New spy photos of the 991 generation Porsche 911 GT3 RS have surfaced, showing the car’s muscular new exterior in clear detail.
Hoping to put the engine fire recall of the new 911 GT3 behind it, which resulted in all 2014 model GT3’s being grounded ahead of engine replacements – including five in Australia – Porsche may launch the race track-ready 911 GT3 RS as early as the 2014 Paris motor show in October to save face in the light of engineering issues.
Boasting a wide body kit with significant front and rear wheel arch extensions, the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS has a powerful road presence, broader than even its donor car, the GT3.
The Porsche’s power monger attitude is further enhanced with a new front splitter and a gargantuan rear wing.
While the production model GT3 RS is expected to get a more integrated rear wing than the parts-shop special seen on this pre-production test vehicle in Europe, it will form a significant part of the car’s aggressive aerodynamics package.
Augmented with re-profiled bonnet and roof, the car will develop very high levels of downforce, designed to increase cornering traction.
As one of Porsche’s most powerful naturally-aspirated models, the new 911 GT3 RS’s 3.8-litre six-cylinder boxer engine could pump out up to 500hp, or 373kW in metric terms. Although Porsche is keeping the car’s vital statistics close to its chest, the new engine is expected to be a screamer with a rev ceiling in excess of 9000rpm.
Expect 0-100km/h acceleration times of roughly 3.5 seconds.
After the uproar that surrounded the 911 GT3’s launch at the 2013 Geneva motor show, confirming the car would be sold exclusively with an automatic seven-speed PDK transmission, there has talk that Porsche may also fit the GT3 RS with a manual gearbox.
Watch this space.