Driving pleasure moves higher: on the road and on the track

Twenty-five years after the debut of the first generation, a new series of the Porsche 911 Gt3 arrives, the result of an aesthetic review and interventions aimed as much at improving general efficiency as dynamism to move the driving pleasure of the two variants of its very personal line-up even higher. For the first time, it is immediately formed by the version with a marked track DNA and the one with a more discreet outfit to show off on the roads. That is to say, the regular Gt3 and the Touring package that can be ordered from the end of the year, both at 215,000 euro, but without being seduced by the Weissach sports package, which is unprecedented, and the Leichtbau, or lightweight package, which includes a host of solutions that raise the bar for the Gt3's dynamism between the kerbs of the track.

Porsche 911 Gt3, revised flat-six, gram-hunting and new trim.

Inside the bonnet of the new Gt3 is still the non-supercharged and not even electrified 4-litre six-cylinder of the previous version with 510 bhp but with torque remodelled to 450 Nm, revised to meet current emissions regulations that have brought in two particulate filters and four catalytic converters. The complex exhaust system, fortunately, does not remodel the typical roar of this unit thanks to careful work by Porsche's 'sound engineers'. The flat-six capable of screaming up to more than 9,000 rpm can always be mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, both with a shortened final ratio compared to the past, propels the Gt3 with a manual gearbox to 313 mph and 100 km/h in 3"9, while with the dual-clutch gearbox to 311 mph and 100 km/h in 3"4. It also achieves a power-to-weight ratio of 2.8 kg/hp when pushing the 1,420 kg Gt3 configuration. That is, the one that adopts the optional package that includes parts of the bodywork and cabin along with some carbon fibre furniture and more, magnesium wheels and even a lightweight lithium-ion battery. In addition, the new Gt3s have more direct steering and new shock absorbers which, together with solutions taken from the even more extreme Gt3 Rs in braking, considerably reduce pitching, thus optimising dynamism and making driveability more linear.

Porsche 911 Gt3, design brings form and function together.

The new Gt3 differs from its predecessor, in particular, at the front and rear for the presence of solutions that improve aerodynamics. Specifically, in the appearance of both variants stand out the reconfigured front diffuser, a different outline of the spoiler profile that together with the redefinition of many other details increase downforce and optimise air flow and, finally, redesigned Matrix LED headlights that have made it possible to eliminate the fog lights from the new bumper shield. It should be added that the airflow pattern is optimised by the front suspension architecture with longitudinal arms with a teardrop profile that increase downforce in the wheel arches at high speeds and improve brake cooling. At the rear, the Gt3 is reshaped by the new design of both the aerodynamic extractor and air outlets and the bonnet lid. On the track Gt3, the characteristic large rear wing that surmounts the spoiler at the tail end is still supported by a swan neck, but slightly redesigned. In contrast, on the tail of the Touring there is only an extendable spoiler ending in a suitably angled lip. As a result, the Touring's line is, at once, elegant and sporty.