New Porsche 911 GT3 RS unveiled at Geneva

Porsche has unveiled the new 911 GT3 RS at the Geneva motor show 2015. It gets a naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine that makes 493bhp and 53.1kgm of torque.

The 911 GT3 RS has a modified aluminium body borrowed from the 911 Turbo. In order to save weight and lower the centre of gravity, it has a new magnesium roof structure and a bonnet and engine lid made from carbonfibre-reinforced plastic. The bonnet and roof each feature a 30cm-wide indent down their centre line, like earlier air-cooled 911s. The engine lid has additional cooling elements and an integrated ducktail-style spoiler aimed at increasing downforce at speed.The aerodynamic package also includes a prominent splitter element, modified front wings with integrated air ducts to lower the pressure in the wheel house and reduce front axle lift, and a large, adjustable rear wing.

Despite the adoption of the wider 911 Turbo’s bodyshell, the 911 GT3 RS’s kerb weight of 1420kg — 10kg under that of the standard 911 GT3 — endows it with a power-to-weight ratio of 347bhp per tonne. This gives it a claimed 0-100kph time of 3.3sec — 0.6sec faster than the old 911 GT3 RS — and a 0-200kph time of 10.9sec. Top speed varies according to the amount of downforce dialled into the rear wing, although Porsche officials suggest it will crack 322kph in low-downforce guise.

The cabin gets a white rev counter, three-spoke steering wheel wrapped in Alcantara, body-colored upholstery and stitching, and carbonfibre inserts on the dashboard and door panels.

Details on the changes made to the 4.0-litre engine are sparse, although its 493bhp and 53.1kgm makes it the most powerful naturally aspirated engine yet to be fitted to a road-going version of the iconic 911. Drive is sent to the rear wheels through a reworked seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and fully variable locking differential with an integrated torque vectoring function.

Porsche claims the new 911 GT3 RS is capable of lapping the Nürburgring in just 7min 20sec.