AUTOS: Porsche 911 GT3 Power Boost

Details are released for the high-performance edition of the rear-engine sports car that debuts at the Geneva Motor Show.

AutoWeek | http://www.autoweek.com/ | Posted March 04, 2013 Geneva (SWZ)

Porsche 911 GT3 gets bumped up to 475 horsepower, a major boost from the previous edition. (Photo: Porsche)

Porsche has released details of its upcoming 2014 911 GT3 ahead of the car’s Geneva motor show debut Tuesday.

The fifth-generation 911 GT3 shares frame and body components with the 991 version of the 911 Carrera, but unique body panels widen the GT3 by 1.7 inches.

Its 3.8-liter horizontally-opposed six cylinder is likewise based on the engine found in the 911 Carrera S, but according to Porsche, the engines share few major parts. The 911 GT3 gets upgraded pieces such as titanium connecting rods and forged pistons.

The GT3 grows 1.7 inches in width with unique body panels. (Photo: Porsche)

Output jumps to 475 horsepower, up dramatically from the 400 horsepower achieved by the present-day 911 Carrera S. Torque actually takes a one pound-feet hit; it’s down very slightly to 324 when compared with the 911 Carrera S. Still, both figures compare favorably with the 435 horsepower and 317 pound-feet produced by the previous 911 GT3.

As with the majority of modern performance cars, Porsche has dropped the manual-transmission option outright; buyers will get a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox whether they want it or not.

But there are a few features that separate the 911 GT3 from the crop of high-performance vehicles making their debuts this week in Geneva. Unlike the McLaren P1, for example, the 911 GT3’s rear wing is fixed. And while the limited-production Lamborghini Veneno sports all-wheel drive, the 911 GT3 channels its 475 horsepower through the rear wheels only.

Further, the 911 GT3 has active rear-wheel steering to boost stability – a first for a production Porsche – and its 20-inch forged-alloy wheels get center-locking wheel nuts.

All this adds up to impressive performance: Porsche – widely known to be conservative with its official times – claims the GT3 will run from 0-to-60 mph in 3.3 seconds, with a top speed of 195 mph.

That all-important Nurburgring time? Somewhere less than seven minutes, 30 seconds, according to Porsche. The old GT3 lapped the famous German track in 7:33, with the limited edition GT3 RS 4.0 clocking in at around 7:27.

Expect to see the 2014 911 GT3 hit American Porsche dealerships in late 2013. The sticker price of $131,350 isn’t remotely cheap, but compared with the multi-million dollar track toys Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren are showing off in Geneva, it seems like a downright bargain.

This story originally appeared at Autoweek.com.