The news that the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS will be making an appearance at the Paris Motor Show before arriving in showrooms by December should be followed soon by an announcement that there is to be a Limited Edition run of a 911 Speedster. But one step at a time.
As we reported in June, the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS is a wide-bodied (44mm wider at the back) 911 which will be the most powerful ‘regular’ model in the 911 range. And it will be the last model to arrive (limited editions excluded) in the current 997 range before the new 911 arrives in Autumn 2011.
The Carrera GTS keeps the regular, flat-six 3.8 litre lump but Porsche has coaxed an extra 23bhp to push the GTS output above 400bhp. 402bhp, to be precise. There’s also 310lb/ft of torque on tap at 4200rpm, a smidge earlier than in the Carrera S.
Performance varies depending on whether you stick with the manual ‘box, opt for the PDK (you should) or throw in the Sport Chrono Package Plus. At best, with the PDK ‘box and the Sport Chrono in Sport Plus mode you will get to 62mph in 4.2 seconds. Despite the extra performance you will still average 27.7mpg (no, you won’t) as the official economy figures are unchanged from the regular-fat Carrera S.
Cosmetically, apart from the wider stance, the Carrera GTS gets dual black tail pipes for the sports exhaust, 19″ RS Spyder alloys in gloss black, Sport design front bumper with black edge and black skirts. Oh, and a raft of GTS logos, of course.
The Porsche 911 Carrera GTS goes on sale in the UK in December, priced from £76,758 for the Coupe and £83,493 for the Cabriolet.
Not long after the announcement of the Enigma tuning kit for the award winning Audi R8 V10, Australian tuner RENM has also released details on a new RM580 tuning kit based on the Porsche 997 Turbo. The package comes with two stages of power upgrades that lead the sports car to a total output of 580 HP (up from the standard 500 HP) and 800 NM of torque. This power increase translates into a 0-60mph sprint in 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 201 mph (an increase of 7 mph compared to the standard 997 Turbo that can hit a top speed of 194 mph).
The RM580 package includes a new exhaust system made from T309 stainless steel, with sports catalytic converters, various suspension kits that lower ride and improve handling, and a set of three piece forged wheels with titanium fasteners. On the interior, the tuner opted for carbon fiber inserts and a revised steering wheel.
Although this may be a more complete package for the Porsche 997 Turbo, it would be quite interesting to compare numbers with the new aerodynamic package provided by Vorsteiner that includes an art dry carbon fiber vacuum technology. This technology allows for a stronger and stiffer bodykit that is also 40% lighter than the components used in the standard model. Unfortunately, Vorsteiner has not released the Porsche’s new performance numbers yet, so this will be a comparison that we will have to wait to see.
Specifications
Exterior
Body
- Rear spoiler
Tires and Wheels
- Alloy wheels
- 18 x 10.5 in. wheels
- Null spare wheel
- 265/40R Z tires
- Performance tires
Roof and Glass
- Variable intermittent rain sensing wipers
- Rear defogger
- Power glass sunroof
Measurements
- Width: 71.2 in.
- Height: 51.6 in.
- Length: 175.6 in.
- Wheel base: 92.5 in.
- Cargo capacity, all seats in place: 4.8 cu.ft.
- Gross weight: 0.28 in.
- Curb weight: 3075 lbs.
Mechanical
Engine & Performance
- Base engine size: 3.6 L
- Cam type: Double overhead cam (DOHC)
- Cylinders: flat 6
- Valves: 24
- Valve timing: Variable
- Direct injection
- Torque: 288 ft-lbs. @ 4400 rpm
- Horsepower: 345 hp @ 6500 rpm
- Turning circle: 35.8 ft.
- Base engine type: gas
DriveTrain
- Drive type: rear wheel drive
- Transmission: 6-speed manual
- Brake hill holder
Suspension
- Modified MacPherson strut front suspension
- Multi-link rear suspension
- Four-wheel independent suspension
- Front and rear stabilizer bar
Fuel
- Fuel type: gas
- Fuel type: premium unleaded (required)
- Fuel tank capacity: 16.9 gal.
- Range in miles (cty/hwy): 304.2/422.5 mi.
- EPA mileage est. (cty/hwy): 18/25 mpg
Safety
Safety & Security
- 4-wheel ABS
- Front head airbags
- Dual front side-mounted airbags
- Child seat anchors
- Remote anti-theft alarm system
- Front and rear ventilated disc brakes
- Daytime running lights
- Engine immobilizer
- Front fog/driving lights
- High pressure washers headlamps
- Auto delay off headlamps
- Xenon high intensity discharge headlamp
- 2 front headrests
- Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
- Front seatbelt pretensioners
- Stability control
- Traction control
- Electronic brakeforce distribution
- Emergency interior trunk release
- Front integrated headrests
- Emergency braking preparation
- Self-leveling headlights
- Tire pressure monitoring
Interior
Front Seats
- 2 -way power passenger seat
- 2 -way power driver seat
- Height adjustable driver seat
- Height adjustable passenger seat
- Leather
- Sport front seats
Rear Seats
- Split-folding rear seatback
Power Features
- Remote power door locks
- Power mirrors
- Heated mirrors
- 2 one-touch power windows
Convenience
- Cruise control
- Front console with storage
- Front cupholders
- Front door pockets
- Remote trunk release
- Retained accessory power
- Speed-proportional power steering
- Universal remote transmitter (for garage door, security system, etc.)
- 12V front power outlet(s)
- Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
Comfort
- Interior active charcoal air filter
- Climate control
- Trunk light
- Leather trim on center console
- Leather trim on dash
- Leather trim on doors
- Front reading lights
- Leather and simulated alloy trim on shift knob
- Leather steering wheel
- Front and rear floor mats
- Dual illuminating vanity mirrors
Instrumentation
- Clock
- Tachometer
- Trip computer
- External temperature display
- Low fuel level warning
In Car Entertainment
- 9 total speakers
- 235 watts stereo output
- AM/FM in-dash single CD/DVD,CD-controller with CD MP3 Playback stereo
- Radio data system
Telematics
- Pre-wired for phone
Photo Gallery