- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 2 seats
- Engine
4.0i, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
383kW, 470Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (98) 12.8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Porsche 911 GT3 RS 2018 Review
Driving a Porsche 911 GT3 RS I find myself wondering aloud ‘How does Porsche keep making this car better?’
“They always do,” says my passenger, 1970 Le Mans 24 Hour winner Richard Atwood, now chief instructor at the Porsche Experience Centre at the Silverstone circuit in England, where we sampled the updated road racer this week.
However it has done it Porsche has managed to make one of the best - if not the best - driver’s cars even better.
The previous 911 GT3 RS (codename 991.1 for Porsche trainspotters) hit the road in 2016 and left a strong impression with its ability to blend race car-style performance with a semblance of road car usability. Although, to be fair, if you want to get the best out of it you did need a racetrack.
Fortunately the Porsche Driving Experience offers the best of both worlds, effectively re-creating a two-lane piece of English country road in a loop that allows you to fully exploit the performance of this new model (now codenamed 991.2).
Revealed back in March at the 2018 Geneva motor show this latest evolution of the GT3 RS has a raft of upgrades to make it even faster, sharper and more engaging.
- Race car-like performance.
- Razor-sharp handling.
- Easy to drive slowly too.
- Extreme performance not for everyone.
- Limited practicality.
- More expensive than ever before.
Is it right for me?
The real question isn’t whether the GT3 RS is right for you, but if you’re right for it. While it’s not strictly speaking a limited edition with a specific number set to be built, Porsche is restricted by how many it can actually produce before the new generation 911 arrives in 2019.
If you can get your hands on one then you need to be prepared for the most extreme and driver-focused 911. It still has a radio and air-conditioning but some of the creature comforts (like the interior door handles) have been sacrificed at the altar of more performance. In other words this isn’t the 911 for everyone.
Can I afford it ?
It may not have proper door handles or even any Porsche badges (they’ve been replaced by stickers to save weight) but the extreme levels of performance and limited nature of the GT3 RS means it doesn’t come cheap.
The 2018 edition costs $416,500 (plus on-road costs) which is a big jump up from the previous model that started at $387,300.
What do you get for your money?
Fortunately there are a number of small but important changes to this latest model to help justify the price increase.
The engine has been reworked to deliver more power and torque, the steering recalibrated, the suspension tweaked and the aerodynamics honed even further than before to make the GT3 RS even faster.
The GT2 RS may be more powerful with its turbocharged engine but the GT3 RS compensates with razor-sharp handling and precision. Around Germany’s Nurburgring, the performance car benchmark, the new GT3 RS is a whopping 24-seconds faster than the old model and only nine-seconds slower than the GT2 RS.
How much does it cost to maintain?
Porsche Australia haven’t confirmed local maintenance costs but it isn't likely to be cheap for such a fine-tuned machine.
However, like all Porsches, it is covered by a three year warranty.
Is it well built?
The GT3 RS is built on the same production line in Zuffenhausen as the rest of the 911 range and that includes the brand’s Carrera Cup racing cars. That’s appropriate because the RS shares some key DNA with the Cup cars, including the 4.0-litre flat-six engine.
What are the Standout features?
The attention-to-detail is what makes the RS so special, with seemingly every area of the car studied in detail to extract maximum performance. The bonnet is made from carbon fibre to save weight, but not the roof. Instead it is made from magnesium, an element originally used in the 911 GT3 R Hybrid racing car back in 2011.
If that’s not enough you can get the optional Weissach Package that brings a carbon fibre roof that saves 498g compared to the magnesium lid, plus carbon fibre suspension components and even lighter carpet. You can also option even lighter forged magnesium wheels to replace the forged alloy versions that come standard (20-inches at the front and 21-inches at the rear).
That doesn’t come cheap though with the Weissach extras adding $34,390 to the price.
What does it have that others don't?
That focus on every gram speaks to the evolutionary nature of the GT3 RS. The first GT3 was launched in 1999 so for the last 19 years Porsche has been refining and fine-tuning the concept.
In addition to the reworked engine and suspension this latest iteration has also added several seemingly small touches that add up to a significant improvement in performance, such as the two NACA ducts on the bonnet. While primarily there to ram more cooling air onto the brakes they also allow more air to follow underneath the car which cleans up the airflow over the top of the body and onto the huge rear wing.
