Porsche Says Goodbye to the 997 Series with 500HP 911 GT3 RS 4.0 [with Video]

The new 911 GT3 RS 4.0 is Porsche's ultimate street-legal track racer and a fitting farewell to the current 911 series, codenamed 997, which will soon be replaced by an all-new model set to be unwrapped at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September. There’s a lot to like about the new GT3 RS including the fact that it is fitted with the largest engine ever to be mounted on a factory-approved 911; a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six unit that develops 500 horsepower at 8,250 rpm, 50 horses more than the standard GT3 RS. It is also the most powerful 911 naturally aspirated engine with 125 horsepower per liter. The engine carries the crankshaft from the 911 GT3 RSR racing car, while the forged pistons' connecting rods are made from titanium.
The impressive output and peak torque of 460 Nm (339 lb-ft) at 5,750 rpm help the sports car achieve stunning performance, such as the Nürburgring-Nordschleife lap time of 7 minutes 27 seconds, 1.7 seconds faster than the Carrera GT and 6 seconds faster than the GT3 RS. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a six-speed sports transmission with gearing designed for the circuit. Porsche says the car sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and to 200 km/h (124 mph) in under 12 seconds.
The 911 GT3 RS 4.0 uses motor racing suspension components and weight-saving materials such as carbon fiber for the bonnet and front wings, plastic for the rear windows, light bucket seats and even weight-optimized carpets. As a result, the car tips the scales at just 1,360 kilograms (2,998 lbs) with a full tank of fuel. The power-to-weight ratio is an amazing 2.72 kg/hp, as very few production cars drop under the threshold of 3 kilograms per horsepower.
On the outside, the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 is finished in white as standard and comes with optional “RS 4.0” decals. It is also distinguished by the wide track and low stance, a large rear wing with adapted side plates and central twin tailpipes. The front bumper sports lateral air deflection vanes, which make their appearance for the first time on a production Porsche. They increase downforce on the front axle and in combination with the rear wing push the car onto the road with an additional 190 kg (426 lbs) of aerodynamic force at top speed.
The car will launch in Germany in July 2011 with a starting price of €178,596, taxes included. In the U.S., the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 will cost $185,000 (excluding destination charges) and will go on sale in late 2011. Production will be limited to just 600 units worldwide.

By Dan Mihalascu

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VIDEO

2012 Porsche 911 Makes a Brief Appearance on "Need for Speed: The Run" Trailer

While checking out the latest preview trailer for Electronic Art's [EA] limited edition racing game "Need for Speed: The Run", we noticed that among the new cars included in the special package are the Lamborghini Aventador, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S.
Since we've already seen the other cars, the surprise here is the new Porsche 911 which makes a very brief appearance in the trailer at around 59 seconds into the video. EA's trailer only shows the 991's rear air vent and the headlamps.
According to Electronic Art's press bit, the "Need for Speed: The Run" will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC with sales set to start in North America on November 15 and in Europe on November 19.

VIDEO

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RUF Unveils Updated CTR3 with 750-Horses

Four years after the presentation of the CTR3, and it's time for Porsche tuning specialist RUF to tweak its mid-engine supercar.

The newest CTR3 continues to use the Porsche 911-derived 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged six-cylinder boxer engine, but thanks to a series of modifications, output has been boosted from 691bhp and 890Nm (657 lb-ft) to 750bhp and 960 Nm (708 lb-ft) of peak torque.

The more powerful CTR3 accelerates from standstill to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.2 seconds and to 125 mph (200 km) in 9.6 seconds, and can reach a top speed of 236 mph (380 km/h).

Power is channeled to the rear wheels through a sequential shift 6-speed transmission and limited slip differential.

The supercar's chassis is a space frame with a modular construction while the company's RUF Integrated Roll Cage protects the passengers. Apart from the doors and the front hood, which are made from aluminum, the rest of the body is made out of Kevlar-carbon composite.

The CTR3 also gets 380 mm brakes with 6-piston calipers all around and a specially designed Bosch ABS, while it rolls on 255/35 ZR19 front and 335/30 ZR20 rear tires.

Pricing of the updated CTR3 has not been announced.

Power 552 kW (750 bhp) at 7,100 rpm
Torque 960 Nm (708 lb-ft) at 4,000 rpm
Displacement 3,746 cc

Performance
0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) 3.2 seconds
0-125 mph (0-200 km/h) 9.6 seconds
Top speed 236 mph (380 km/h)

Fuel consumption
Urban 20.0 lt (11.8 mpg)/100 km
Non-urban 9.9 lt (23.7 mpg)/100 km
Combined 13.5 lt (17.4 mpg)/100 km
CO2 emissions 311 g/km

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Über Rare Porsche 911 GT1 Straßenversion up for Grabs

It might not be the prettiest Porsche to look at, but the 911 GT1 Straßenversion is without doubt one of the most rare and radical street legal 911s ever to leave the Stuttgart firm’s factory.

You see, the 911 GT1 Straßenversion is the fully road-legal version of Porsche’s 1997 GT1 race car, While based on the 993, it features many modifications including a bespoke carbon-fiber body made to improve aerodynamics and lower the car's weight, and a detuned version of the competition model’s turbocharged flat-six engine delivering some 540 horses.

And now, one of the very few examples that were built to homologate Porsche's 911 GT1 contender in the late 1990s (Porsche is said to have built around 20 cars) is up for sale on a German site with an asking price of €1.2 million or about US$1.7 million.

Notably, the seller says the car is located in Tokyo, Japan, but will deliver anywhere, and that the car’s engine is rated at 700-horses.

Seller: Mobile via Gtspirit

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