Geneva show: Porsche reveals fastest atmo 911

PORSCHE’S most powerful normally aspirated, direct-injected street-legal 911 has been revealed ahead of the 2015 Geneva motor show.

The race-bred GT3 RS brims with 368kW of power and 480Nm of torque from its big bore 4.0-litre boxer six-cylinder engine – the biggest of any 911.

That’s 18kW more power and 40Nm more torque than the 3.8-litre GT3, helping the RS to slice 0.2 seconds from the GT3’s 3.5-second 0-100km/h sprint time. Zero to 200km/h takes 10.9 seconds.

Powerwise, the GT3 RS comes up shy only of the blown Turbo ( 383kW/710Nm) and Turbo S (412kW/750Nm) in the iconic 911 line up.

Armed with a bespoke version of Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission, the GT3 RS is said to capable of a 7 min 20 sec lap of Nurburgring – nine seconds faster than the Carerra GT in 2004 but 23 seconds slower than the hybrid 918 Spyder in 2013.

Images of the new variant reportedly leaked on to the internet from an American magazine ahead of the scheduled show reveal, but Porsche Australia later confirmed details, adding that the car will land in local showrooms at $387,700 (plus on-road costs) in the third quarter of this year.

That’s a premium of $94,100 on the ‘standard’ GT3, and topped only by the flagship 911 Turbo S coupe that retails for $444,900.

The GT3 RS is not only more powerful than the GT3 but also 10kg lighter, employing magnesium in the roof – a first for Porsche – and carbon-fibre bonnet and boot lids.

Porsche says the light roof helps to lower the centre of gravity for superior lateral grip. As well, the GT3 RS sits on the widest wheel and tyre package of any 911.

The body is borrowed from the 911 Turbo but gets the GT3-style wings and things for track downforce.

In a nod to 911s of yore, Porsche has taken the opportunity of the bespoke bonnet and roof to give the GT3 RS gets a 30cm-wide indent extending from the leading edge of the bonnet and over the roof, like a three-dimensional racing stripe.

The RS is also distinguished by airvents atop the front mudguards, apparently to increase front downforce.

Porsche says the chassis has been tuned for maximum driving dynamics and precision, with rear-axle steering and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus with fully variable rear axle differential.

The interior is based on that of the GT3, but with race-style bucket seats like those of the upcoming 918 Spyder.

An extra-cost Club Sport package helps to prepare the GT3 RS for the track, with a half roll cage to be bolted behind the seats, six-point racing harness, fire extinguisher mounting bracket and preparation for a battery killer switch.

Porsche says the GT3 RS is loaded with the maximum amount of motorsport technology possible in a street-legal 911. It even has a push-button pit speed limiter function and a neutral gear-shift paddle position.

The 911 GT3 RS is appearing on the Geneva show stand alongside the new Cayman GT4.