Porsche 911 GT3: Celebrating 25 Years of Mad Engineering!
Sports car enthusiasts, hold on to your hats – or should I say steering wheels? The Porsche 911 GT3 is back for a spin, celebrating a glorious 25 years of thrilling both the racetrack and your dreams of becoming the next James Bond. I mean, who wouldn’t want to tear up the tarmac in a machine that sounds like a banshee on a caffeine high?
Now let’s go back in time, dear readers. It was the 996 generation that first had a go at the “GT3” moniker, and boy, it stepped into quite the controversy with those non-round headlights. An odd choice, right? It’s like showing up to a black-tie event in a tracksuit. But, alas, that was 1999, the year we met the first GT3 in all its glory, and here we are 25 years later – still getting revved up about it!
The GT3 Touring renewed from the start
The GT3 might have pulled a disappearing act for a while, leaving us with only the very radical GT3 RS (which frankly sounds more like a superhero than a car), but fear not! Porsche has decided to return to our lives! And this time, they’ve decided to throw in a little something special. The Touring variant, had a fixed wing earlier looking like an oversized wing on a flat plane, is now making its debut along with the classic model. Think of it like finally getting that fancy dessert after a main course of… well, just more GT3.
This isn’t just a cosmetic update. Oh no! The Touring is now getting optional rear seats, marking the first time we could consider accommodating someone other than our ego and our driving gloves in the back. Just imagine it: “Hey, wanna go for a drive? Just mind the racing seats – they don’t fold, but I do!”
Not heavier, but…
Of course, weight is always a concern in the world of sports cars. Unfortunately, while we may dream of lighter and faster, stringent anti-pollution standards have forced Porsche to add some extra hardware. Yes, folks, it seems our beloved GT3 has decided to hit the gym, but it just can’t stay light – despite the “Weissach” and “Leichtbau” options offering a diet plan that leaves out the doughnuts (and rear seats).
But why would Porsche do this to us? Perhaps they want us to have that racing experience without the worry of packing on the pounds. If you’ve ever tried setting a lap record while your protein shake is sloshing around in the passenger seat, you’d understand!
Performance preserved
Now, here’s the good news! Underneath the hood, the flat 6-cylinder hasn’t forgotten its roots. It’s still puffing out a solid 510 hp, but with a slight twist – 20 Nm less torque. What does that mean? Well, it’s still feisty, but you might catch it in a particularly moody mood on days when you’re craving a little extra flair.
In the race against speed, you can still launch this beauty from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 3.4 seconds! And who wouldn’t want to impress their friends with numbers like that? Just remember to pull over before you start showing off the top speed – we wouldn’t want you proving physics wrong at 311 km/h, now would we?
With all these innovations, one thing stands clear: the essence of the GT3 is alive and well. It promises to be more responsive while ensuring our vertebrae remain intact – one step at a time, my friends!
So there you have it! The BMW GT3 and GT3 Touring can both be ordered at a starting price of €212,000, but spare your pocket change for that “supermalus.” It’s like a tax on speed – because who doesn’t love taxes, right? The first copies are expected to be delivered early next year. Just enough time for us to squeeze in a few laps at the local circuit and wow our ex-colleagues at the office party.
In conclusion, the 911 GT3 remains a testament to Porsche’s dedication to performance and innovation – like a fine wine, it just keeps getting better, albeit a little heavier. So buckle up, folks; it looks like we’re in for another thrilling ride with a bit of cheeky engineering history!
Sports car enthusiasts will be delighted to learn that the Porsche 911 GT3 is out for a spin (on the circuit or on the road). On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, it is relaunching and evolving somewhat.
It was not until the 996 generation, the one relatively criticized by fans because of its front lights which were not round, that Porsche declined its 911 in a racing variant for the road, the now famous GT3. It was at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1999 that the German brand lifted the veil on the very first version. 25 years later, the GT3 is still here. And, to mark the occasion, it even benefits from a few small modifications.
The GT3 Touring renewed from the start
In fact, the 911 GT3 had disappeared from the catalog for some time. Only the very radical GT3 RS was left on offer. Surely at the request of customers, Porsche has decided to restart production, but not without making some minor changes. Note the main new features the fact that the Touring (the GT3 which does not have a fixed wing to preserve its line) is launched from the outset at the same time as the “classic” GT3 and also the fact that we can opt for this Touring variant for optional rear seats making it the first GT3 in history available in such a 2+2 configuration. Note that it was essential to develop folding bucket seats for this. These also equip the “normal” GT3.
Not heavier, but…
Because, of course, the “normal” GT3 is still deprived of its rear seats, which distinguishes it from the classic 911s. This benefits the overall weight reduction of the vehicle. Moreover, to reduce weight as much as possible, customers can select the “Weissach” option on the “normal” GT3 or “Leichtbau” on the Touring. Optional packs that only differ in small details. What they have in common is the use of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). The anti-roll bar, the roof and even the door handles and, in general, most of the black elements, are made of this material. On the GT3 “all in all”, you can also opt for a protective cage, still in PFRC. On the 911 Touring Note also the presence of the small gear lever from the 911 S/T on the GT3 Touring with mechanical gearbox.
Unfortunately, to comply with increasingly strict anti-pollution standards, the manufacturer was forced to install two additional catalysts (4 in total). As a result, the GT3 and GT3 Touring are heavier than those they replace. To achieve the same result as the old ones (around 1,420 kg), it is therefore essential to opt for packs that make the vehicle lighter.
Performance preserved
Yes, the flat 6-cylinder still runs only on gasoline. It still develops the same power of 510 hp. On the other hand, the torque is in slight decline with 20 Nm less and 450 Nm in total. Finally, in order to cope with the increase in weight, the gear ratios have been shortened (whether on the 7-speed PDK or the 6-speed manual). In the best configuration, 0 to 100 km/h can be achieved in just 3.4 seconds. The top speed, however, is in slight decline with, at best, 311 km/h when the previous GT3 could reach 320 km/h.
Don’t worry, there’s plenty to enjoy. Shortening the gear ratios is supposed to result in a much more responsive car. But it will a priori be less radical for your vertebrae, to be confirmed on the road.
Here are the main new features brought by this GT3 vintage 2025. No, there are almost no aesthetic modifications, hence the fact that we did not focus on its look. An exception all the same, the GT3 Touring is recognizable by the deflector placed on the rear part giving greater aerodynamic support and allowing the appearance of the wing to be delayed.
The GT3 and GT3 Touring can be ordered at the end of the year at a single price of €212,000 (GT3 or GT3 Touring, mechanical gearbox or PDK gearbox). It will naturally be necessary to add to this the supermalus. According to our information, the first copies should be delivered early next year.
