Porsche Malaysia has finally unveiled the latest iteration of the 911 GT3, which is by far the closest thing to a Porsche race car (at least until the GT3 RS comes out). The seventh-generation or simply called the '992' to Porsche nerds, is the new GT3 that was developed in close collaboration with the Porsche Motorsports division to create something truly spectacular that features similar characteristics of the race ready GT3 Cup.
Straight out of the box, the new GT3 already features the wing that closely resembles the one on the back of the GT3 Cup. Crafted to carve air through sophisticated aerodynamics, the swan neck rear wing works in tandem with the diffuser that came straight out of the 911 RSR. Both the wing and diffuser can be manually set to significantly increase the aerodynamic pressure for high cornering speeds and now with a double wishbone front axle layout.
Tried and Tested
The GT3 still features a 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine however this engine is not a borrowed unit from the previous generation. This engine is based on the drivetrain of the 911 GT3 R that was tried and tested in endurance racing, the same engine in fact is also 'unchanged' for the new 911 GT3 Cup. Though launched with a PDK, customers can opt for a six-speed manual gearbox or even the Touring spec for a purer experience of the 510 PS engine at no additional cost. Despite having a wider body and more features, the GT3 weighs practically the same as the previous generation. However with the added power, the car will now launch from 0-100km/h in just 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 320 km/h (318 km/h with PDK). During testing on the fearsome Nurburgring Nordschleife, the new GT3 managed to achieve a 6:59.927 laptime around the 20.8km track. That is over 17 seconds faster than it's predecessor. And in case you didn’t know, Porsche actually tested the engine of the GT3 by driving the car at 300km/h for 5000km non-stop. They only stopped the car for fuel and kept on going until it reached the 5000km mark. And it worked effortlessly, further proving that this engine is made for endurance.
When Every Gram Matters
The Nurburgring laptime was also achieved with the help of the optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres. And with Porsche being Porsche, was obsessed with removing every gram of unnecessary weight. The GT3 with a manual gearbox weighs in at 1,418kg while the PDK variant is 1,435kg. The front bonnet made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), lightweight glass windows, optimised brake discs and forged light-alloy wheels ensures weight discipline. A lightweight sports exhaust system reduces the weight by no less than ten kilograms.
Made With Your Favourite Tracks in Mind
A new feature is the track screen: at the touch of a button, it reduces the digital displays to the left and right of the central rev counter, which reaches up to 10,000rpm, to information such as tyre pressure indicator, oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel tank level and water temperature, which are essential when driving on the circuit. It also includes a visual shift assistant with coloured bars to the left and right of the rev counter and a shift light derived from the Motorsport division. Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur range is also available for the new 911 GT3 and is supplemented by GT3-specific options such as a lightweight roof made of exposed carbon fibre. Other highlights include exterior mirror tops made of carbon, darkened LED matrix main headlights and matching Exclusive design rear lights with an arc of light with no red components. Guards Red or Shark Blue painted wheel rims enhance the black alloy wheels. For even more exclusivity, Porsche offers its special ‘Paint to Sample’ programme for ultimate exterior personalisation, with 105 classic shades from Porsche’s past catalogue, as well as bespoke possibilities according to a customer’s choice, subject to availability. In the interior however, equipment details such as the dials for the rev counter and Sport Chrono stopwatch, seatbelts and trim strips set elegant accents in the body colour or other desired colour. As exclusive as the 911 GT3 itself is the individual chronograph that Porsche Design offers exclusively to customers of the high-performance sports car. Like its motorised role model, it boasts a dynamic design, consistent performance and high-quality workmanship. Its housing reflects its Motorsport genes. Just like the connecting rods of the GT3 engine, it consists of robust, lightweight titanium. The timepiece is powered by an individual winding rotor reminiscent of the wheels of the 911 GT3. The coloured ring of the dial can be customised in the paint colours of the 911 GT3.
