Porsche's road-going racer

When Porsche revealed the 911 GT3 earlier this year, it was billed as the ultimate road-going track car.

How, then, does one describe the just unveiled 911 GT3 RS? Well how about this: the GT3 may be the motorised equivalent of former sprint star Carl Lewis, but the RS is undoubtedly the wheeled counterpart of Asafa Powell (the current 100m world-record holder).

In a nutshell, the RS builds on the strengths of the GT3 by shaving precious grams wherever possible to yield a formidably quick package. And Porsche points out that while it's particularly suited for use on the track, the RS also meets all requirements for road-legal sports cars.

Porschephiles will be familiar with the 'RS' moniker as it's appeared on past greats such as the 1972 Carrera RS 2.7 and the 1991 Type 964 911 RS. In the tradition of its ancestors, the latest RS is a homologation special for use in a range of racing series.

Nestled in its rounded rump is the same powerplant as the standard GT3 -- namely, a 3.6-litre flat-six that ekes out a robust 305kW at a peaky 7600rpm. However, specific to the RS is a close-ratio six-speed gearbox with a single-mass flywheel.

Its 20kg lower kerb weight means the RS leaps to 100km/h in a claimed 4.2 seconds -- one tenth of a second faster than the GT3. Even more impressive is that takes just 13.3 seconds to dispatch 200km/h. Maximum speed is quoted at 310km/h.

Incidentally, it's worth bearing in mind that Porsche's performance figures usually err on the conservative side.

In case you're wondering how the Zuffenhausen boffins managed to trim 20kg from the already sprightly GT3, it's via features such as an adjustable carbonfibre wing, a plastic rear lid and a lightweight plastic rear window.

You may notice the RS has an exceptionally wide stance, and this is no illusion. The body is 44mm wider at the rear than the base GT3 (a legacy from the Carrera 4 models with which it shares its shell), and the wider track is said to improve directional stability and increase cornering grip.

In keeping with its overtly sporting aspirations, the RS's interior is distinguished by a pair of lightweight carbonfibre bucket seats, a bolted-in roll cage and pre-wiring for a battery master switch. A six-point seatbelt for the driver and a fire extinguisher are also standard.

Although spartan, the cabin doesn't have a poverty-pack ambience as the roof lining, steering wheel and gearknob are trimmed in high-quality Alcantara leather.

You can have one in any colour as long as it's silver or black -- or you can splash out extra to have yours in orange or green. All vehicle insignia and the wheels are styled in orange or black to contrast with the body paintwork.

Like its predecessors, the RS will be a low-volume special, so it's virtually guaranteed collectable status in years to come.