Wednesday 12th May 2010

911 GT2 RS Is Most Powerful Porsche Road Car Ever

620hp and a 7min 18sec Nurburgring lap make new RS a 'record-breaker'

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A 90hp power-hike over the 911 GT2 combined with a 70kgs weight-saving makes the new 911 GT2 RS the fastest 'street-legal' Porsche has ever built.

We showed you a sneaky preview of the car yesterday, but today Porsche has released official details and images of its new machine which will be unveiled in the metal at the Moscow motorshow on August 25th. (And not the later Paris show as all the pundits were suggesting.)

The phenomenal power output has been derived from a new charge air intercooler and turbo boost dialled-up from 1.4 to 1.6bar on the 3.6-litre six-cylinder boxer engine with twin turbochargers. There's a six-speed manual gearbox and sports tyres measuring 325/30 ZR 19 developed especially for the 911 GT2 RS, which help convert this massive power into equally massive performance and acceleration on the road. Porsche claims 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds, 0-124mph in 9.8 seconds, and 0-186mph in 28.9 seconds.

Stopping power is assured by the PCCB composite ceramic brakes fitted as standard, while something Porsche calls "appropriate longitudinal and lateral dynamic chassis control" is ensured by the sporting RS set-up of the springs, Porsche Adaptive Suspension Management (PASM), anti-roll bars, as well as the engine mounts and PSM Porsche Stability Management. It's a set-up that has allowed the car to record an impressive 7min18sec Nurburgring lap time, says Porsche.

Lightweight features developed for the car include use of lighter aluminium transverse arms and diagonal struts in the rear suspension, carbon fibre reinforced front lid and rear spoiler, polycarbonate rear window and side windows, lightweight engine cover, lighter single-mass flywheel, and a lighter lithium-ion battery. Other 'dynamic enhancements' are said to include metal support bearings complete with ball joints in the front suspension, lightweight door panels, and a wider front track with wider tyres that are the same dimension as GT3 RS.

As far as styling goes, the new 911 GT2 RS stands out from the 911 GT2 through the use of carbon-fibre-reinforced (CFR) components in distinctive matt-black finish. At the front, the new, wider 911 GT2-style light-alloy wheels with centre locking are shrouded by flared wheel arches. There are 'GT2 RS' badges on the doors and rear engine cover, while the upgraded front spoiler lip and the rear spoiler lip also have a carbon finish. The rear spoiler lip is raised 10 millimetres for extra downforce.

Inside there are lightweight bucket seats made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic, and lightweight interior door panels with door opening straps. The basic interior colour is black, contrasting with red alcantara upholstery on the seat centre sections and roof lining, as well as with segments on the steering wheel rim, gearshift and handbrake lever.

The new GT2 RS will be limited to just 500 units worldwide, and will be available in the UK from September when it will cost a hefty £164,107 before you start ticking any option boxes. You would though, wouldn't you..?

911 GT2 RS Technical specifications
Cylinders 6
Displacement 3.600cm3
Max. power (DN) 620hp
at rpm 6,500
Max.torque 700Nm
at rpm 2,500 - 5,500
Compression ratio 9.0 : 1
Boost pressure 1.6 bar

Transmission Six speed manual
Wheels Front: 9 J x 19 ET 47
Rear: 12 J x 19 ET 48
Tyres
Front: 245/35 ZR 19 (sports tyres)
Rear: 325/30 ZR 19 (sports tyres)
Unladen weight (DIN) 1,370kg
Power to weight ratio 2.21kilos per hp / 452hp per tonne

Top Speed 205mph
0-62mph 3.5 secs
0-99mph 6.8 secs
CO2 emissions 284 g/km
Turning circle 10.9m
Drag coefficient 0.34
Combined fuel consumption 23.7mpg

Length 4,469mm
Height 1,285mm
Width (inc wing mirrors) 1,852mm (1,952mm)
Wheelbase 2,350mm

Price £164,107 inc VAT

[Tahiti]

Oooohhhhh. What a car.

[willisit]

So this is still using the older GT1-derived lump? How strange... anyway, WANT.

[Rawwr]

At that price, it does seem somewhat of a bargain relative to other cars with the same prestige/performance ratio

[David87]

0-100 in under 7 seconds? Bloody hell!

[Whitean3]

Makes the price of a Sport Classic look a little far fetched! Oh, and I love the red alcantara headlining!

[leon9191]

Wow.

That thing looks Phenomenal, is it wider than a GT3 RS? The rear arches look more flred to me.

And like some one said earlier it does represent great value when you compare it to its competitors.

Edited by leon9191 on Wednesday 12th May 09:42

[E21_Ross]

want that!! what a weekend fun/track car that would make!!!

[m3sye]

What do these sound like? always felt the standard Turbo was let down by its quietness.

[teen_cerbera]

Whitean3 said:

Makes the price of a Sport Classic look a little far fetched! Oh, and I love the red alcantara headlining!

I can see these going for alot more though, the fact theres only 500 being made will make them very collectable and therefore adding a decent premium. I think with the options boxes ticked and the premium added,this Porsche is going to be North of £210k. Still seems incredible value though

[Rawwr]

I know what I'd go for if I was given the choice of this or an Italia. It'd be jerryturbopower every time.

[AMGexigeS]

Want!! Tis a thing of beauty, price tag a bit of a beast though

[CraigGTI6]

Pic of the week, the shot taken from low down looking back at the front of the car, please...

It will give me an incentive to work harder seeing this thing on my desktop every morning. Talking of which, should actually start work now...

[vrdhir]

love it and love it

[TheRoadWarrior]

Wow, 1.6bar.. thats a lot of boost!

7min 18.. thats faster than pretty much everything around the ring except lightweight specials and full on race cars.

[rhinochopig]

I'm underwhelmed by it's looks. I was hoping for something more race-car refugee - RSR lookalike - in the looks department. It doesn't look special enough IMO.

[LHD]

Want.

[M400 NBL]

I'm not rich, or even comfortable , but that does seem good value for money.

All these new cars are adding another line to my lottery ticket. It's costing me a fortune!

[OlberJ]

Afraid given the choice i'd still take the GT3 RS.

Awesome machine though and will become an icon i would imagine.

[BUG4LIFE]

I'm not really a Poker fan as such but I looooooooooooove this car, just cos it's so mental. Isn't 0-60 in 3.5 slower than the Turbo though?

[zakelwe]

It's in the same acceleration area of the new Mclaren MP4-12c. That also does 0-125 in just under 10 seconds.

GT2 RS v 458 Italia v Mp4 12C v Noble M600 group test please....



Andy