The much anticipated and prematurely leaked Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 was officially launched today. The limited edition Porsche features the largest engine ever offered in a Porsche and is limited to 600 cars worldwide. The complete details are in the official Porsche press release at the end of this post. However, the video below is much more entertaining. While Porsche is great at putting out limited editions, it’s very possible that this new GT3 RS 4.0 is the last of the 997s we’ll see. If you’re viewing this post via your email subscription you may need to visit the site by clicking on Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 to view the video).
The 911 GT3 RS, one of Porsche’s most popular, coveted and successful track-inspired production cars, has been given a final, thrilling injection of thoroughbred motorsport technology resulting in the 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0. Limited to 600 vehicles worldwide, the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 brings together in a sports car the attributes that have made the Porsche 911 GT3 a consistent winner on the race track.
The motorsport-derived 4.0-liter engine, already the highest displacement 911 engine ever, also features the highest per-liter output — 125 horsepower (hp) per liter — from a naturally aspirated Porsche flat-six engine. The engine uses forged pistons, the connecting rods are fashioned from titanium, and the crankshaft has been lifted unchanged from the 911 GT3 RSR race car. It achieves its maximum power of 500 hp at 8,250 rpm. Maximum torque of 339 ft/lbs is reached at 5,750 rpm.
The 911 GT3 RS 4.0 offers truly impressive performance, lapping the famed Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 27 seconds. Available exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 sprints from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.8 seconds, and with its gearing designed for the race circuit it reaches the 124 mph mark on the race track in under 12 seconds.
The 911 GT3 RS 4.0’s outstanding driving dynamics come from numerous, meticulously coordinated details. In addition to using suspension components typically encountered in motor racing, weight reduction is also of supreme importance. Equipped as standard with lightweight components such as light but strong carbon fiber sport bucket seats, carbon fiber front fenders and luggage compartment lid, and weight-optimized carpets, the two-seater’s ready-for-action weight is just 2,998 lbs with a full fuel tank. The 911 GT3 RS 4.0’s power-to-weight ratio is 5.99 lbs/hp.
This limited edition 911 is painted Carrara White as standard and emphasizes its proximity to motor racing by its dynamic appearance. Signature characteristics are the wide track, the low vehicle position, the large rear wing with side plates, central twin tailpipe, and the aerodynamically optimized body. Air deflection vanes mounted on either side of the front bumper – called ‘flics’ or dive planes – make their first appearance on a production Porsche. They create increased downforce on the front axle, and together with the steeply inclined rear wing, provide aerodynamics on par with its performance capabilities. As a result, at the 193 mph top track speed, aerodynamic forces exert an additional 426 lbs of downforce, thus pushing the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 onto the road.
With a manufacturer’s suggested retail price starting at $185,000 (excluding destination), the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 goes on sale in the United States in late 2011.
Written on March 17th, 2011 at 1:03pm by Pepper Girl
20 per cent weight reduction of hybrid components (-50 kg).
Same lap times, reduced fuel consumption.
Electric front drive with more power; integrated seamlessly into driving controls, with standalone “push to pass” feature.
Improved ergonomics
New Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid Pictures
If you’re viewing this post via email it may be easier to visit our site to see the Pictures of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid. The interface works better that way.
Porsche takes up the Nürburgring 24 hour race on 25 June with a further developed version of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. Priority of the development was given to the improvement of efficiency through the targeted optimisation of hybrid components, which also resulted in a 20 percent weight reduction. Version 2.0 of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid is intended to achieve the same lap times as its predecessor but with less fuel consumption.
The general layout of the hybrid was adopted from the 2010 model. A portal axle with two electric motors drives the front wheels and supplements the four-litre, depending on the balance of performance classification approximately 470 hp, six-cylinder boxer engine at the rear. The output of both electric motors has increased from 60 to 75 kilowatts each. For seconds at a time, pilots now have almost an additional 200 hp at their disposal with the 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0. Depending on the programming, this power is automatically activated through use of the throttle pedal. Moreover, pilots can manually call up this extra power, for instance when overtaking.
