Porsche seems to be listening to its customers and will once again offer the 911 GT3 with a manual transmission, making it an ideal choice for purists with a track to play on.
The 2018 Porsche 911 GT3, which is essentially a street-legal race car, made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show with an increasingly rare naturally aspirated, high-revving 4.0-liter flat six. That engine makes 500 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque and can be paired to either Porsche’s seven-speed PDK or a six-speed manual, which was absent on the current generation GT3.
Weighing in at a light 3,153 pounds the two-seater rockets to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and onto a top speed of 197 mph with the PDK. With the manual, the GT3 weighs 3,116 pounds and does the zero-to-60-mph sprint in 3.8 seconds and is slightly faster with a 198 mph top speed.
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Taking tech from 911 race cars like the 911 GT3 R and 911 RSR, the new GT3 is more track-focused than ever, offering even better handling with its new active rear axle steering. The system makes the car more agile at all speeds and more stable at higher speeds and dynamic engine mounts and rear locking differential improve driving dynamics even more.
Visually, in typical Porsche fashion, the GT3 doesn’t look drastically different, but it gets a new carbon fiber rear wing, a revised front fascia, and a new diffusor, which all help make the coupe more aerodynamically efficient.
Inside, the Porsche 911 GT3 gets new sport seats and a new steering wheel inspired by the one in the 918.
The 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 arrives this fall in the U.S. with a starting price of $143,600 (plus a $1,050 delivery fee).
