Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Porsche will sell the RS road/race version of its new 911 GT3 in New Zealand from 2007.

Porsche announced the RS in Germany , and Porsche NZ says it is expected to sell here for around $340,000. The RS and standard GT3 run the same naturally-aspirated 3.6-litre flat six-cylinder motor, developing maximum power of 305kW. But the RS is 20kg lighter and runs a single-mass flywheel which enables the engine to rev more freely.

Equipped with a close-ratio six-speed gearbox the GT3 RS will accelerate to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds – a tenth of a second quicker than the standard GT3. It will hit 200km/h in 13.3 seconds, and has a 310km/h top speed. Porsche says the RS offers “an unadulterated driving experience similar to that of a racing car”, and though it is particularly suited for racetrack use, it is fully road-legal.

The new RS’s body is 44mm wider at the rear than the standard GT3 (a legacy from the Carrera 4 models with which it shares its bodyshell. Its wider rear track improves directional stability and increases cornering grip. Its 1375kg kerb weight has been achieved in part by using an adjustable carbon fibre wing, a plastic rear decklid and a lightweight plastic rear window.

To make the RS elligible for international GT racing championships, the road version has technical attributes that will also appear in the racing version. They include the design of the entire wheel carrier and split wishbones on the rear axle, in addition to carbon fibre body components. The interior has two lightweight bucket seats made of carbon fibre composite, together with a bolted-in rollcage and pre-wiring for a battery master switch. A six-point seatbelt for the driver and a fire extinguisher are also standard. Internal trim is black, with the roof lining, steering wheel and gear lever trimmed in high-quality Alcantara leather. Standard exterior paint finishes are Arctic Silver metallic or Black; as an option, the GT3 can also be obtained in Orange or Green. All vehicle insignia and the wheels themselves are styled in orange or black to contrast with the body paintwork.

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