(By Tom Lohnes) – Officially the cheapest, least powerful car to ever run under seven minutes at the Nürburgring Nordschelife, the all-new Porsche 911 GT3 is a track monster that just happens to be street-legal.
Sitting under the rear-mounted hood, the 911 GT3 ditches the normal turbocharged mill for a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated unit making 523 horsepower and about 400 lb-ft of torque. This engine redlines at an eye-watering 9,250 RPM and can be paired with a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed DCT, like any good drivers’ car should.
The only wheels driven in the GT3 are the rears and the steering is one of the last hydraulic power units on the market. Outside, the GT3 is far more aggressive than any other 911, with hood vents, a new body kit, and that massive wing on the back. All of these help the GT3 run a full 17 seconds quicker around the ‘ring than the last-gen car. Inside, the GT3 ditches the “nub” shifter on most DCT 911s for a real lever, and the manual comes standard with a suede shifter.
So, for a hair over $170,000, the new 911 GT3 is a bargain. Of course, there will be plenty of options, as all Porsches have, so expect most to be above $200,000.
the difference between a Corvette and a 911 is which direction you hit the wall….