The New Beast of Stuttgart: 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

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February 15, 2023

This year 2023 certainly starts strong… Not only we have Formula 1 races or Le-mans to look forward to… 2023 is the year of innovation in a constantly changing automotive world. And Porsche once again amazes us with another one of their machines that erase the fine line between the racetrack and the streets.

Today we will be talking about the 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS. This new addition to the 911 family is certainly nothing to scoff at when it comes to talk about the price, the figures, the gadgets… Once again, I can say that Porsche has raised the bar for performance in both the streets and the track. And today we will be talking about this new beast in PRNDL.

The performance

When it comes to talk about Performance, the 2023 GT3 offers 520 horsepower coming from an N/A flat-six 4 liter engine. It certainly has gone through very little modifications, including new camshafts and the individual throttle bodies from the base model GT3. In the “pedestrian” GT3 you only had 502 horsepower to play with, granted that 18 extra horses under the hood don’t look that much in comparison… But the surprises don’t end here.

Mated to this engine is a seven-speed PDK transmission that feeds power to the rear wheels and features a shorter gear set, according to Porsche… that which is responsible for the 0.2 Second reduction in the 0-60 sprint compared to the older GT3, for those out of the loop the 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS can sprint to 60mph in less than 3 seconds.

The aerodynamics

In order to achieve peak aerodynamic performance, every body panel of the GT3 RS is certainly special… not even the door skins are spared from the extensive carbon fiber treatment. And if that wasn’t enough, all around the body of the 911 the air is scooped, shunted, split & spoiled… As a result, many of the extensive aerodynamic upgrades grant the driver the maximum performance during his track day or Sunday drive on a winding road.

In the back of the 2023 911 GT3 RS, a massive wing towers over the rear of the car ensuring that the rear stays glued to the ground. This active unit contributes to producing 902 pounds of downforce at 124mph and 1896 pounds at 177mph. The aero enhancements however, don’t end there… teardrop-shaped control arms in the front axle also help improve the wheel-well airflow at high speeds.

The gadgets & The final cost.

Increased downforce however results in additional drag the faster you go…. But porsche has one trick on its sleeve. None other than a DRS* system, so long as the car is pointed straight the driver-activated DRS will stall the wing to reduce drag at higher speeds. And in order to maintain the top-end punch, a shorter final-drive ratio replaces that of the previous GT3. With the 7-speed PDK being the only available option, both drag and gearing conspire to revoke the GT3’s Autobahn card… although top speed remains respectable at 198 mph compared to the previous 184 mph.

*Drag reduction system

THE GT3 RS also packs a wider front track (up 1.1 inches over the GT3), thanks to longer control arms and wider tires which helps distribute the load over a broader axle. The lower control-arm ball joints are also repositioned lower to reduce dive under braking, and there’s also the ability to individually adjust the compression and rebound stages of the front and rear dampers via controls placed on the steering-wheel.

To help stop the 911 GT3 RS, the brakes are shared with the GT3… though the 16.1- by-1.4-inch iron front discs are 0.1 inch thicker than the previous models. Carbon-ceramics are optional. Forged aluminum wheels are standard, wearing 275/35-20 rubber up front and steamroller 335/30-21s out back. The Weissach package also unlocks the option of fancy magnesium wheels, if you’re feeling like throwing some extra money in extras.

If you feel tempted to buy it however… have in mind that the starting price for the 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS begins at a whooping $225,250 (before gas-guzzler tax), or about $63,000 more than a normal GT3. There is also an extra option… The Weissach package which adds an extra 33.250$ to the final price of the RS. But in turn, you’ll get Sporty Michelin sport cup 2 tires, lightweight magnesium wheels and the tallest swan neck wing ever mounted on the back of a 911.

In other words… another great beast manufactured by Porsche. And now America gets to have it.