The Porsche 911 R brings together all the best bits of the current generation nine-one-one to create a very special machine.
The brand new Porsche 911 R which has just been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show could very well be the perfect Porsche for the 21st century! Porsche has lately been focusing on making their cars more efficient and environment-friendly, with the advent of hybridization and massive turbocharging, leaving the enthusiasts in a closed room. But, all of that is about to change with this new German surprise!
The 911 R is based on the 991 GT3 RS and is powered by the same naturally aspirated 4.0 litre flat-six engine that churns out a massive 500 HP. This 4.0 litre flat-six is Porsche’s largest displacement boxer engine and is an absolute gem! It is supremely smooth and free-revving and has a ridiculous 9K redline. Porsche will also offer an optional single mass flywheel that should let the motor rev even more freely. Power is transferred through a six-speed manual gearbox. Yes! You heard that right. A 500 BHP naturally aspirated manual-stick Porsche. Isn’t that the dream?
Porsche will not offer their PDK box with the 911 R in the hope of enticing the hard core enthusiasts from the bunch. The 911 R will also feature an old school rear wheel drive system just like the GT3 RS along with Porsche’s signature rear wheel steering technology.
The 911 R is essentially a GT3 RS without the humongous rear wing and the roll-cage, thus making it lighter than its downforce obsessed cousin. To be precise, the 911 R is 50 kg lighter than the GT3 RS, weighing a 1,370 kg which also makes it the lightest 911 from the 991 generation. Other similarities to the GT3 are the carbon-fibre bonnet, magnesium roof and the mechanical differential featured on the rear axle.
The GT3 RS will probably clock a faster lap time on the track, but the 911 R is much more engaging and is a true driver’s car. That makes the R more suitable for the roads, with the GT3 marking its habitat within the tracks.
Styling on the 911 R is simply magnificent. Thanks to the new re-tractable rear spoiler and an updated diffuser setup, the 911 R has a very elegant yet committed sleeper style silhouette that bestows on it an aura of grace. Its voluptuous rear hips, GT3 spec rims and the bespoke rear engine bay mesh hosting the 911 R badge adds to its already distinct personality! It also features twin-stripes that travel across the entire body as homage to its ancestor, the original 1967 911 R.
Porsche will only be building 991 cars as a limited fast production for the 911 R. The 911 R will demand a premium over the GT3 RS, and we aren’t surprised at all. The new 911R is a magnificent machine and is built to satisfy the heart and soul! It is a tribute to the past, a resurrection of an immaculate predecessor and the embodiment of a childhood dream! It successfully brings together everything we adore about the Porsche moniker. Like the older 997 4.0 litre RS, whose value has appreciated over the years, the 911 R could be an investment worth making for the future! And enthusiasts like you and me, will be responsible for sky-rocketing the prices of the 911 R.
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