The Porsche 911 GT3 has been given a mid-life update. And the good news for enthusiasts is that turbo power hasn’t reached it yet.
What’s new?
After being on the market for four years in its current generation, the Porsche 911 GT3 has been given a mid-life update and is among the last in the family to do so.
Officially launched in Thailand at the Bangkok motor show earlier this year at 18.4 million baht, the GT3 receives subtle changes to the exterior including new front bumpers and a rear spoiler repositioned higher and further back to improved downforce by 20%.
The GT3 is 25mm lower than the Carrera S and comes as standard with rear-wheel steering and small-width steering wheel.
Despite other 911s with non-GT badges getting new 3.0-litre turbocharged engines in 2015 when they were facelifted, the updated GT3 maintains the 4.0-litre naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six producing 500hp and is capable of revving to 9,000rpm.
The GT3 joins the Audi R8 V10 and Lamborghini Huracan LP580, two other members belonging to the same Volkswagen Group, in being the last to employ non-turbo power in the sub-20 million baht bracket of supercars.
What’s cool?
The coolest thing about of the GT3 is no other than the engine. Natural aspiration means that engine response is pleasantly sharp. And when equipped with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, power delivery to the rear wheels is very effective and intoxicating in the transmission’s sport mode.
The ability to rev to such high engine speeds makes it a very fun car to drive especially when you’ve started to hit the powerband at 6,000rpm. As well, the engine makes a loud noise like a trumpet, if not exactly musical.
The GT3 almost feels like a race car on public roads by feeling very planted to the road at all times, be it on the German countryside or autobahn where we sampled it.
The Alcantara-rimmed steering wheel feels meaty and precise just how you’d expect a driver-focused 911 to be. Also, the bucket seats keep the driver and occupant firmly in place when driving fast around corners.
What’s not?
Rear-engined cars like the 911 are supposed to be quite tricky to handle on the limit, yet it’s still very difficult to unsettle the car’s back due to immense traction the GT3 has.
And with such a broad operating range of the engine, you’d might expect the GT3 to be somehow breathless below 6,000rpm. But the truth is driving below that level around town is still a doddle, even though the turbocharged counterpart in other 911s is genuinely usable throughout.
Which is probably why these two aspects aren’t really downsides of the GT3. But if there was one, it would definitely be the firm ride over road imperfections (which is quite far more common in Thailand than in Germany) due to the need for sharp handling.
Buy or bye?
Many fans of the 911 are attracted to its iconic shape which is why the regular Carrera and go-faster S amply suits them. And if they need ballistic performance, there’s the Turbo (and S, as well) to go for.
What exactly appeals in the GT3 is its sharp driving manners and that atmospheric engine. This is for the true driving aficionado who are ready to accept some of the compromises in comfort.
And when rumours persist that the next-generation GT3 is set to switch to turbo power, there’s a very good reason to get a hold of this one today. The GT3 isn’t the fastest 911, but it certainly is the most appealing one to drive on the road.
GT3 RS FOR HARD-CORE DRIVING ENTHUSIASTS
Just after Porsche announced the GT2 RS as the maddest 911 ever earlier this year, it unveiled the updated GT3 RS of the current 991-series generation.
Just to make sure that the GT3 RS has a fresh look, Porsche has given it newly designed bumpers and LED lights. An outlandish rear wing remains the signature of the GT3 RS, while there’s a roll cage inside for safety on the track
The GT3 RS gets a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six engine now producing 520hp at 8,250rpm (but capable of revving to 9,000rpm). That’s 20hp more than the regular GT3, as tested in the main story, and pre-update GT3 RS.
And with new intake and exhaust manifolds, plus a tweaked engine management system, the 0-100kph time of 3.2sec is said to be better by a tenth of a second than ever.
According to Porsche, the revised GT3 RS shares the same spring rates for the suspension with those in the GT2 RS. Both get only a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
While the GT3 RS is about a non-turbo performance, the GT2 RS is about ballistic power, thanks to twin turbos pushing output to a scorching 700hp. It’s three tenths of second quicker than the GT3 RS from 0-100kph.
Although many people might think that the GT3 RS is a swansong to the 911-series family, European media reports suggest that one more variant is being planned before the new 992 generation is unveiled at the end of this year.
The so-called Speedster is said to sport a very simple soft-top roof and woulld be powered by the GT3's 4.0-litre flat-six. This could essentially make the Speedster an open-top version of the GT3.