The electric flywheel accumulator, with its rotor spinning up to 40,000 rpm and storing energy mechanically as rotational energy, is now housed with the other hybrid components in a carbon fibre safety cell on the passenger’s side.
At first glance, the new GT3 R Hybrid is clearly distinguishable from the 2010 model. Thanks to the optimisation of the hybrid system’s high voltage components, the large louvres in front of the rear fenders were no longer necessary. This reduces drag and also lowers fuel consumption. All in all, the weight of the vehicle decreased from 1,350 to 1,300 kilograms.
“We’ve collected a great deal of information from our races on the Nürburgring, at the ALMS race at Road Atlanta in the USA, as well as from the ILMC race on China’s Zhuhai circuit, which was an invaluable help for the further development of our racing laboratory,” says Hartmut Kristen, head of Porsche motorsport. “The emphasis of our work was on improving efficiency. That means we want to keep the lap times consistent with 2010 but use less energy, hence less fuel. In this way, we support future developments of road-going, sporting hybrid vehicles.”
The cockpit of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid has also been completely revised. Most of the displays and controls have moved to the steering wheel. Drivers can operate the rest of the functions via backlit buttons now situated on the centre console. Priority was placed on the ergonomics and the clear layout for pilots – particularly in darkness. The new 911 GT3 R Hybrid is a perfect example of the ‘Porsche Intelligent Performance’ philosophy, a principle found in every Porsche: More power on less fuel, more efficiency and lower CO2 emissions – on the race track and on the road.
[Source: PCNA]
Written on March 17th, 2011 at 12:48pm by Pepper Girl
If you ever wanted a chance to drive the same Porsche the big boys do. Now’s your chance. Graduates of the three-day race license program at the Porsche Sport Driving School at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham and other qualified race-licensed drivers now have a chance to hone their skills at the most advanced race car driving course available.
Called the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Experience, this program features the most successful race car ever produced – the 2011 version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racer – complete with a custom-built second front instructor seat for maximum instruction.
The 911 GT3 Cup Experience is designed to provide the ultimate GT race car curriculum. Vehicle attributes include 450 horsepower (hp), Michelin racing slicks and a team of elite instructors featuring Hurley Haywood, one of the world’s most successful road racers. Participants will learn from the best in the industry with personal one-on-one coaching and video along with data acquisition review that will provide the most intense driver training experience available.
Built specifically for this program, the two 911 GT3 Cup cars – like all Cup cars – came down the same assembly line in Stuttgart, Germany, as the street version of the 911, and were tested at the Porsche Research and Development Center at Weissach before being shipping to the U.S. They were then prepared at Porsche Motorsports North America in Santa Ana, Calif., where the second seat was added.
This program is designed for experienced drivers that are ready for the next level and qualified candidates will be able to sign up by calling 888-204-7474 or visiting www.porschedriving.com for more information on this, or the other Porsche Sport Driving School courses.
“The school has been very successful from the outset, due both to the great facility we have here at Barber Motorsports Park and our experienced instructor staff. As a matter of fact, we have just surpassed 10,000 students; teaching drivers how to get the most out of their Porsche,” said David Pryor, Vice President of Marketing for Porsche Cars North America.
“This 911 GT3 Cup Experience gives us a chance to demonstrate the link between Porsche racing cars and their street counterparts,” said Pryor.
The 911 GT# Cup is Stronger, wider, faster
The new version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car offers its many customers around the world even greater value and performance than ever before. The successor to the best-selling racing car of all time built in a production series of more than 1,400 units is based on the 911 GT3 RS, with the weight of the racing model reduced significantly versus the already lightweight road-going version. This is the first GT3 Cup to feature the 44-millimetre (1.73”) wider body at the rear, providing sufficient space for even larger wheels. Wider wheel arches at the front clearly show that the front wheels are also likewise new. Engine capacity is up by 0.2 liters over the former model; engine output is 30 bhp more than before. The most important facts and figures: 3.8-litre six-cylinder horizontally-opposed power unit developing 450 HP (331 kW); sequential six-speed manual gearbox; weight 1,200 kg (2,646 lb); racing version of the 911 GT3 RS.
