With less than a couple of weeks until the 2015 Geneva Motor Show->ke228 opens its gates, the last remaining mystery surrounding the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS has been solved. According to a leaked spec sheet, the track-monster's 4.0-liter flat-six develops 500 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque using nothing but good old natural aspiration. All that power is transmitted to the rear wheels courtesy of a seven-speed, PDK, dual-clutch transmission only.
The engine is apparently not another version of the trusty 3.8-liter used on almost every current 911, but a newly-developed flat-six. According to Porsche's->ke1 chief of R&D Wolfgang Hatz, the new engine will eventually work its way into other 911 versions, but in turbocharged form and likely with decreased displacement. With a 8,800 redline, natural aspiration, titanium connecting rods and dry-sump lubrication on the GT3 RS, the 4.0-liter boxer mill may be the closest thing to a racing engine in the future Porsche lineup, at least if we don't take into account the RS Spyder-based V-8 from the 918 Spyder.
We already knew how the new 911 GT3 RS looks and the fact that it uses an all-new powerplant, so the transmission choice and engine output were pretty much the last unknowns concerning the model. Just like the regular 911 GT3 and the 911 Turbo, the new "Rennsport" ("Motorsport" in German) model will also feature torque vectoring and rear-wheel steering, but that is likely where the similarities will end.
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Why it matters
Set to be officially unveiled any day now, the new 911 GT3 RS will become the closest thing to a "racing car for the road" in the Porsche lineup. The leaked spec sheet doesn't mention how much weight the model lost compared to the GT3, but an estimate can be given by counting all the new magnesium and CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) parts that are featured on the RS. To put things into perspective, the model's doors and body shell are made from aluminum, while both the luggage compartment and engine lids are made of CFRP, as is the gigantic rear wing and the two bucket seats.
Porsche went as far as making the rear and front side windows from polycarbonate, while an optional Clubsport package comes with a bolted roll cage at the rear, battery disconnect switch preparation and a six-point seat belt system for the driver, along with a motorsport-ready fire extinguisher. By far the most amusing feature on the new 911 GT3 RS is the so-called "Pit Speed" switch panel on the center console, which can enforce local speed limits while in the pit lane of a circuit, for example. With even Ferrari switching to forced induction, the new Porsche sports car will probably become a collector's piece in a few years.