Geneva Motor Show 2015, at Porsche we managed to maintain the suspense: when the new GT3 RS was revealed, no photos had leaked before. Suddenly, as an ultra sports car in the range, its appearance has the effect of a bomb. The new fusion orange color, which serves as a launch, makes the GT3 RS ever more aggressive, but it is not just a visual effect: from generation to generation, the RS increasingly asserts its personality by standing out from its “small ” sister the GT3. The front blade and the enormous fixed rear wing are still part of the kit, but two aesthetic elements allow it to stand out even more: front fender extensions, magnificent opening vents on the front fenders, and intake inlets. air in the rear wings, turbo style. These details are immediately noticeable, but there is one that is more subtle: the front hood is grooved about thirty cm wide, and this groove continues on the roof, creating a double boss effect which is not not unlike that of the 997 Sport Classic.
Note that the roof is made of magnesium, while the front fenders (as well as the hoods) are made of carbon. In total, the GT3 RS, despite the presence of a roll bar, gains 10 kg compared to the normal GT3, or 1420 kg. As on the 997, the width is identical to that of the Turbo, i.e. 28 mm more than a normal GT3. What is new is the size of the rims: 9.5×20 at the front, 12.5×21 at the rear, i.e. wider wheels than ever, with those at the rear larger, never seen before!
The interior is almost identical to that of the normal version, but the RS is delivered in clubsport mode, including the rear rollbar, pre-equipment for battery disconnect switch, six-point harness on the driver’s side and fire extinguisher. 918 bucket seats (height adjustable) are standard. You could have optional sports seats or simpler, but tiltable buckets. We also note the presence of a “pit-speed” button, allowing you to respect the limitation in the pits.
On the engine side, you should definitely not trust appearances: a casual reading of the figures could suggest that everything is identical to the famous 997 GT3 RS 4.0. This is not the case, it is indeed a brand new block which equips the 991. It is an evolution of the brand new 9A1 block equipping the normal GT3. It produces 500 hp at 8250 rpm, or 25 hp more than the normal version, obtained at the same speed. It is amusing to note that these figures are strictly identical to those of the Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0! The torque is 460 Nm at 6250 rpm, or 20 Nm more than the normal GT3, obtained at the same speed. Here too, the torque is identical to that of the 997, except that it is obtained 500 rpm higher. On a more technical level, it should be noted that this 4-liter engine receives a very sophisticated steel alloy for the crankshaft (which comes from the 919!), titanium connecting rods, camshafts with a specific profile and a line of titanium exhaust.
Another new feature is that the GT3 RS is only available with the 7-speed PDK gearbox, with specific settings. But this is not a surprise, since the normal GT3 already has this feature. The flywheel is still dual-mass, but it has been lightened as much as possible. The chassis is identical to that of the GT3, including four-wheel steering and PTV Plus. The wider tracks, however, allow it to offer more seating, and its settings are specific. Note that the magnesium roof made it possible to lower the center of gravity, and therefore the behavior. The 991 GT3 RS was produced a little in the 2015 model year, but mainly in the 2016 model year, with an extension to 2017. Production figures have never been revealed by Porsche. The model’s Flat 6 2024 rating is €165,000.