The most recent success of this race car was several weeks ago as the TRG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup lead a one-two Porsche finish at the 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The development of the new 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Grand-Am Rolex Cup car, available for the first time since 2009, has been a unique collaboration between Porsche engineers at the factory in Germany (Porsche AG) and the technical experts at Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA).
The objective was to create a competitive new Rolex car that provides longevity, versatility and a degree of flexibility for the customers planning to compete in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. This car has some significant improvements compared to its predecessor, the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Cup car, such as fully adjustable suspension to optimize handling and tire wear. The brake system was upgraded and includes an endurance brake cooling package for long-distance races. Furthermore, the exhaust system received a substantial weight reduction.
For the first time since inception of the Rolex Cup car (starting with Model Year 2007), the actual conversion of these Cup cars to Grand-Am Rolex specifications was done by PMNA’s technicians in Santa Ana.
The following teams have purchased the six cars that were shipped to California for the Rolex Series conversion: TRG, TRG/Steven Bertheau, TRG/Black Swan Racing, Brumos Racing, Magnus Racing, and Muehlner Motorsport. They will take delivery of their vehicles approx. one week before the scheduled Grand-Am tire test at Homestead scheduled for December 1 and 2.
“During this entire year Porsche has made an extra effort to come up with a top-of-the-line version of a Rolex Cup car at a competitive price. We thoroughly listened to the requests and concerns expressed by our teams in order to help them get back into the Grand-Am Rolex GT series with a terrific new product. Despite some of the challenges that had to be overcome during the development phase, we were able to produce a fascinating race car. Needless to say, we are very thankful to our teams for their trust in us as well as their loyalty to thePorsche brand and the Rolex Series. We anticipate an exciting 2011 racing season,” said Jens Walther, President of PMNA.
The Porsche 911 is the most accomplished race car ever at the Rolex 24 with 38 combined class and overall wins, with Porsche having scored 22 overall wins at the January classic since its inception in 1962. Since the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup has been the Porsche standard- bearer in GT (2005), it is the most successful GT car, leading the Grand-Am competitors in championships, victories, pole positions and podium finishes.
The vehicle base price is $205,000 f.o.b. Weissach, Germany, plus importation and transportation. Further inquiries can be made through PMNA at www.porschemotorsport.com
If you ever wanted a bit more power out of your Carrera S, but didn’t want to get all tricked out for racing with a GT3, Porsche has the answer. Sitting somewhere between the two is the newly introduced 2011 Porsche 911 GTS. With 408 HP, it delivers 23 more horses than the S, yet is still 27 ponies (and a trick spoiler) shy of the GT3 (don’t forget to check out the video near the end).
Unique Features of the 2011 Porsche GTS
It’s the only rear-wheel drive 911 coupe or convertible with the wide body styling (+44mm at rear) that is normally seen on the all wheel drive Carrera models.
So everyone will know your GTS is not just another Carrera, it includes a SportDesign front apron with black spoiler edge, special black side skirts and a black finishing panel between the rear tailipipes (in case they can’t tell by the Carrera GTS logotype on the doors and rear lid).
Standard are the center-locking 19-inch RS Spyder design wheels, painted in high-gloss black with polished lips and big 305/30 R 19 really fatten up the rear profile.
No need for driving gloves in this Carrera. Just about everything you can touch in the interior is wrapped in black Leather/Alcantara (including the steering wheel, shifter and brake lever).
Underneath and on either side of that black finishing panel in the rear sits the tailpipes from the standard sport exhaust system.
In the U.S., the 911 Carrera GTS Coupe and Cabriolet will be available beginning in early 2011 and MSRP will be $103,100 and $112,900 respectively. ($124,600 and $136,100 in Canada).
If that isn’t enough, the 2011 Carrera GTS will get you to highway speed in 4 seconds flat if you opt for the PDK and Sport Chrono package (zero to 60 is 4.0 seconds) while still delivering 27mpg on the highway. For all the technical details, the full release is after the picture below.
