearboxes that do 400 Km/hr in less than 20 seconds, to all electric, 1000 bhp limousines, all possessed the air inside the halls of Geneva with automotive romanticism. Apart from the Veyron “La Finale”, which marked the end of an era, the all-new, highly anticipated Porsche 911 GT3 RS marked the end of one more – the era of natural aspiration. You see, the new GT3 RS might very well be the last in line, as a representation of an usable, yet high performance, naturally aspirated automobile, making it a true collectors item.
Showcased in delicious Java Orange paintwork, the 911 GT3 RS is powered by a 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine with 500 hp (368 kW) of power and 460 Newton metres of torque, combined with a specially developed PDK transmission. The engine, which has the largest displacement and most power of any naturally-aspirated power unit with direct fuel injection in the 911 family, accelerates the high-performance sports car from 0 to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds and on to 124 mph (200 km/h) in 10.9 seconds. Combined NEDC fuel consumption is 22.2 mpg.
Click here to read about all the new cars showcased at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show
The 911 GT3 RS is also a masterpiece of intelligent lightweight design. For the first time, the roof panel is made of magnesium; carbon fibre is used for the engine and luggage compartment lids, and other lightweight components are made of alternative materials. This makes the RS model around 10 kg lighter than the 911 GT3. In addition, the lightweight roof lowers the sports car’s centre of gravity which improves its excellent lateral dynamic reponses. The distinctive, wide-arched bodyshell is derived from the 911 Turbo, and it signifies its status as a race track-oriented driving machine with a number of RS-specific aerodynamic add-on components. The front spoiler lip, which extends nearly to the road, and the large rear wing, reinforce its dominant look.
Rear-axle steering and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus with fully variable rear limited slip differential increase agility and dynamics, and the wider front and rear track widths enable even higher roll stability than in the 911 GT3. In addition, the 911 GT3 RS features the widest tyres of any 911 model as standard. The result: even more agile turn-in characteristics and even higher cornering speeds.
The new 911 GT3 RS is available to order now from Porsche Centres in the UK and Ireland priced from £131,296. First cars arrive in showrooms during May.
Standard equipment includes bi-Xenon headlights, sports exhaust, dynamic engine mounts, Alcantara interior trim, sports bucket seats, 20-inch diameter front and 21-inch diameter rear centre-lock forged alloy wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV) with rear limited slip differential, CDR audio system with 7-inch colour touchscreen, universal audio interface offering MP3 connectivity, automatic climate control, Porsche Stability Management (PSM), Porsche Vehicle Tracking anti-theft system, three-year warranty and three-year roadside assistance package.
