Porsche launches a road-going RSR - the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 (w/VIDEO)

After numerous leaks during the past months, most recently of the European price list and official pictures, Porsche have officially revealed details of its 911 GT3 RS 4.0 which will go on sale in July 2011.

Limited to just 600 vehicles worldwide, the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 takes all the attributes that have made the Porsche 911 GT3 a winner on the race track and turns the performance dial up to 111% – quite literally, since the GT3 RS 4.0 offers an 11% increase in power over the regular 444 bhp GT3 RS, resulting in the first ever 500 bhp (or thereabouts) naturally aspirated 911.

But being a GT3, the new limited edition RS 4.0 doesn’t just make the headlines due to the power of its engine – the engineers at Porsche have sought to make this the fastest ever GT3 on the track, as ably demonstrated by an official Nürburgring-Nordschleife lap time of 7:27 minutes.

The new model transmits thoroughbred motorsport technology through to its innermost core. The flat engine’s crankshaft has been lifted unchanged from the 911 GT3 RSR racing car’s six cylinder engine and the forged pistons’ connecting rods are made of titanium.

The flat six 4.0-litre engine, the biggest 911 engine ever, is also the most powerful naturally aspirated engine with 123 bhp/litre. It achieves its maximum power of 493 bhp (500 PS) at 8,250 revs per minute and delivers its maximum torque of 460 Nm at 5,750 rpm.

The 911 GT3 RS 4.0, available exclusively with a six-speed manual sports transmission, sprints to 62 mph from a standing start in 3.9 seconds and, with its gearing designed for the racing circuit, takes it to the 124 mph (200 km/h) mark in under 12 seconds.

The driving dynamics of the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 are the result of a meticulously set of upgrades. In order to best exploit the increased power, the chassis settings of the new car have been revised. This includes the set-up of the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), an electronic damper adjustment system that actively and continuously controls the individual damping forces for each wheel and the rear axle and which now features additional ball-joints for greater adaptability.

In addition to using suspension components from the 911 GT3 RSR racing car, weight reduction has also been an important target for Porsche’s development engineers. Equipped as standard with light weight components such as bucket seats, bonnet and front wings made of carbon fibre, plastic rear windows and weight-optimised carpets, the two-seater’s ready-for-road weight is just 1,360 kg, delivering a power-to-weight ratio of 363 bhp/tonne.

Despite the rumour of ‘several’ unique colours, the limited edition RS 4.0 comes painted in Carrara White as standard, emphasising its proximity to the functional purity of its motor racing roots.

Trademark characteristics are the wide track, the low ride height, the large rear wing with adapted side plates, the typical central twin tailpipe and the aerodynamically optimised body. The lateral front air deflection vanes, so-called ‘flics’, making their first appearance on a production Porsche, testify to the precision of the RS 4.0’s aerodynamic engineering. They create increased downforce on the front axle and, together with the steeply inclined rear wing, bring the vehicle into aerodynamic equilibrium. As a result, aerodynamic forces exert an additional 190kg at top speed, literally pushing the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 onto the road.

Inside, the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 features lightweight sports bucket seats in carbon fibre covered in black leather/red Alcantara with ‘RS 4.0’ in red on the headrests.

The steering wheel and gear shift lever are also trimmed in Alcantara with red stitching. Carbon fibre door entry guards with ‘RS 4.0’ logos are fitted to each sill and a dashboard trim strip in carbon fibre with a ‘RS 4.0’ logo runs across the inside of the car above the glovebox lid. As is characteristic of the 911 GT3 RS, the Clubsport package – comprising half roll cage, seat belt harnesses, fire extinguisher, battery cut-off switch – is a standard feature of the 4.0 model.

The 911 GT3 RS 4.0 is limited to 600 examples worldwide and will go on sale in July 2011 priced from £128,466.

At a Glance

PERFORMANCE
Top speed	310 km/h (193 mph)
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph)	3.9 s
0-160 km/h (0-99 mph)	7.9 s
0-200 km/h (0-124 mph)	11.9 s
Flexibility 80-120 km/h (50-75 mph), in 5th gear	4.8 s
WEIGHT
Unladen weight (DIN)	1,360 kg
Unladen weight (EC) 1)	1,435 kg

Audio Samples

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  [audio:https://transmission-one.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/throttle.mp3|titles=throttle]
  Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 – Opening the throttle
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  [audio:https://transmission-one.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/start.mp3|titles=start]
  Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 – Accelerate away from standing start
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  [audio:https://transmission-one.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/drive.mp3|titles=drive]
  Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 – Drive Past
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  [audio:https://transmission-one.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/corner.mp3|titles=corner]
  Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 – Cornering

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