ATLANTA, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ — With 408 horsepower (hp), outstanding vehicle dynamics and additional standard equipment, the new 2011 911 Carrera GTS ascends to the pinnacle of the Carrera model lineup. With 23 hp more than the 911 Carrera S, the new GTS – available as Coupe and Cabriolet – narrows the gap between the Carrera S and the 435 hp 911 GT3. The additional sportiness goes hand in hand with an economic advantage: thanks to Porsche Intelligent Performance, as the new sports car consumes no more fuel than the 911 Carrera S. It also provides comprehensive list of additional standard equipment. The 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS will celebrate its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in early October.
Unique within the Carrera family, the 911 Carrera GTS combines the 44 millimeter wider Carrera 4 body of the AWD models, including a wider rear track and wheels, with rear-wheel drive. There are many more details which distinguish the appearance and technology of a GTS from other Carrera models, for instance, the GTS runs on 19-inch center-mount RS Spyder wheels, painted black, with high-gloss rim flanges and 305/30 R 19 tires on the rear axle.
Other visual features include the SportDesign front apron with black spoiler edge, special sideskirts, also in black, and the Carrera GTS logotype on doors and rear lid, in black or silver depending on the body color. The area between the two tailpipes in the rear is also black. In combination with the standard interior color “black Alcantara”, the center sections of the driver and passenger sport seats are covered with black Alcantara and the high-quality Alcantara is also used wherever driver and passenger come in direct contact with the interior, like on the rim of the new three-spoke SportDesign steering wheel and on the gear and handbrake levers.
More Power. Quicker Acceleration. Same Fuel Economy. Detailed attention was paid to the intake and exhaust functions in the 3.8-liter flat-six engine that now delivers 408 hp: A special resonance intake manifold featuring six vacuum-controlled tuning flaps switch between power and torque-optimized geometry compared to the Carrera S power unit with only one tuning flap. This allows for increased torque in the mid-rev range. Maximum torque of 310 lb. ft. (420 Nm) is unchanged, but is available at 4,200 rpm; 200 rpm earlier when compared with the Carrera S. Additionally, a sport exhaust system with two dual-tipped tailpipes with their outer shells painted black with polished inner tubes comes standard.
The Carrera GTS comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission with the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) available. In comparison with the Carrera S, top track speed for manual transmission Coupe rises by two mph to 190 (306 km/h). Acceleration from zero to 60 is 4.0 seconds for the GTS Coupe with PDK and Sport Chrono Package Plus. And the new Carrera GTS will offer fuel economy of up to 19 mpg city / 27 mpg highway.
In the U.S., the 911 Carrera GTS Coupe and Cabriolet will be available beginning in early 2011 and MSRP will be $103,100 and $112,900 respectively.
Following the impressive performance at the Nürburgring 24 hour race where the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid demonstrated the potential of its groundbreaking technology over 22 hours and 15 minutes and led the overall classification for more than eight hours, the orange and white liveried 911 racer will now travel to the USA and Asia. Porsche has received an invitation to contest the season final of the American Le Mans Series, the race series featuring the world’s fastest sportcars, at the ‘Petit Le Mans’ at Road Atlanta on October 2. The race runs over a distance of 1,000 miles or a maximum of ten hours. The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will not be eligible for points, as hybrid technology is not yet included in the GT regulations.
For November 7, Porsche then plans to race the 911 GT3 R Hybrid at the season final of the new Le Mans International Cup, the six hour race in Zhuhai, China. Again here, the vehicle is not competing for points.
“After the 911 GT3 R Hybrid’s fantastic performance at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, we are now eager to gain more experience with the hybrid technology on a variety of race tracks,” says Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “At the same time, we would like to show fans and customers in our most important markets how our ‘race lab’ performs under racing conditions,” adds Kristen.
The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, featuring two electric motors at the front axle each developing 60 kilowatts to supplement the 480 horsepower normally-aspirated rear-engine, expressly typifies the philosophy of “Porsche Intelligent Performance”: Under braking, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid converts kinetic energy into electrical energy and stores it in a flywheel. During acceleration, this energy is automatically delivered to the front wheels, supporting the combustion engine. This leads to a reduction in fuel consumption and increases the cruising range. Moreover, drivers can manually utilise the stored energy with a boost-paddle on the steering wheel for overtaking.
