In conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the Porsche 911, Porsche Malaysia officially welcomed the all-new 911 GT3 RS at the Sepang International Circuit. Price starts from only RM2,630,000
The look of the new 911 GT3 RS is characterised by the large number of functional aerodynamic elements. The most prominent feature of the GT sports car is the swan-neck-supported rear wing, which is significantly larger in all dimensions.
The rear wing now consists of a fixed main wing and an upper, hydraulically adjustable wing element. For the first time on a Porsche production vehicle, the upper edge of the rear wing is higher than the car’s roof. In addition, the front end of the 911 GT3 RS features a front splitter that divides the air flowing over and underneath, with side-blades accurately deflecting outwards for increased lateral stability.
Louvred strakes above the front wings, in the style of the iconic Le Mans-winning 911 GT1, reduce the turbulent pressure in the wheel arches. Hot air from the centrally positioned radiator flows out via large nostrils on the front lid, and fins on the roof direct the air outwards, ensuring cooler air enters the engine intakes at the rear.
In the new 911 GT3 RS, the openings in widened the rear arches are used exclusively to improve aerodynamics and not to draw in process air. The rear wheel arch also features an intake and a sideblade for optimised air flow. The rear diffuser comes from the 911 GT3, and has been slightly adapted.
Instead of the three-radiator layout seen in the 911 GT3, the new 911 GT3 RS relies on a large, angled centre radiator in the car’s nose, positioned where the luggage compartment is located on other 911 models.
This has made it possible to use the space freed up on the sides to integrate active aerodynamic elements. Continuously adjustable wing elements in the front and on the two-part rear wing, in combination with a number of other aerodynamic measures, provide 409 kg of total downforce at 200 km/h.
This means that the new 911 GT3 RS generates twice as much downforce as its 991.2-generation predecessor and three times as much as a current 911 GT3. At 285 km/h, total downforce is 860 kg.
Powering the 911 GT3 RS is a 4.0-litre high-revving naturally aspirated engine that produces 525 PS and 465 Nm of torque, which is paired with a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) has a shorter overall gear ratio than the 911 GT3. Air intakes on the underbody ensure that the transmission can withstand even extreme loads during frequent use on track. Thanks to the powertrain, the 911 GT3 RS accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 296 km/h in seventh gear.
The 911 GT3 RS offers three driving modes: Normal, Sport and Track. In Track mode, more detailed settings can be individually adjusted in several stages, for example the rebound and compression damping of the front and rear axles, the amount of lock on the rear differential and also the Drag Reduction System (DRS). Four rotary dials are located on the steering wheel for this adjustment process, displayed dynamically via specific displays in the instrument cluster.
Thanks to an array of lightweight construction measures such as the extensive use of CFRP, the 911 GT3 RS weighs in at only 1,450 kg (kerb weight according to DIN) despite many larger components. The doors, front wings, roof and front lid, for example, are made from CFRP. Lightweight CFRP is also used in the interior, for example in the standard full bucket seats.
When it comes to its interior, the new GT sports car is finished in typical RS style: black leather, Racetex and carbon-weave finish characterise the purist, sporting ambience. The 911 GT3 RS is available with the Clubsport package at no extra cost. This includes a steel rollover bar, a hand-held fire extinguisher and six-point seat belts for the driver.
The Weissach package, which is available at extra cost, involves considerably more. The front lid, roof, parts of the rear wing and the upper shell of the exterior mirrors feature a carbon-weave finish. The front and rear anti-roll bars, the rear coupling rods and the shear panel on the rear axle are made of CFRP and contribute to a further enhancement of the driving dynamics. The rollover bar, constructed for the first time from CFRP, saves around six kilograms compared with the steel version.
Another highlight of the Weissach package is the PDK shift paddles with motorsport-derived magnet technology. This makes gear changes even more dynamic thanks to a more precise pressure point and a clearly perceptible click. Optionally available with the Weissach package are magnesium forged wheels, which save another eight kilograms.
