For years, Porsche has continued to raise the mark in the supercar arena. And it all began in 1964, when Porsche released a little-known (at the time) model: the 911. Little did Porsche know that the 911 would serve as their longtime vanguard to the company's motorsport program -- even to this day.
For over 40 years, the Porsche 911 has matched forces with numerous sports car armies, from their German brothers to Asian powerhouses. Yet, regardless of the competition, Porsche has always delivered in both performance and design. Not only that, but the Stuttgart racing giant earned a taste of champagne at the Le Mans 24-hour endurance and 12-hour Sebring races. History also records the Porsche 911's victorious ventures through rally trails, including a win at the grueling 1984 Paris-Dakar rally.
Beyond merely marketing Porsche's name and badge, the German sports car maker's commitment to motorsports routinely emerges in their street-legal models. And in the case of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, they've taken "street-legal" to an entirely new level and pushed the limits of power, performance and damn good looks.
But has Porsche succeeded in producing a vehicle that's both impressive on the road and practical as a day-to-day driver? And with its racing abilities, is it luxurious? We take a look beyond the GT3 RS's dashing good looks and find out.
Luxury ride
The Porsche 911 GT3 RS isn't merely inspired by their company's racing product; it is their racing product. In order to gain permission to run a race version of the 911 GT3 RS at the Le Mans 24-hour and other sports car racing series, Porsche is required to build a minimum number of street-legal models of the same car first. Technically known as homologation, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS is a rare opportunity to be saddled into a fearless racing machine.The Porsche silhouette is one known the world over and, thankfully, over the many years and many model changes and upgrades, Porsche has maintained the elusive, sleek look that's so easily recognizable. Besides being marked with either orange or black side livery (depending on the body color), the Porsche 911 GT3 RS is defined with a specially built carbon-fiber wing, which shares the same manual adjustments available on the competition racer. More detailed observations also reveal an overall elongation of the 911 GT3 body by 0.6 inches and the addition of 1.73 inches to the total width compared to other 911 models. The RS modifications increase aerodynamic downforce through corners while maintaining a 0.30 drag coefficient down the straights.
The mid-mounted engine on the Porsche 911 GT3 RS -- a 3.6-liter, flat-six powerplant -- is a direct carry over from its 911 GT3 cousin. Set to become Porsche's racing darling, the unmodified engine's 415-horsepower output is alarming a mild disappointment compared to other supercars on the market that are pushing the 500-plus horsepower mark. However, being Porsche's most powerful naturally aspirated engine ever in production dropped into a mid-engined 911 vehicle, the engine still manages to be enough to scare higher-horsepower competitors.
The 911 GT3 RS engine is equipped with Porsche's VarioCam system, a high-tech system that strategically times the valve movements for peak efficiency during combustion cycles. Power reaches the rear-wheels fast enough to propel the car from 0 to 60 mph in a mere four seconds. And on a long enough straight, you'll encounter the 193 mph top speed. Because the Porsche 911 GT3 RS is well-suited for road and track with the aid of two electronic driving modes, a well-placed set of hands along with keen eyes are definite assets when the traction control is turned off. A healthy dose of understeer into a high-speed corner will challenge even gifted professional drivers.
Despite the Porsche 911 GT3 RS's racing prowess, the vehicle still comes nicely equipped with creature comforts you would expect on any other supercar of its caliber. There are a number of technical and aesthetic options that can be added at extra cost, but the base GT3 RS offers more than enough in our opinion. The interior can be dressed in either black or gray, with a hefty dose of Alcantara leather covering the seats, door panels and steering wheel. The GT3 RS features firm, supporting sport seats that are fully adjustable, but only the backrest is power-controlled. This Porsche exhibits near-perfect interior ergonomics -- a driver could probably operate every control blindfolded (though we don't recommend it).
You may feel like you've heard this all before… and you'd be right. The Porsche GT3 RS is, essentially, a lighter, more efficient, track-loving GT3. This Porsche isn't for your average, everyday driver. This car was engineered to handle speed and precision driving -- not just your daily commute to work. The branding itself is dripping with track innuendo as the RS stands for Rennsport - Motorsport. The visible interior roll-cage may be the first clue to its racing genes, along with the straight-ahead marker at the very top of the steering wheel to maintain the ideal racing line while driving. Accompanying aerodynamic improvements on the RS, Porsche shaved 44 lbs from the conventional 911 GT3's total weight, even with the larger body structure. Not as spectacular in appearance as the carbon-fiber add-ons is a single-mass flywheel adapted for the close-ratio, six-speed manual gearbox -- weighing 17.6 lbs less than the standard GT3 flywheel. All this weight reduction brings the Porsche 911 GT3 RS's power-to-weight ratio to 301.8 horsepower per ton. An impressive number for an impressive car.
The verdict
Unable to make it to the Le Mans 24-hour race this year? The Porsche 911 GT3 RS will still give a few select drivers a thrill greater than any in-car camera shot could ever provide. However, without a set production limit, this guaranteed-to-be-rare sports car may easily race by even the serious customer.Luxury score: 40/50
Practical ride
For a successful swinging single or a stylish pair of empty nesters, the two-seater Porsche 911 GT3 RS has the ability to loyally serve as your sole commuter -- if you're up for the driving challenge and don't mind a little racing paraphernalia hanging about. The GT3 RS has enough cargo space for a serious weekend getaway with just under 11 cubic feet, total. However, that grand total is split into two areas; 3.71 cubic feet in the front trunk and the remaining 7.24 cubic feet located behind the front seats, making the GT3 RS a little less practical than one would desire.It's important to remember that fuel economy in racing can mean the difference between a win or a loss at the most prestigious races in the world. To curb embarrassments, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS gas management definitely wasn't neglected, resulting in benefits on and off the track. The GT3 RS achieves 17 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway. There are only a handful of 400-plus horsepower racers that can lay claim to those fuel statistics.
The verdict
For a mere $124,900, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS could be yours… and for $20,000 less you can have virtually the same car with a bit less flash. For some, the price difference is a bit steep and the RS model may seem useless, while for others the RS is a means to truly experience Porsche's racing heritage. For those in the market for a Porsche GT3 RS, the weight reduction, race gadgets and flashy paint work are much more than that -- they're the next level in performance and drivability and definitely worth the added investment.Practical score: 39/50
and, the total is...
For a company that's driven by race results as much as they are retail sales results, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS is already proven itself both on and off the track. Recently, a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (the RS's racing counterpart) claimed the GT2 class victory in the 2007 Le Mans 24 hour race.As a street car, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS test every limit, resulting in a vehicle that rests on the redline of street allure and race-capable prowess. The GT3 RS is an undoubtedly pure, unforgettable Porsche bravado. And with all the emerging supercars threatening to overtake it, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS is already a full lap ahead.
80/100
Reference:http://www.porsche.com/
http://autos.aol.com/
http://www.caranddriver.com/
http://www.evo.co.uk/
http://www.rsportscars.com/
www.excellence-mag.com
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