How practical is it?
Of course all this effort on speed comes at a cost and the GT3 RS is the least practical of the 911 range. The back seats are ditched in favour of a half rollcage for extra torsional rigidity and safety and to give you somewhere to mount your racing harness if you want to get on-track. If you really want to get serious you can tick the option box for the full ‘cage too.
Is it comfortable?
Despite the seriously looking cabin with the rollcage and carbon fibre-backed racing seats, the GT3 RS is surprisingly comfortable. The seats are trimmed with Alcantara and leather so they look and feel nice and offer great support without being too tight, as some racing chairs can be.
There’s plenty of Alcantara used throughout the cabin to give it a premium but racey feel. The steering wheel is devoid of anything unnecessary, no audio or Bluetooth controls, just a simply rim with the metallic gear changes paddles on the back.
Easy in, easy out?
The only catch with the seats is they are low mounted so you do drop deep into the car, so getting in and out can be a little tricky. The seat is fixed for height, so it only slides backwards and forwards, so while this reviewer found it comfortable it may not suit all different body shapes and sizes.
Space and versatility?
There’s a little bit of storage space under the bonnet for some soft bags but that’s about it. Even by 911 standards it’s a bit light on.
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What's the engine like?
Luggage room is really unimportant though with the GT3 RS, this is about ultimate performance so the effort has been centred there. Nowhere is that more evident than under the bonnet where the 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine has been further enhanced.
The GT3 RS has always been about naturally-aspirated performance and continues to be. So there’s a new valve train, developed by Porsche’s Motorsport division, plus changes to intake and exhaust system for more performance and the ability to rev to an ear-tingling 9000rpm.
Power has increased to 383kW while torque is up to 470Nm, compared to the old model’s 368kW/460Nm. While those are only incremental gains the RS didn’t need a big power boost because it already had more than enough grunt to feel fast.
What makes it special isn’t power or torque, but rather how it delivers its performance. Few engines feel as extreme as this one, or as raw and as similar to a race car. Keep your foot down and hold it in gear and the noise from the engine and exhaust as it screams towards 9000rpm is intoxicating. Based purely on the soundtrack you could be mistaken for thinking you’re driving a Carrera Cup racer, that’s how extreme the GT3 RS feels.
How much fuel does it consume?
The claimed 12.8-litres per 100km isn’t a great return from a regular six-cylinder engine, but the Porsche’s isn’t a regular engine. This is tuned for maximum performance so fuel economy has been sacrificed to extract maximum grunt. If that’s not a trade-off you’re willing to make then you need to look elsewhere.
Is it enjoyable to drive?
If you do choose performance over economy you are rewarded with one of the most engaging cars to drive. The Porsche 911 is considered by many as the ultimate driver’s car and the GT3 RS is the ultimate driver’s 911.
Every element of the handling feels precise thanks to the detail work that has gone into the steering, braking, tyres and aerodynamics. Being able to drive the GT3 RS at the Silverstone Experience Centre facility meant we could fully explore its limits in a controlled environment - and it didn’t disappoint.
The steering is so precise thanks to recalibrated rear-wheel steering system that the car stays tucked into the apex at ridiculously high cornering speeds. Through fast corners the RS feels stable and planted which gives you so much confidence as a driver. Tighter corners are handled with equal ease as there is loads of mechanical grip from the huge tyres - 20-inch and 265/35 in profile at the front and 21-inch with 325/30 profile on the rear.
The brakes provide enormous stopping power as our test car was fitted with the optional carbon ceramic discs. The pedal has enough feel to get the best out of them but you do need to provide more pressure with your foot than your average sports car.
Does it perform as you expect?
When I drove the previous generation GT3 RS in 2016 I was left feeling like it was the best car I have ever driven, from a pure enjoyment and performance point-of-view. At the time I struggled to believe Porsche could find a way to make it better, and yet, somehow it has.
The changes to this new generation may sound minor in isolation but when added together it creates an even sharper, louder and faster car. Which means this is the best car I have ever driven… at least until the next generation GT3 RS arrives.
2018 Porsche 911 GT3 RS price and specifications
Price: From $416,500 plus on-road costs
Engine: 4.0-litre six-cylinder petrol
Power: 383kW at 8250rpm
Torque: 470Nm at 6000rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, rear-wheel drive
Fuel use: 12.8L/100km