- Porsche unveils the 2011 911 GT2 RS.
- The 620-horsepower 911 will officially debut in August at the Moscow auto show.
- GT2 RS arrives in the U.S. in October, priced at $245,000.
STUTTGART, Germany — Porsche has unwrapped its latest missile, the 2011 911 GT2 RS, which the company media-meisters describe, with only slight hyperbole, as the "fastest and most powerful road-going sports car ever built in the history of Porsche."
The GT2 RS arrives in the U.S. in October, priced at $245,000, after its world debut in late August at the Moscow auto show. Production will be limited to 500 units.
Output on the car's twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-6 engine has jumped to 620 horsepower, with power delivered to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.
Thanks to an aggressive diet, weight has been trimmed to 3,020 pounds, providing an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 1 hp/4.9 pounds. The GT2 RS rockets from rest to 60 in a mere 3.4 seconds and laps the Nürburgring's Nordschleife in 7:18. Velocity maxes out at 205 mph.
Equally impressive is a 5 percent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The GT2 RS gets some additional hardware improvements, including wider light-alloy wheels and new tires (245/35ZR19 in front and 325/30ZR19 in the rear), composite ceramic brakes, adaptive suspension management, specific stabilizer bars and engine mounts, plus a recalibrated stability management system that enables the driver to individually switch off stability- and traction-control functions.
The looks have changed subtly, thanks to the application of matte-black carbon-fiber components, as well as flared front wheel arches and redesigned front and rear spoilers.
The cockpit is black with red accents, and features lightweight two-piece carbon-fiber bucket seats. The gearshift and handbrake lever are trimmed in red Alcantara.
Inside Line says: Has the 911 finally peaked? That's what we thought last year. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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chasnme says:
12:13 AM, 05/23/2010
Gee with a name like Chris911 it's no wonder you are already calling it the best supercar ever...even though it hasn't been tested yet! So you're one of the suckers Porsche keeps managing to hock their junk to. I like Porsches because they afford me the opportunity to show what good engineers do with a car when they fail to keep pace with my Z06. I read Porsche articles hoping one day they'll wake up and build a car worthy of their price tag, maybe then I'll respect them but I wont hold my breath. They just cater to the image conscious, or ignorant. I offer proof with all these posts mostly focused on it's styling.
I call BS on the 'Ring time. Maybe a pre-production model with slicks, race exhaust, race fuel and tuning...maybe.
ZR1+sticky tires=embarrassed GT2 driver.
"RandomDude" How do you figure 11.6 at 118mph for the 997 Turbo is faster than 11.5 at 129mph!? The ZR1 is even faster than the 997 Turbo S look at the trap speed.
"isaacl" you're right. The 911 is on another level. The kind of level only reached with the brain cell depleted delusions of chronic drug use. I inherited a 993 Turbo and tried my best to love it (considering the sentimental value attached), but it completely failed to inspire the same experiences of my FD RX7, so it got the boot. I don't know what any of you see in these cars.
rayzor says:
05:42 PM, 05/21/2010
Yet another way-overpriced Porsche, sigh!!
isaacl says:
11:33 AM, 05/13/2010
stingrayI stand by what i said. Corvette, same basic shape since C3.... just because the dimensions might change slightly, or some curves get put in....bigger taillights, sills....see-through panel in the hood, does not mean it is a new design. Explain....ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.
Also, note i never said the Corvette was ugly or bad. In fact, I dont see how anyone can knock the Corvette for what it is. Awesome car....awesome legacy....
Quite simply though, the 911 is on another level.
compressor says:
11:07 AM, 05/13/2010
"It's not just the shape that hasn't changed much, it's damned near everything."
Stingray454, I am taking the benefit of the doubt in that this is a severe exaggeration. If anything, Porsche's mechanicals have change way more than a Corvette or most other cars.
Just to name a few more significant changes since the 911 introduction to the current 997 that are beyond the normal (by normal I mean something like carbs to FI, which all cars have done)
- air to water cooled motors.
- torsion bar to coil sprung suspension.
- turbocharged engines (though commonplace now, it was a huge thing in the 70s).
- body style changes. Look at a late 90's 911 vs. a 1970 911. Huge difference.
Not to speak badly of the Corvette, which performs at the top with other sportscars, but I think you will find it is more true to its mechanical roots than most cars. And yes, the body style has changed, but not too severely since the C3 came out. In fact, its on par with the changes to the 911. And I think this is a good thing as they are recognizable as Corvettes.
charlesb says:
08:47 AM, 05/13/2010
I doubt they'll seel too many at that price. Better make them special order only.
stingray454 says:
07:46 AM, 05/13/2010
@isaacl
"compressor is right on the money. I don't hear people complaining about the Corvette, same basic shape since the mid 80's."
Are you blind dude? Same basic shape? Every time there is a new generation of Corvette, it's a dramatic change from the previous model. The 1984 C4 Corvette looked entirely different from the 1968-1982 C3 Corvettes. The 1997 C5 Corvette looked completely different from the C4 Corvettes. The 2005 C6 Corvette looked significantly different from the C5. Even a child can tell the different generation Corvettes apart from each other. And that's not even getting into the hardware changes underneath, which are usually even more dramatic than the body changes.
You can't say the same thing with the 911 generations. It's not just the shape that hasn't changed much, it's damned near everything.
Plus, you stopped at the 1980's. The 911's shape and overall configuration hasn't changed much since 1963, when it was introduced. Take a look at a 1953, or 1963 Corvette, and you'll see there is almost nothing shared with the shape or styling of today's C6 Corvette.
fuhteng says:
12:58 PM, 05/12/2010
dirtycarl - the Evo FQ400 is 200 hp/liter. Forced induction makes output/volume measures even more useless than they are anyway.
isaacl says:
11:49 AM, 05/12/2010
compressor is right on the money. I don't hear people complaining about the Corvette, same basic shape since the mid 80's.....or the Viper which has NEVER evolved in basic shape. Look at the M5, "That thing is still a 4-door sedan! Lame!" Man please.... the 911 shape is timeless, and perfectly functioning. You want evolved Porsche design? Go buy a Panamera or Cayenne.
iskch says:
11:04 AM, 05/12/2010
Is brutal and is a beauty. Traction is a big factor trying to control this animal as well as the other cars in the 500HP & 600HP club.
compressor says:
10:55 AM, 05/12/2010
Obviously the 911 styling is, and has been successful. Many people obviously like its understated, classic character. Just because its not radically changed, doesn't mean the details aren't new. True, the basic shape is the same, but actually saying an early 911 looks identical to a current model is ridiculous.
I find it funny that people are critical that a 911 looks the same, but won't say anything about a Lambo. Current models have been pushing the Countach design theme and are still recognizable as such.
Porsche would be stupid to change the looks. If they want a different look, another model is the way to go. It satisfies both parties and buyers.