VIDEO: Has Porsche OUTDONE Itself With The All-New 911 GT3 OR Has It Lost Its Purity?

One of the debuts I was looking forward to at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show was Porsche's all-new 911 (991) GT3. There's a simple reason for this: I hate the Turbo.

In my humble opinion, nothing gets better than the GT3. That's because I feel it provides the MOST connected driving experience.

But a couple of concerns linger for me and aren't addressed in the vehicle's release:

- Will it have an optional manual transmission?
- Are the lighter, carbon fiber-backed seats standard or an option?
- What does it weigh? Is it lighter than the 997 GT3 and, if so, by how much?
- Is the steering electric or hydraulic?

In the images provided to the media, the vehicle's interior has a top dash stitched in leather and is lacking the very bolstered carbon fiber seats, which also obviously save a decent amount of weight. Remember, every bit counts.

And if the GT3's steering system goes electric, will it be "disconnected?" From my experience in the 991, I'd say NO.

What really concerns me though is the transmission factor. Will Porsche even offer a manual so driver's can row through the gears? I mean, I know that standard gearboxes are going the way of the dodo bird but if the Porsche GT3 doesn't have it, it just doesn't seem right as it's the go-to vehicle for any driver looking for purity.

That said, I am left at an impasse — has Porsche just done the right thing to keep the GT3 up to spec with the latest and greatest track machines OR has it strayed from the vehicle's original mission?


The fifth generation of the 911 GT3 is a completely new development in terms of engine, transmission, body and chassis. The result: impressive performance figures, which open up a new chapter for race track performance sports cars.

The performance figures of the new 911 GT3* speak for themselves:
Maximum power output of 475hp.
Power to weight ratio: 3.0 kg/hp.
Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h: in 3.5 seconds.
Top speed: 315 km/h.
*Combined fuel consumption in accordance with EU 5: 12.4l/100km, CO2 emission: 289 g/km