Fans of speed and of high performance were undoubtedly turning their attention this weekend to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England, which hosted the world premiere of the new Porsche 911 GT2 RS―the fastest and most powerful road-ready 911 ever dreamed up.
The 911 GT2 RS is a prodigious two-seat sports car propelled by a flat 6-cylinder twin-turbo engine that delivers 700 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque to the car’s rear wheels. This setup allows drivers to go from 0-100 km/h in a mind-bending 2.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 340 km/h (don’t try this at home).
The new engine is derived from the 3.8L 6-cylinder used in the 911 Turbo S (580 hp). The boost in horses and performance comes from two large turbochargers that send a larger volume of compressed air to the combustion chambers. A new additional cooling system kicks in when the engine is at high RPM and, at very high temperatures, sprays water on the charge-air cooler to lower the gas temperature in the overpressure range and ensure maximum power output.
The powertrain is harnessed by a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission specially calibrated for the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and by an ultra-light titanium exhaust system.
The 20-inch front wheels and 21-inch rear wheels are all controlled by the car’s steering system and fitted with ultra-high-performance tires. These are attached to ceramic composite brakes and linked to an active suspension that includes a special Sport Mode setting designed to help the racing chassis optimize its dynamic cornering performance. The air intakes and extractors, meanwhile, are made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic. These and the imposing rear spoiler speak to the serious attention paid by Porsche to maximizing the car’s aerodynamics.
To shave even more weight off the car, the hood is made of carbon and the roof of magnesium. And for those who find the 1,470-kg weight still on the heavy side, Porsche engineers have developed the optional Weissach package, which reduces overall weight by another 20 kg.
As for the interior, red Alcantara suede and black leather complement the cabin’s woven carbon-fibre elements, like the sport seats. Porsche’s communications management system acts as a central unit for the audio, navigation and communications. Other standard features include the Connect Plus module and the Porsche Track Precision application, which allow the driver to display, record and analyze driving-related data, all from a smartphone.
How much will this new beast set you back? The Porsche 911 GT2 RS can be ordered in Canada immediately and is priced at $334,000―a significantly higher price tag than that attached to the 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series ($293,800) announced in June. The optional Weissach package brings the cost up by another $35,370.
