Hardcore Porsche 911 GT3 RS spied winter testing
Porsche's most hardcore 911 is back out testing ahead of its possible public unveiling in early 2015
As if the standard 911 GT3 isn't exhilarating enough for Porsche fans, the super-stripped out 911 GT3 RS is on the way. The car has been spied testing and looks set for a mid-2015 on sale date but it could be unveiled as early as the Geneva or Detroit motor shows next year.
Thanks to a very light disguise in these spyshots, the changes to the RS model over the GT3 are clearly evident. The car sports a lower, wider track with stretched bodywork, as well as an aggressive front splitter and deeper air intakes. Brake cooling ducts above the wheels hint at the stopping power on offer, as do the enormous brake discs.
At the rear, a huge rear wing dominates the profile, looking more purposeful than the GT3's smaller item and hinting at its hardcore status, with a large increase in downforce expected with the addition of a rear diffuser. Like the previous GT3 RS, expect a lightweight, stripped-out interior with only the bare creature comforts remaining.
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The RS will be powered by the 3.8-litre flat-six engine of the GT3, albeit with a performance increase up from 469bhp to around 500bhp and an increased rev limit. That should drop the 0-62mph time down even further from 3.5 seconds, although the top speed isn't likely to increase thanks to the increased drag of that wing.
Porsche are rumoured to be considering a six-speed manual transmission as an option, but its likely the RS will first be offered with the PDK automatic only. The dieting regime should mean a significant reduction in weight too.
As for the car's official unveiling, details are sketchy. The car was delayed initially due to the fire risk problems of delivered GT3s, but by now most testing should be done. Most rumours seem to hint at a Geneva Motor Show unveil in March, but Porsche sources have hinted that a faster variant of an existing model will appear at the Detroit show in January, which could be the RS or the Cayman/Boxster GT4.
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