911 FOR THE ROAD AND TRACK
The GT3 RS may not be the fastest 911, but it promises to be the most exciting one to drive
Is the RS just a lightweight version of the GT3?
Basically, it is. The Porsche 911 GT3 RS is based on the body of the 911 Turbo, but it is made with lightweight materials like a magnesium roof, and carbon fibre engine and boot covers.
Compared to the regular GT3, the RS is 10kg lighter, at 1,420kg. Another contributor is the lightweight bucket seats, which have been lifted from the 918 Spyder hybrid- powered hypercar.
Two key differentiators on the skin of the RS are the deep front spoiler and imposing rear wing. Porsche says the RS has the widest wheel rims of all 911s.
But what makes the RS different from the normal GT3 is the engine. The RS comes with the predecessor ’s 4.0-litre flat- six engine, churning out 500hp and 460Nm. The stock GT3 uses a smaller 3.8- litre block with outputs of 475hp and 440Nm.
How much faster is the RS?
Porsche claims the RS sprints from 0- 100kph in 3.3sec — two- tenths of a second quicker. Naturally, the RS sips more fuel whose rating drops from 8.1kpl to 7.9kpl.
Like in the base GT3, the RS’s naturally aspirated motor is hooked up exclusively to the brand’s PDK seven- speed twin-clutch automatic, driving just the rear wheels.
That’s the way. But is it faster than the Turbo S?
No it isn’t. The 911 Turbo S, with a 560hp 3.8litre twin-turbo flat-six driving all four wheels, hits 100kph from standstill in a quicker 3.1sec.
But outright power and pace isn’t the point in the GT3 RS. It’s more about an entertaining driving experience.
By being nearly 200kg lighter in overall weight, as well as boasting a lower centre of gravity (lighter roof ), the GT3 RS promises to thrill with enhanced agility and handling. Rear-wheel steering and a torque- vectoring system are standard in the GT3 RS.
Evidence of this comes from its ability to take the RS on a racetrack. That explains the presence of a roll cage and the fire extinguisher on the cabin.
I see. And how much will the damage be?
The GT3 RS commands a circa- 20% premium in price over the regular GT3. Taking today’s foreign exchange rate into consideration, the RS would cost some 4 million baht more when it goes on sale in May.
We are talking at least 20 million baht for the GT3 RS, which really can’t be that expensive at all as a supercar. Remember the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 we once discussed on these pages? That goes for over 40 million baht.