wytourist.com: Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 – final 997 gets bigger engine, 50 extra horses, improved aero, 600-unit production run

Thứ Bảy, 30 tháng 4, 2011

Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 – final 997 gets bigger engine, 50 extra horses, improved aero, 600-unit production run

A new generation Porsche 911 is said to be ready for unveiling this year, and the final version of the 997 is this, the GT3 RS 4.0. It’s quite a send off, as this latest GT3 RS gets a bigger 4.0-litre engine, 50 extra horsepower from the flat-six, improved downforce and a production run of just 600 units, which makes it rather special.

As usual, the track inspired GT3 RS uses a naturally aspirated flat-six engine, but capacity is up to 4.0L from 3.8L. It wasn’t lacking in performance with 450 hp and 430 Nm, but figures have jumped to 500 hp at 8,250 rpm and 460 Nm at 5,750 rpm – amazing for an NA engine. This highest displacement 911 engine ever uses forged pistons, titanium connecting rods and the crankshaft of the 911 GT3 RSR race car.

To trim weight, carbon fibre sport bucket seats, front fenders and luggage compartment lid are standard, along with “weight-optimised carpets”. Without a fat driver, the RS tips the scales at 1,360 kg with a full tank of fuel.

Aero wise, air deflection vanes mounted on either side of the front bumper – called ‘flics’ or dive planes – make their first appearance on a production Porsche. They create increased downforce on the front axle, and together with the steeply inclined rear wing, provide “aerodynamics on par with its performance capabilities”. As a result, at the 311 km/h top speed, aero forces exert an additional 190 kg of downforce.

With all of the above, it can lap the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 27 seconds, beating the old car’s 7m33s. With the sole option of a six-speed manual gearbox, the RS 4.0 sprints from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 s, and with gearing designed for the circuit it reaches the 200 km/h mark in under 12 seconds. The outgoing car did 0-200 km/h in 13.3 sec.

What a send off! More pics after the jump.