Porsche 911 GT3 991 Breathe Deep Twin ram air scoops on the carbon-fiber engine cover are functional and funnel air directly into a redesigned intake manifold. Positive pressure from the system can add up to 10 horsepower.
There’s more to the new Porsche 911 GT3 than appears. It has the same wheels as the old car, but Porsche’s GT3-meister, Andreas Preuninger, says that’s only because his team couldn’t design new ones that looked better and were as light. The re-engineered GT3 is powered by a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six that develops 494 hp at 8,250 rpm and 339 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. It’s not the same 4.0-liter engine used in the GT3 RS, however. Optimized to reduce internal friction, it features a new crankshaft with larger main bearings and a redesigned valvetrain that does away with hydraulic lifters.
Underneath is a revised suspension that’s lighter with new geometry up front and helper springs all around that deliver more stiffness and precision on the track but a smoother ride on regular roads. Standard brakes feature 15-inch steel rotors all around with new calipers designed to reduce drag, and rear-wheel steering is standard.
Careful attention has been paid to aerodynamics. A new front fascia improves laminar flow around the front wheels, a new floor with turning vanes behind the front axle guides air into a rear diffuser, and a new rear wing sits farther rearward and almost an inch higher. Porsche claims a 20 percent increase in downforce compared with the old GT3, with no increase in drag.
Two ram air scoops on the carbon-fiber engine cover funnel high-pressure air into the redesigned intake system, delivering up to 10 horsepower more at speed.
The big news is the availability of an optional six-speed manual, the same as used in the 911R. Porsche says the DIY version is about 0.5 second slower to 60 mph than the regular PDK-equipped car. Top speed of both is right at 200 mph.
