GT3. An acronym which, when used in conjunction with the legendary Porsche model 911, stands for pure sportiness in Zuffenhausen. And it's not a new story, since the first 911 GT3 was based on the 911 Type 996!
The 911 GT3 Type 997 and 991, which followed, only confirmed the concept of a Porsche sports car that could comfortably go to the track by road, outperform everyone else on the track, and get you home without fear of any reliability problems. Some people have even used them as their everyday car, that's saying something!
And now it's the turn of the 911 Type 992 to take up the GT3 mantle, as this variant was recently unveiled for this generation. But what about the driving experience? That's what Porsche Rive-Sud, your reference Porsche dealer in Montreal, wanted to know with its road test to give you its opinion on the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3. Read on to find out!
Exterior styling: even more race-inspired than before!
We met our beautiful 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 in the parking lot of a Porsche dealer on the South Shore of Montreal.
We were intimidated at first by the car's racetrack-esque appearance. With a very airy, menacing-looking front bumper, a double vent at the end of the front hood, iconic oval headlights, wide, curved fenders, and a monumental rear spoiler with gooseneck attachments, the car looks like one of the 911 models usually seen racing in the GT championship!
However, with its "Shark Blue" exterior, which contrasts wonderfully with the red of the rear light strip and further enhances its lines, we were totally won over by the charm of our car which, in this configuration, echoed the psychedelic colours of the 1960's!
Technical specifications: authentic race car characteristics.
With such an evocative appearance, the new 911 GT3 had to measure up under the (rear) hood. But according to the data provided by Porsche Canada, there's nothing to worry about.
Indeed, the new 911 GT3 Type 992 is powered by an authentic flat-six engine that exudes motorsport. It's a rare specimen, as it's a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six with 502 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of peak torque, and an engine speed limit of 9,000 rpm. A true competition engine!
Combined with the manual gearbox, as in the case of our example, the new "GT3" is able to run the 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 320 km/h. With the PDK dual-clutch transmission, these same figures are 3.4 seconds and 318 km/h.
However, the real novelty is the front-end geometry, as the suspension is now a double wishbone, as on the 911 RSR that won at Le Mans. The combination of all these specifications, plus the standard rear steering axle, allows the new GT3 to clock a lap time of 6 minutes, 59 seconds and 927 thousandths on the legendary Nürburgring, which is 17 seconds faster than the outgoing GT3.
This time is simply amazing, considering that the car only has a slightly modified engine compared to its predecessor and is, according to Porsche, very comfortable on the road. So we couldn't wait to check the truth of these data with a steering wheel!
A real racing cockpit, but with all the latest technology and comfort.
Now it's time to get inside, without turning on the ignition. First of all, we take a few minutes to discover (and especially admire!) the interior of this very special 911.
And the first thing that struck us on board was the atmosphere. A very clean horizontal dashboard, a rising centre console with the manual transmission and its 6 gears within easy reach, and bucket seats with the smell of a racetrack: the cabin looks like a racing car, especially with its black leather/Race-Tex interior with the same Shark Blue of the bodywork for its contrasting stitching.
However, we had everything that the best luxury cars have to offer today. Seven colour ambient lighting, ParkAssist system including a rearview camera, and a Bose sound system: our Porsche 911 GT3 Type 992 had everything we needed to carry out our test drive in the best conditions!
On the road: a delightful mix of precision, performance and sportiness, still manageable in everyday life.
Now it's time for the long-awaited test drive! We wake up each of the four litres of our Porsche's naturally aspirated flat-six engine, which roars with the raucous sound typical of its architecture.
We pull out of the parking lot of the Porsche Rive-Sud centre and head for the nearest expressway. And from the very first meters on the road leading to it, we are surprised by the car's ride comfort. Of course, the suspension and steering communicate the irregularities of the road to the driver, but never in a brutal way. The comfort is firm, but quite acceptable. Given the GT3 lineup's reputation as the ultimate track weapon, we expected to be shaken all over the place, but this is not the case at all!
Instead, what is entirely consistent with the GT3 legend is the precision and smoothness of the 6-speed manual transmission, and more broadly the ergonomics of the cabin. It's simple: everything falls into place with ease. The seats are very supportive and soft on the back and lumbar region.
But the most surprising thing is the precision of the steering. With the slightest instruction from the steering wheel to the front wheels as we turn onto the slip road to the motorway, our mount places itself exactly where we want it. A real scalpel!
But now it's time to accelerate into the fast lane. As soon as we touch the right pedal, our GT3 picks up speed with disconcerting ease. The speed limit is reached long before we enter the fast lane and we have to watch the speedometer carefully to make sure we don't exceed it. We then decide to confirm these first impressions with two overtaking manoeuvres in quick succession in the left-hand lane. We drop a gear, then accelerate again as we move off. Each time, the flat-six picks up explosively in a symphony of 9000 rpm before shifting into top gear. Addictive!
Next comes a series of two large, consecutive 'S' curves, the perfect opportunity to confirm the qualities of the steering and chassis at higher speeds. When the car enters the first corner with the steering, it once again proves to be a sovereign car, obeying the fingertips of its front end. The rear end remains firmly attached to the road: thanks to the aerodynamic support of the spoiler and the rear overhang engine! When the car changes direction to approach the second curve, it changes its support by turning flat and without any roll. At the end of this succession of higher speed turns, the car once again proved to be agile, precise and rigorous, while preserving the comfort of its passengers. A real tour de force!
And after a reluctant U-turn at the next exit to turn back after more than 20 kilometres, the conclusion is clear: the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 is the best expression of Porsche sportiness in the 911 Type 992 range. Full stop!
The 2022 GT3 is thus the ultimate Porsche weapon on the track, but also very comfortable on the road!
This is how we would sum up our opinion after our test of the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3. As intimidating as it is beautiful to die for, amazing performance with a sound to die for, a great engine that is always available with a manual gearbox, and unrivalled efficiency while remaining usable in everyday life: the 911 GT3 Type 992 is to date the 911 that most closely represents what a Porsche high-performance coupé should be!
Still have questions? Come see us directly at Porsche Rive-Sud, your reference Porsche dealer between St-Hubert and Longueuil! We'll answer all your questions, and show you the Porsche offers, leasing and financing programs that will allow you to get behind the wheel of your own Porsche. We look forward to seeing you soon in our dealership!