Yahoo Autos Porsche's 992.2-Gen 911 GT3 and GT3 Touring Keep What You Love
The GT3 nameplate first came to the Porsche 911 lineup before the turn of the 21st Century. Debuting in 996-generation 911 bodywork and with a pseudo-Mezger engine that rang up to just under 8000 rpm, the GT3 has retained a stranglehold on the enthusiast community ever since. Now, 25 years on and with the 992-gen car entering its mid-cycle refresh, Porsche is making a few (small) changes to the beloved GT3 as a sort of quarter-of-a-century anniversary present to it.
For 2025, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer will continue to offer the GT3 in two trim levels, separated by their missions. The 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 will stick to its track-focused roots, while the wingless Touring version of the GT3 becomes more usable for drivers who prefer to exercise their cars on the street — or, perhaps, just prefer a less-extroverted look.
The heart of the GT3 — the naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter flat-six engine sending 502 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels — has received a clean bill of health, and is free to run all the way up to 9000 rpm for another year. And, best of all, the manual transmission is here to stay a bit longer, making the new GT3s the first 992.2-gen 911s to offer a stick.
911 GT3 customers will have the choice of a seven-speed PDK gearbox or six-speed manual transmission on either model. Both transmissions feature a final drive ratio eight percent shorter than its predecessor; while Porsche chocks up this change to a number of emissions standards changes made to the engine, the shorter ratios are likely to fix some of the long-gearing complaints levied against Porsche's GT-badged performance models.
There's a semi-significant gap in 0-60 mph time between the PDK and manual transmission; the dual clutch does it in a mere 3.2 seconds, while the row-your-own version does it in 3.7. Manual transmission models top out two miles per hour faster than their PDK siblings, however, at 195 mph.
Speaking of emissions, Porsche admits it had to significantly re-work the 4.0-liter flat-six to meet strict emissions standards. The GT3 now has two particulate filters and four catalytic converters, as well as improved camshaft profiles, revised cylinder heads, and optimized butterfly valves in the individual throttle bodies. The end result, of course, is that the GT3 meets emissions standards and keeps its 500-hp rating.
Despite its spry 3100-pound curb weight, Porsche has made a few updates in the name of adding lightness. A new set of silver-colored lightweight aluminum wheels reduce unsprung mass by roughly 3.3 pounds, while Porsche drops the lithium-ion battery amp-hour rating from 60 Ah to 40 Ah in order to shed about 10 lbs. Extremists can also opt for magnesium wheels, saving around 20 pounds in total. Hey, every ounce counts.
Beyond these weight savings, Porsche has also updated the front end of the standard GT3 to match the geometry of its GT3 RS sibling by lowering the front ball joints and using special teardrop-shaped trailing arms. These changes were primarily made to limit front-end dive under hard braking and to increase downforce at high speeds, respectively.
You don't buy a GT3 for passenger accommodations, but you can now carry up to four people in a GT3 Touring, thanks to the addition of newly available rear seats. This option is part of a broader change made to the interior of the GT3, in the form of folding carbon fiber bucket seats instead of the previous fixed-back carbon-fiber thrones. Folding up means they can allow rear passengers to climb in; plus, the new chairs have an integrated airbag, seat heaters, and electronic height adjustment. Porsche says track-bound drivers can even remove some of the headrest padding to increase helmet room. (An 18-way adaptive sports seat is available, too.) Other interior additions for 2025 include the retention of a rotary ignition switch — other 992.2s have switched to a push-button— a wireless charging smartphone compartment, and even an available color-matched wristwatch.
If you want something a little more special out of your GT3, Porsche offers a series of individual packages, ranging from track preparation to weight reduction. Wing-clad GT3 models can be optioned with the Weissach Package, which includes a host of carbon-fiber-based upgrades (anti-roll bars, roof, coupling rods, mirror caps, etc) as well as leather-and-Race-Tex upholstery. Weissach models also receive carbon-fiber door handles and storage nets, even further lightening their load. Customers who opt for the GT3 Touring, meanwhile, can choose the Lightweight package, which largely mirrors the carbon-fiber parts in the Weissach Package; the shortened, manual gear lever from the 911 S/T is also included in the Lightweight Package.
Porsche says delivery of these 2025 model year units will start in summer 2025, though it'll begin taking orders later this year. It goes without saying that getting an allocation may be challenging, but those that do can expect a base price of $224,495.
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