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Porsche

2015 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS revealed

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

The latest model in the 991 911 rollout is upon us, the Carrera GTS. It’s the second time Porsche has released a Carrera GTS and this time it’s available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations.

If you missed the memo back in 2010, the GTS sits between the Carrera S and the GT3. All GTS models boast the wide body of the Carrera 4, and are complemented by 20″ matt black alloys.

Peak power from the 3.8 litre flat six is up to 316kW, which is 22kW more than you get in a Carrera S and 34kW less than a GT3. With a 7-speed PDK fitted to a GTS coupé you’ll knock off 100km/h in 4.0 seconds. You can also buy your GTS with a 7-speed manual gearbox if you wish.

Australian deliveries will start in Februray next year, although you can order now if you wish. List pricing starts at $268,700 for a manual Carrera 2 GTS and tops out at $312,690 for a Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet with a PDK transmission (see full price list below for more detail).

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Porsche Video

It’s still a feast for the senses

991 Porsche 911 GT3

Since its release the 991 Porsche 911 GT3 has enjoyed something of a bumpy ride. Of course it is loved by many, but those engine dramas were a blip on an otherwise exemplary record.

Undeterred, Andreas Preuninger is back to wax lyrical about the car he oversaw. It’s a “new” video published by /Drive and has been titled “Porsche GT3—Feast For the Senses—Editor’s Cut”. It’s been entered in the 2014 Jalopnik Film Festival.

If you think you’ve seen it before, you probably have. But who’s really going to complain about being read a bedtime story by the father of the GT3?

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Porsche

991 Porsche 911 GT3 RS patent drawings

2015 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

We’ve been given one of the best looks yet at the 2015 Porsche 911 GT3 RS thanks to a series of patent drawings published by Car magazine.

It appears as though almost every body panel will be unique to the GT3 RS. Starting with the dip in the bonnet and the vented front guards—remember we first got wind of those on a scale model, of all things.

The roof also has a double bulge, presumably to offer increased headroom inside the car. The obligatory massive rear wing is also in place along with a wide body akin to the 911 Turbo, which caters for the widened track on the most competition-focused production model in the 911 range.

Despite the Turbo-style air intakes on the rear flanks and rear decklid it’s now expected the RS will feature a high-rev normally aspirated engine, likely to remain at the same 3.8 litre capacity found in the revised 911 GT3. Power should slot in between the 350kW (475hp) from the GT3 and the 412kW (552hp) found in the Turbo S, currently the most powerful 991 911 money can buy.

This is likely to be the most extreme GT3 RS yet with Andreas Preuninger, Porsche GT road cars boss, indicating the gap between the GT3 and the RS will be as big as its ever been when the 991 RS is finally revealed.

[Source: Car | Thanks to John for the tip]

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BMW Porsche Video

VIDEO: BMW M4 v Porsche 911 Carrera

BMW M4 v Porsche 911 Carrera

Evo magazine has taken to the picturesque Anglesey Circuit with a brand new BMW M4 and pitched it against a Porsche 911 Carrera. The M4 (née M3) v 911 debate is one that’s been around for years now. Two cars that compete against each other in the minds of revheads even though they don’t really share the same market segment.

So which will come out trumps on the tight seaside track? Professional racer Marino Franchitti was on hand to find out. It’s worth paying attention to his steering wheel inputs when the in-car footage is compared too.

Oh, can you believe the 991 is now three years old!

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Porsche

2015 Porsche 911 GT3 RS: No turbo for you?!

2015 Porsche 911 GT3 RS spied at the Nurburgring

A prototype 911 GT3 RS has been spied at the Nürburgring in recent days and judging by the fearsome sound of the car it is not turbocharged. There’s been speculation that Porsche would boost the 991-based RS in order to achieve the 500hp+ target pencilled in for the 3.8 litre flat six.

Porsche has also stated that the gap between the regular 911 GT3 and the RS model will be larger than it has been in the past. You can see signs of that already with the big side air intakes and other body work modifications. Just look at the size of that rear wing for starters!

Those side intakes would normally indicate a turbo, as in the 911 Turbo, but there’s no mistaking the rawness of the note coming from that test car. It sounds superb.

While this test car does sound like it has a PDK fitted there is talk, or hope at least, that the RS will be available with a traditional manual gearbox. Let’s hope Porsche comes good on that front, even if the longer term future of the manual ‘box is inevitably going to be a lost cause.

Of course, Porsche has had a minor hiccup with the engine in the GT3 and that has pushed back the launch of the GT3 RS. As far as we know there’s still no official launch date in mind for the RS. If the Frankfurt Motor Show in September is too soon, then Detroit in January will probably mark the car’s debut. It’s not too far away.

[Source: Bridge to Gantry]

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Porsche Video

The Porsche 911 GT3 is back!

991 Porsche 911 GT3

After its time on the sidelines it appears as though the 991 Porsche 911 GT3 is back in the hands of owners. Here’s a video from a US owner who was kind enough to record his first drive in anger after getting his GT3 back.

We’re not so sure the authorities will approve of some of the driving skills on show, but we’re confident you’ll love the sound of that revitalised 3.8 litre flat six!

