Twenty-five years ago, Porsche decided to take a 996 and turn it into an uncompromising track tool.
Then they screwed number plates onto it and released it to showrooms the world over. The legend of the Porsche GT3 was born, and it has been a firm fan favorite and very lucrative product ever since.
Now, the Germans are celebrating the 25th anniversary of it with two new updated versions, the new 911 GT3 and the GT3 with Touring Package.
The 911 GT3 has always been synonymous with precision and power, and the latest model is no exception. Purists will be happy to hear that it doesn’t dabble in any hybrid or electric experiments.
Under the hood, both the GT3 and GT3 Touring variants feature the well-known and much loved naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six boxer engine that churns out 510hp and 450Nm of torque. Despite now being fitted with—or some would say strangled by—dual particulate filters and four catalytic converters, the high-revving six-banger still sounds like a Porsche should.
For the first time, customers can choose from two distinct options right at launch: the track-optimized 911 GT3 with a striking rear wing, and the more subtle 911 GT3 Touring that prioritizes an understated elegance without compromising performance.
Both variants reflect Porsche’s commitment to blending raw racing potential with daily usability, a feature that not many—if any—other carmakers have perfected so well.
Keeping things as light as possible has always been one of the primary strengths of Porsche’s GT models, and the new GT3 is no exception. In the lightest version you can buy, it tips the scales at a mere 1,420kg.
If you want your Porker to be this devoid of unnecessary mass, then you’ll have to opt for one of two optional packages, depending on the model. In true Porsche we-charge-you-more-for-less tradition, both packages cost a lot and give you less car in return.
Fine, calling it less is not being entirely fair, as the only thing you get less of is weight (but there’s more added in other ways).
If you opt for the normal GT3, then the Weissach package can be ticked on the options list, and providing you pay the extra €18,076 (P1.13 million), it adds things like a carbon-fiber roll cage, carbon-fiber anti-roll bars, and magnesium wheels that reduce unsprung weight by 9kg alone.
If you order the GT3 Touring, then the Leichtbau package can be added as an extra. This sets you back a hefty €33,867 (P2.11 million), but adds even more carbon-fiber goodies to the mix. The roof, the stabilizer, the coupling rods, and the shear panel on the rear axle are all made out of the lightweight stuff, and magnesium wheels shave a few more kilos off the car.
If you opt for the six-speed manual box, then you also get the shortened gear lever from the 911 S/T as part of the package. The desire to slim the 911 down even goes as far as fitting a lighter 40Ah lithium-ion battery that takes around 4kg off the total.
For purists, the 911 GT3 stands as the ultimate track tool. Sporting a large fixed rear wing, the model’s aerodynamics have been fine-tuned to deliver increased downforce and better airflow. This is thanks to a redesigned front diffuser, a spoiler lip, and underbody fins—all of which contribute to a more efficient aerodynamic profile. Big 20-inch rims at the front and 21-inch ones at the rear covered in 255mm- and 315mm-wide rubber add even more grip to the mix.
The front suspension borrows technology directly from the 911 GT3 RS, and features specially designed trailing arms with a teardrop profile to enhance downforce in the wheel wells at high speeds. This not only aids in stability but also improves brake cooling, ensuring consistent performance when you add up the laps during track days.
Additionally, Porsche’s engineers have lowered the ball joint on the front axle’s lower trailing arm, reducing pitching during high-speed braking.
The pure thought that a bunch of engineers spent hours in meetings to come up with this tiny improvement that ensures a more balanced downforce characteristic between the front and the rear axles is giving me a warm and fuzzy feeling, and shows just how obsessed the people in Zuffenhausen are when it comes to continuously improving their products.
While the standard GT3 focuses on the track, the GT3 Touring is all about blending performance with a refined, subtle aesthetic. It features the same powerful 4.0-liter engine, but trades the fixed rear wing for a more streamlined and civilized look. Instead, an extendable rear spoiler with a Gurney flap helps maintain aerodynamic balance.
This setup preserves the classic lines of the 911, offering a look that’s both sophisticated and sporty. The Touring package also brings an interior crafted for comfort, with high-quality leather appointments and a classic but still sporty ambience. New for this model but only useful for people with small kids or very small adult friends, customers can now opt for rear seats to be fitted.
Both the 911 GT3 and the 911 GT3 Touring offer the choice of a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (PDK) or a six-speed GT manual gearbox, each with a final drive ratio that is 8% shorter than the previous model.
This adjustment promises punchier acceleration, allowing the PDK variant to sprint from zero to 100km/h in just 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of 311km/h. The manual version clocks in at 3.9 seconds, reaching a slightly higher maximum speed of 313km/h. This transmission setup should keep purists as well as enthusiastic auto box drivers happy.
The new GT3 and GT3 Touring will be available to order from the end of this year, with prices starting at €206,000 (P13.06 million) in its home country, but that’s without any extras. Knowing Porsche and the size of its options list, getting it up to a quarter of a million euros shouldn’t be hard.
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