Paris Auto Show: 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Think way back to the early '70s. Remember the 911 2.7 RS? The new Porsche 911 GT3 RS, given its public introduction earlier today here in Paris, lifts its style and bloodline from that iconic model. If we were unaware of their storied history, we would say that the zoomy side graphics on the 997-based GT3 RS on display on the Porsche stand looked, well, pretty tacky... Fortunately, we know better than that. Plus we were knee-deep in Porsche executives.

Largely similar to the track-biased yet still streetable GT3, the GT3 RS's true purpose is to function as a street-legal homologation model for the 911 GT3 RSR Cup race car. All GT3 RS models are built on the 44mm-wider body of the Carrera 4, and sport increased rear track width compared to their plain-vanilla GT3 brethren. A lighter single-mass flywheel replaces the GT3's heavier dual-mass unit, air conditioning has been binned, and the active dampers have been remapped. There's a sunroof delete option available on GT3 RS models, and, to suit track setups, the suspension has wider alignment range. Sorry, power-hounds: the 415-hp flat six in the GT3 RS is unchanged from the GT3.

Unfortunately, the US-spec GT3 RS won't get the some of the goodies found on the European version like its lightweight fixed seats, roll cage, or lightweight plastic rear "glass", so we won't get the full 44 lb weight reduction found in the Euro GT3 RS. Nor has US pricing been released, but expect about a 10% price hike over the base GT3. That's about ten to fifteen grand. Yikes! For dual-purpose street/track duty, we say stick with the regular GT3,and save the RS for those building all-out race cars. Of course, there are those folks that just gotta have the zippy script on the flanks.

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• Posted by: Jay Kavanagh September 28, 2006, 1:46 PM
• Categories: Paris Auto Show, Porsche