[Thanks to John for the tip]

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Porsche

A sneaky preview of the 911 GT3 RS?

Porsche 911 GT3 RS scale model

This image of a scale model might just have given the game away as far as the looks for the all-new Porsche 911 GT3 RS are concerned. Certainly the massive rear wing follows expectations. Those front wheel arches, though, are a new thing.

What do you think, is this going to be legit?

We still have a lot of unanswered questions for the next RS. Will it be turbocharged? Will it crack 500hp? Will Porsche offer it with a proper manual gearbox? And most importantly, when will we see it?

[Source: The Supercar Kids | Thanks to John for the tip]

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Porsche

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS in development

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS prototype

The next model on the 911 rank is the Carrera GTS. That mashed up looking thing above is it, apparently. We rather liked the old one, so let’s hope Porsche gets it right again. We’ve no reason to doubt they won’t.

Designed to bridge the gap between the Carrera S and the GT3, this new GTS will take the 3.8 litre flat six from the S and give it a bit more power (expect around 315kW, up from 294kW), but not as much as the GT3 (which has 350kW).

The last model was rear-wheel drive only but there’s a suggestion this new model could be all-wheel drive—which we’re not so sure about—and that it could also get a manual transmission. Hmm, that doesn’t seem to follow Porsche’s recent trend either, but we’d like it if PDK got to remain on the option list of at least one upper-end 911.

It’s expected the GTS will be on sale sometime next year and will also bring with it a cosmetic facelift, some of which will carry over across the entire 911 range. Just the usual nip and tuck, new lights and body kit etc. If you can’t wait that long then you’ll be pleased to learn there’s a chance the facelifted 911 and GTS could appear on the show car circuit before 2014 is done and dusted.

One thing that is new is the appearance of centrally mounted exhaust tips. Yes, the GT3 has those, but not like the ones on this test mule, which are a bit more spread apart (see below). More pics, including a Cabrio prototype, can be seen by following the source link, as well.

[Source: World Car Fans | Thanks to John for the tip]

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Porsche

Porsche 911 GT3 wins 2014 World Performance COTY

Porsche 911 GT3

We love Porsche. And although we’re yet to drive one, we love 911 GT3s. Indeed, if when our lotto numbers come up, the first task will be deciding which GT3 to buy while we wait for the new one.

Just as essential as it is to have fine taste in motor cars, it’s also best to have a healthy sense of humour as you make your way through life. It would seem the World Car of the Year judges share this view, too, after awarding the 991 911 GT3 the 2014 World Performance Car.

The joke, of course, being that the car named the world’s best performance weapon cannot be driven. Not until it has a new engine, anyway. Fires tend to attract a bit too much attention, you see.

For now, the 911 GT3 is the ultimate garage queen, with the trophy to prove it.

Despite this minor oversight, the judges proudly state: “The latest 911 GT3 is 100 percent at home on any track, with surprising buckets of fine balance and handling prowess even with the engine theoretically in the ‘wrong’ place. Heavy aero work, the stripping down of the car’s weight, and 469 horsepower from the 3.8-liter flat-six engine, all help with lap times and launch time.”

The GT3 was named ahead of the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Ferrari 458 Speciale for the shiny trophy.

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News Porsche Video

The money or the Porsche?

Nick Murray, former disgruntled Porsche owner

Yes, Nick Murray should get his money back. This, we know, because Nick’s recent YouTube video and its 1.3 million viewers gained enough traction to force the hand of Porsche Cars North America. The company has agreed to offer Nick a full refund or a brand new replacement vehicle.

So, then, the money or the Porsche: which would you choose?

Oh, we forgot this with the last video—sorry—there’s a language warning, in case you’re watching in an office without headphones. With any luck the screen grab above gives you an idea that this may be the case.

[Thanks to Alex and Mark for the tips]

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News Porsche Video

Should Nick Murray get his money back?

Nick Murray's 911 Carrera S

Meet Nick Murray. He’s the not so proud owner of a 991 Porsche 911 Carrera S. He took delivery of his car around the middle of last year and, according to him, it has spent around two months back at the dealer getting a variety of seemingly random and unconnected problems resolved.

In this video Murray details his ongoing discussions with Porsche Cars North America and asks them publicly: “Stop jerking me around and give me my money back, so I can buy another car and then you can get rid of me.”

Based on his own evidence it would seem Nick has a pretty good case for a replacement or full refund under applicable US Lemon laws. Watch the video below and see what you think.

[Thanks to Wes for the tip]

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Porsche

Good and bad news for next Porsche 911 GT3 RS

2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

There’s good and bad news for the 991-based Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. The rollout of the RS will most likely be delayed thanks to the engine replacement scheme for the flame-happy 911 GT3. Originally due for unveiling in the next few months it’s now uncertain when the RS will be launched.

Now for the good news. After initial reports suggesting the GT3 RS would be a PDK-only affair—as the regular GT3 proved to be—there is now talk that a manual ‘box may be offered after all. At least that’s the word from Car & Driver who claim sources have told them Porsche is “strongly considering” a manual transmission for the RS.

[Source: World Car Fans & Car & Driver | Thanks to Tiaan for the tip]