April 1, 2023

3R Trail

Feel the difference

2022 Porsche 911 GT3 overview: The superlative sports car or truck

Enlarge / There are 911s, and then there are 911 GT3s.

Bradley Iger

Originally developed to fulfill homologation rules for FIA competitors, the 911 GT3 has experienced an intrinsic link to Porsche’s racing endeavours because the design debuted in 1999. With the introduction of the 992-era GT3, the shared DNA is much more apparent than at any time. However Porsche has by some means managed to strike a stability involving ability and pragmatism, resulting in a performance equipment that will mercilessly hunt down apices on a track though offering an pleasurable driving knowledge outside a curated street class.

But don’t believe for a second that the GT3 has gone soft. Made alongside its racing counterparts by Porsche’s GT division, the new car’s sub-3,200 lb (1,451 kg) curb fat continues to be pretty much unchanged from its predecessor despite the transition to the larger sized 992 system many thanks to a sturdy concentration on reducing mass all over the automobile. A new exhaust program saves 22 lbs (10 kg) in this article, a lithium iron phosphate battery shaves off a several pounds there—it all provides up. And that technique is a recurring theme in the 992 GT3.

New adjustable aerodynamic aspects let downforce to be greater by as significantly as 150 per cent in excess of the previous generation GT3 (regarded as the 991.2). And in a to start with for any highway-going 911, the new GT3 adopts the 911 RSR racing car’s double-wishbone front suspension configuration to enrich handling precision. In accordance to GT division boss Andreas Preuninger, the structure improves get hold of patch steadiness as the suspension absorbs bumps and other imperfections in the street surface, making it possible for Porsche engineers to stiffen the chassis when retaining ride compliance. New adaptive dampers, which can react to highway situations in about half the time, more help that mission.

Note the gooseneck rear-wing uprights.
Enlarge / Take note the gooseneck rear-wing uprights.

Bradley Iger

But as the sole obviously aspirated design in the present 911 lineup, the engine is arguably the centerpiece of the GT3 components. Effectively an up to date model of the 4. L flat-six applied in the 991.2 Speedster, its soaring 9,000 rpm redline is the stuff goals are created of. Peak output numbers of 502 hp (375 kW) and 346 lb-ft (469 Nm) of torque are marginal improves around the earlier era, but the outgoing GT3 wasn’t exactly lacking for straight-line thrust.

That engine is paired with a 7-pace PDK automatic gearbox in the GT3, and the mixture is capable of rocketing the rear-push coupe to 60 mph from a standstill in 3.2 seconds. For these who like to row their individual, even so, a 6-velocity handbook gearbox with automated rev-matching is also readily available as a no-cost option. Our tester was outfitted with the latter, and we would take into consideration it truly worth the extra 50 percent-next it can take to attain that velocity. American Porsche consumers would appear to be to concur, as over 70 p.c of them opted for a few pedals with the past generation GT3.