This time Chris Harris is after finding the answer to a philosophical question, rather than another road test: Is it acceptable to drive a 911 GT3 without having to change gears by yourself? At the end of the 12 minute video, Chris Harris concludes that the 911 GT3 is an amazing piece of work, yet it’s a massive same that it comes with only two pedals, even if he couldn’t beat the performance of the PDK. Still, he says that this is far the best PDK transmission Porsche has ever made and that there’s no way a normal driver can extract any more performance from the GT3.

Compared to its predecessor, the 997 911 GT3 was heavily criticized for its front axle grip, as the car would massively understeer, before suddenly oversteering due to a very aggressive rear differential. This was fixed with a wider front track with revised kinematics and rear wheel steering. When the speed is less than 50 mph, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front, giving the impression of a car with a much smaller wheelbase, while at speeds that exceed 50 mph, the rear wheels turn in parallel with the front, thus increasing the GT3′s stability.

Another interesting point from Chris Harris’ road test is the revised software of the electric steering. Mechanically the steering is the same as any other 991, but it feels vastly different in the GT3, more connected to the road – almost as much as the previous generation’s hydraulic system. Still, we strongly suggest that you watch the man himself,  driving this beast. You’ll find the video by clicking more!

Source: [YouTube]

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Posted in: Porsche, Videos

The fact that the all new Porsche 911 GT3 is not available with a manual gearbox is a taboo issue among most car enthusiasts, but as Mr. Andreas Preuniger, the man in charge of development of Porsche’s GT range, said, “Just shut up and drive it“. We are still not convinced that the loss of the third pedal can leave the driving fun untouched, but Mr. Preuniger has never been wrong in the past.

In the next few days, the various road tests of the new 911 GT3 will start being published, as will Sport Auto’s take on the new top-of-the-line 911. Until then, though, the guys from Sport Auto have uploaded a small video with driving scenes, that can be found after the jump. We suggest you turn your volume up and enjoy this marvelous sound!

Source: [YouTube]

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Posted in: Porsche, Videos

RSRNurburg (RSR meaning Ron Simons Racing) is a race car rental and driving academy company based in Nürburg, the village that gave its name to the famous circuit next to it. The company CEO, Mr. Ron Simons battles the famours Ring Taxi driver Sabine Schmitz and her slightly modified Porsche 911 GT3 RS with his “pump-ed up”, according to Sabine, Fiat, a Ferrari 458 Italia.

The video begins with a small dialog between the two drivers, who tease each other about their set of wheels and driving abilities, with action beginning at the 2 minutes mark. Click more to see the video!

Source: [YouTube]

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Posted in: Ferrari, Porsche, Videos

The International Engine of the Year Awards is the only competition that judges engines only – irrespective of the models they come in. So, we expected this year’s results with great interest, only to see the Engine of the Year award being handed to Ford’s 999cc 3-cylinder turbo engine. Pretty impressive for a single litre engine, actually!

On to the German camp now, Audi won the 2 to 2.5l category with the great 2.5TFSI 5-cylinder engine, found under the bonnet of the RS3, TT-RS and the RS Q5. BMW won two categories, the 1.4 to 1.8l with the “Prince” engine, made under the BMW – PSA joint venture and found in the MINI line-up and some Peugeot models. Also the N20 2.0t 4-cylinder engine won the 1.8 to 2.0l category. The N20 is found under the bonnet of most BMW models branded as 20i and 28i.

Moving on to Porsche, Zuffenhausen won the 2.5 to 3.0l category with their 2.7 flat six with direct injection, found in the Boxster and Cayman. Finally, VW’s 1.4TSI engine with Active Cylinder Deactivation won two categories, that of the Best New Engine and the 1.0 to 1.4l. Sadly, Mercedes-Benz didn’t win any category. Click more to see the full results and each manufacturer’s press release.

Source: [http://www.engine-expo.com], [Audi], [BMW], [Porsche] and [VW]

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Posted in: Audi, BMW, Porsche, Volkswagen

Any Porsche 911 is, by definition, a very special vehicle, yet it got even more, now that it’s fifty years old. This special occasion is celebrated by Porsche in the form of the special, limited edition “911 50 Years Edition” model. Like the original 911, the 911 50 Years Edition is a coupé with a flat-six rear engine and rear wheel drive. 1963 is the year when Porsche presented the original model (the type 901) to the public at the then Frankfurt Motor Show and also is the number of 911 50 Years Edition models to be built, each one using the wide body, typically reserved for the all-wheel drive Carrera 4 models.

This limited edition of the 400 hp (294 kW) 911 Carrera S offers Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with special tuning, a sport exhaust system and the legendary “Fuchs” wheels, finished in matte black paint with machine-polished centres, as standard. Some extra chrome details, the rear lid with the numbers “911 50” and Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) with bi-xenon headlights and dynamic cornering lights complete the package.

Moving on to the interior, the green labelling on the instruments with white pointer needles and silver caps on the instrument pivot pins pays tribute to the original 911 interior. Another special feature is the centre panels of the leather seats, which are designed with a fabric pattern reminiscent of the “Pepita” tartan design from the 1960s, yet they now are 14-way, or optionally 18-way adjustable.

The 911 50 Years Edition will be available starting September 23, 2013, with pricing starting from 121,119 euros including VAT in Germany. Finally, the Porsche Museum will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 911 with one of the most extensive special exhibitions since its opening, presenting an extraordinary retrospective on the 911, with more than 40 different 911 versions, until September 29, 2013.

Source: [Porsche AG]

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Posted in: Porsche

The Porsche 918 is just around the corner, scheduled to be released later today. As the anticipation is building up, this video of Mr. Harris behind the wheel of one surfaced the internet, killing us in the meantime. The 918 will be a fantastic vehicle, combining a high output V8 engine with two electric motors, resulting in a combined output of “almost 900hp” according to various sources.

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Posted in: Porsche, Videos