Another new GT3?



Porsche Another new GT3?

You’d better believe it – it’s the fourth in ten years. But after the success of the last one, which sold 5200 units or, in other words, a bit more than double Porsche’s most optimistic forecast, you can hardly blame them. It’s on sale in the UK this autumn, priced at £81,914.

Doesn’t look much different.
On this occasion, appearances are deceptive. The engine has grown from 3.6 to 3.8-litres, its power up from 415 to 435bhp. The suspension has been totally revised, the brakes enlarged, the gears made lighter… you can even specify electronic engine mounts that allow the engine to move by up to 2cm at low speeds to aid traction but by less than 2mm at high speed to maintain stability. The biggest change, however, is to the bodywork where all its aerodynamic appendages have been reprofiled to bring about a five fold increase in aerodynamic downforce. At 186mph, it equates to a big fat bloke sitting on the roof off the car.

Guessing it will drive alright then?
If you’ve been lucky enough even to travel in the last GT3, you would be forgiven for wondering how a car could feel more urgent, dynamic or thrilling. But this one does. It’s only a little swifter in a straight line (though no-one’s quibbling about a 0-62mph time of 4.1sec), but the extra downforce has brought a degree of high speed stability almost unknown outside the race track. Moreover the engine not only revs higher, all the way to 8500rpm, it also has usefully more mid-range torque, so you tend to drive in a gear higher than the old GT3.

And once on a decent road, or track, it is nothing short of electrifying. All that suspension work has provided more grip, more composure and more feel for the driver and the new brakes are strong enough to question the merit of PCCB. In short it is the most involving and exhilarating GT3 yet and, for the money, the best driver’s car Porsche has produced in a generation.

It’ll be a nightmare to live with though. Won’t it?
Only if you need rear seats, because it doesn’t have any. Otherwise, there’s nothing to stop you using it in all seasons and for all reasons. It’s tolerably quiet, remarkably comfortable and even has a big boot. Just bear in mind that right hand drive cars lack the 20 gallon fuel tank left-hookers enjoy.

Will there be another GT3 RS?
You betcha. We’ll see it by the end of the year and word on the street is that unlike the last RS, this one will be very different to the GT3 upon which it’s based. So expect more power, a lot less weight, a much more race-oriented set-up and a whole pile more downforce. Customers told Porsche that while they liked the last GT3 RS, there was insufficient differentiation between it and the standard GT3. Porsche insiders say it is not a complaint they anticipate hearing with the new car.

Read the full story in the June 2009 issue of GT Purely Porsche, on- sale Thursday 14th May 2009


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