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NEWS
GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Porsche shows new 911 GT3
No manual gearbox, and electric steering for rear wheels too!Sportscar fans weep! A manual gearbox is no longer part of the armoury offered by Porsche’s racing-focussed 911 GT3.
As we previously reported – and now confirmed on the eve of the Geneva motor show – the latest all-new 991 generation GT3 swaps to a seven-speed dual clutch PDK transmission in combination with its newly-developed 350kW 3.8 litre boxer six engine.
The new GT3, on-sale in Australia late in 2013, also introduces electronically controlled active rear wheel steering (for the first time available in any production Porsche), an electronically controlled fully variable rear diff lock and dynamic engine mounts.
The GT3 also swaps from hydraulic to electro-mechanical steering, a fuel-saving move in which it apes the mainstream 911 Carrera.
Some things remain familiar, like the wide body rear-end, the ability to adjust height, toe and camber, and two-seat interior and distinctive adjustable rear wing.
The exterior is distinguished by a new front bumper with integrated running lamps, various cooling ducts and a splitter to build downforce.
While purists will bemoan the loss of the clutch pedal, Porsche argues the move to the slick-shifting PDK provides performance, economy and congested traffic driving benefits.
The performance level is certainly outstanding. Porsche claims a 0-100km/h time of 3.5 seconds (down 0.6 secs), 0-200km/h in 12 secs and a top speed of 315km/h (up 3km/h). Porsche also claims the new GT3 can lap the Nurburgring ‘Nordschleife’ in under 7 minutes 30 secs, at least 10 sec faster than the old car. However, combined fuel consumption based on European NEDC testing is slightly worse at 12.8L/00km.
While the new engine is based on the direct injection boxer 6 employed by the Carrera S, the Porsche Motorsport Department has adapted or developed most components including the lighter crankshaft and valvetrain, added larger ports and valves and swapped to a dry sump.
It is a free-spinning unit, with peak power produced at 8250rpm and the redline set at 9000rpm – up 500rpm from its predecessor. Peak power also climbs 30kW compared to the legendary Metzger engine employed in previousGT3s, while torque climbs 10Nm to 440Nm (at 6250rpm).
The PDK gearbox has also been modified mechanically and in terms of control technology to reflect the GT3’s racing orientation. Gears are lighter and ratios shorter. Manual shifting can be performed via either a lever or steering wheel paddles in under 100 milliseconds. Alternatively, for the first time, the gearbox in the GT3 can be left to shift automatically.
The rear steer system steers in the opposite (up to 50km/h) or same direction as the front wheels (over 80km/h). Porsche claims both agility and stability improvements as a result. The system comprises two electro-mechanical actuators, which are used at the left and right side of the rear axle instead of the conventional control arms. These allow the steering angle of the rear wheels to be varied by up to about 1.5 degrees, depending on the speed.
The size of the centrally locked wheels grows from 19- to 20 inches and construction swaps to lighter forged aluminium. The track and wheelbase widen and lengthen as per all 991 911s. The chassis is also lowered 30mm compared to a standard 911 Carrera. Two-mode PASM variable damping is standard.
A transverse control arm at the front axle is also a new development that is claimed to yield additional stability and reduced weight. The multi-link rear axle was also developed largely from scratch for the GT3 and is equipped with torque-shuttling Porsche Vectoring Plus.
Porsche is also claiming boosted braking performance via larger 380mm rear discs with better cooling.
According to Porsche, the larger bodyshell of the new GT3 is actually 13 per cent lighter than its predecessor thanks to the use of some aluminium body panels, while torsional rigidity is improved by a significant 25 per cent. However, at 1430kg, overall kerb weight has risen 35kg.
The fifth generation GT3 arrives to mark the 50th anniversary of the 911. Since 1999 14,145 have been built, while total production of the iconic Porsche now tops 820,000 since 1963.
The old GT3 was retailing for $276,200 when it was discontinued in mid-2012 in Australia. Given the trend for all 991 911, you can expect the new GT3 to be priced higher when it lands.
Nevertheless, Porsche Cars Australia expects strong demand.
“The car will be in very high demand,” said PCA spokesman Paul Ellis. “Demand will exceed supply in the first instance, but we will be very active in trying to secure good volume as the GT3 has traditionally been very well received in this market.”
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Written byBruce Newton
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