New Porsche 911 GT3: what changes, what it costs

It may be a bit early to bring up Christmas, but we could not resist. Unwrapping what is new on a Porsche 911 GT3 always comes with a certain sense of anticipation for anyone who loves cars.

A manual gearbox, a naturally aspirated engine, a chassis tuned by wizards (not the ones you are thinking of…), in short, several traits that make the Porsche 911 GT3 a proper treat for the child still inside us.

Yet there is something to cheer about for actual children too. For the first time in the GT3 line-up, rear seats are available as an option - and ISOFIX is included. So there is no longer any reason to leave the kids at home. After nursery, we can head straight to a track-day.

The person in the most important seat in the cabin can choose between sports seats with electric adjustment and heating, or a seat with a lighter carbon-fibre structure.

Up ahead, instead of the more typical start button, the 911 GT3 sticks with a rotary ignition switch. On the left of the steering column, of course.

Another update sits directly in the driver’s eyeline. The instrument cluster is now fully digital, while still offering a customisable layout. In “track screen” mode, the rev counter takes centre stage, and the 9000 rpm point can be placed exactly at 12 o’clock.

Racing suit

Almost without us noticing, 25 years have passed since the first Porsche 911 GT3 was unveiled. It was created to deliver maximum driving enjoyment while being even more effective on circuit than the other versions in this range.

For the 911 GT3 (992.2), Porsche has refined a number of aerodynamic details, particularly around the front spoiler and the underside of the body, to generate more downforce. The new shape of the front light clusters also removes the need for extra lights in the bumper, freeing up room for larger air intakes.

At the rear, both the diffuser and the air inlets feature a new design, and the rear wing now gains new angular end plates.

Less obvious are the new front suspension arms, whose shape helps create additional downforce and also improves brake cooling. This comes together with solutions carried over from the current GT3 RS, intended to control fore-and-aft body movements even more effectively.

Dinner jacket

Available from the launch of the Porsche 911 GT3, the Touring Package keeps a more classic body-line look, without letting you forget it is a GT3. In place of the huge rear wing, there is an extending version along with an additional fin on the lower section of the body.

Inside, the more traditional approach continues, with high-quality leather and seats that take comfort more seriously. And here, for the first time, they include a small pull strap that lets you fold the front seats forward and access the rear seats - available as an option.

Constantly evolving

Powering the Porsche 911 GT3, regardless of its styling, is still a six-cylinder boxer engine. Today, displacement sits at 4.0 l and power at 510 cv, still untouched by any form of forced induction.

A six-speed manual gearbox with a shorter final drive, or a seven-speed PDK automatic, can be specified on both versions. With the latter, however, the Porsche 911 GT3 manages 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5s and reaches a top speed of 311 km/h. With the manual, the same “exercise” takes 3.9s and the quoted top speed is 313 km/h.

How much does the Porsche 911 GT3 cost?

That leaves the price Porsche asks for this remarkable “present”. Both the 911 GT3 and the 911 GT3 with the Touring Package can be ordered from the end of this year, with a base price of 275 752 euros.

After that, there are three key options available for the 911 GT3. The Weissach package calls for an outlay of 31 759 euros; Leichtbau - only available together with Touring - adds 47 251 euros to the starting figure.

Alongside those two, but only for the 911 GT3 with the rear wing, Porsche also offers the Clubsport Package, aimed at drivers who take their sports car to the track more often. It includes a bolt-in steel safety cell at the rear, a six-point harness for the driver, a portable fire extinguisher and, best of all, it costs nothing.

As is typical across Porsche models, the new 911 GT3 can also be specified with a wide range of additional options to personalise each example of this Zuffenhausen icon. All that is left is to send the letter to Father Christmas. Do you think it will still arrive in time?