Since April 19th we’ve received close to 20 different press releases (possibly more, but I think I may have deleted a few) from Porsche’s PR department. Generally, we publish most of them, but we don’t necessarily send them out in our newsletters (remember this post about stealth publishing). I figure if we published and sent out a newsletter every time Porsche releases a new piece of press you would hit the unsubscribe button faster then the 0 to 60 time of the new GT2 RS (3.4 seconds if you were wondering).
While we try to save the newsletter for more then just promotional items sometimes Porsche puts out something so juicy we just can’t resist. The new 911 GT2 RS is one such item. As “The Most Powerful Street Legal Porsche of All Time” (620 HP), a production limit of just 500 worldwide and a price tag just $5k shy of a cool quarter of a million we couldn’t resit. The excellent video intro, featured below, definitely didn’t hurt either. The original press release is published after the video for those of you that haven’t yet had a chance to view the details.
The time: seven minutes, 18 seconds on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. The power: 620 hp. The weight: 3,020 lb (1,370 kilograms) in road trim with all fluids on board. The car: the new 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS.
90 More Horsepower, 154 lbs Less Filling
The latest 911 is the fastest and most powerful road-going sports car ever built in the history of Porsche. With horsepower (hp) up by 90 and weight down by 154 lbs (70 kilograms) in comparison with the previous 911 GT2, the new 911 GT2 RS has a power-to-weight ratio of just 4.9 lbs (2.21 kg) per horsepower, by far the best power/weight ratio in its class. These are the ideal ingredients for an ultra-high-performance sports car with supreme agility and truly blistering performance on the road. Perfectly illustrating Porsche Intelligent Performance, the 2011 GT2 RS achieves a reduction of approximately 5 percent for both fuel consumption and CO2 emission reduction when compared with the previous 911 GT2.
The 3.6 liter six-cylinder boxer engine features two variable turbine geometry turbochargers and provides power to the rear wheels exclusively through a six-speed manual gearbox. Equally impressive stopping power comes from Porsche Composite Ceramic Brakes (PCCB).
Unique Tires, One of a Kind Performance
New tires were specifically developed for the 911 GT2 RS and measure 245/35 ZR 19 at the front and 325/30 ZR 19 at the rear, delivering cornering performance to match the straight-line speed. Extreme cornering dynamics are ensured by the setup of the springs, Porsche Adaptive Suspension Management (PASM), unique anti-roll bars, specific engine mounts and recalibrated Porsche Stability Management (PSM), whose stability and traction control functions can be switched off individually.
The combined effect of these developments is evident on the racetrack. In fact, the ultimate 911 accelerates from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, boasts a top-track speed of 205 mph and laps the famed Nürburgring-Nordschleife racetrack in just 7 minutes and 18 seconds.
Carbon Fiber, Limited Production
In its looks, the new 911 GT2 RS stands out clearly from the other 911 models through the lavish use of carbon-fiber-reinforced (CFR) components with a matt-black surface finish, even wider wheels (including flared wheel arches at the front), new light-alloy wheels with central locking and “GT2 RS“ model designations on the doors and rear lid. Matte-finish carbon also graces the redesigned front spoiler lip and the 3/8th of an inch (10 mm) taller rear spoiler lip – which both enhance aerodynamics and provide extra downforce.
The interior of the 911 GT2 RS also exudes sporting performance in virtually every detail. Lightweight two-piece bucket seats made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic are standard, as are lightweight door panels with fabric straps instead of traditional door handles. The basic interior color is black, which contrasts with red elements, such as the seat center sections, the roof lining and segments of the steering wheel rim. The gearshift and handbrake lever are also finished in red alcantara.
Limited to just 500 units worldwide, the 911 GT2 RS will be available in the U.S. October 2010 and will have a MSRP of $245.000. The GT2 RS is making its world debut at the Moscow Auto Show on August 25th 2010.
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While Porsche is great at putting out limited editions, it’s very possible that this new GT3 RS 4.0 is the last of the 997s we’ll see. If you’re viewing this post via your email subscription you may need to visit the site by clicking on Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 to view the video).
