Porsche 911 GT3 review

"The best gets better. Simple as that."

The Porsche 911 GT3 is one of the few cars that motoring journalists agree on – it’s so good to drive that should our lucky six number sever come up, we’d down to the nearest Porsche dealership like a shot to slap down £81,914.

But now there’s a new version of the car that’s as at home on a track as it is on the road. And guess what? It’s even better than ever.

Just looking at the GT3, you know it means business. This new car has an even bigger rear wing at the back, and an even deeper front bumper, set off by new LED driving lights. The 911 sits 30mm lower than the standard car, the extra ground-hugging presence means the 911 slips through the air better, hitting a top speed of 193mph and covering the 0-62mph sprint in 4.1 seconds.

What about the engine?

This epic speed is thanks largely to the revised flat-six engine, which is now a 3.8-litre unit instead of a 3.6. It uses titanium con-rods to save weight, revs to an incredible 8,500rpm and produces 435hp and 430Nm of torque. Yet it also meets stringent Euro V emissions regulations. Somehow.

Porsche deemed its PDK double-clutch gearbox too heavy for the lightweight GT3, so a six-speed manual is the only option. And as with the pedals and steering wheel, the weighty but precise gearshift is a joy to use.

How is it to drive?
On a twisty road, the new 911 GT3 is staggering. The grip it generates squeezes you hard into the bucket seats, yet the precision and stability with which it changes direction gives you supreme confidence. Understeer and oversteer only occur at racetrack speeds.

STOP! Carry on

New centre-locking wheels and larger but lighter brake discs help shave 5.4kg from the unsprung weight, which in turn means the GT3 has a more comfortable ride than most race-derived road cars. But who cares about that when you’re caning the GT3 on your favourite B-road?

Options include a 90-litre fuel tank, a Clubsport pack (at no extra cost) which consists of a roll cage and fire extinguisher, plus a system for increasing ground clearance when tackling speed bumps. It all adds up to a car that brilliantly brings the world of motorsport to the road, yet is still usable every day. The Porsche 911 GT3 is the finest sports car in the world.

by Bryce Richards