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A New Era for Porsche Performance “We are in the GT business,” said Porsche racing engineer Norbert Singer, “so we will make one.” That was in the summer of 1995 when Porsche responded to the revival of interest in GT-class racing and the challenge of the McLaren F1 by starting...
As has been observed before, the advent of the 996 was a revolution at Porsche. If the longest-running sports car model in history was to have a future beyond the 1990s, it would require a comprehensive retranslation for the twenty-first century. The outcome was the radical new 996, which at...
History & Tech More significant to North Americans is that the street version of the 2003 second-generation GT3 met EPA norms making it the first ‘hot’ 911 to be allowed officially in the US since the Carrera 2.4 S of 1972.  When Porsche began making sports cars in the late...
Porsche 911 GT3 generations
Since 1963, the Porsche 911 has been synonymous with advanced German engineering, a timeless silhouette, and, according to Porsche enthusiasts, one of the purest driving experiences of any sports car. And there aren’t many variants or high-performance trims of iconic sports cars like the 911 that enjoy almost the same...
The RGT was designed as a naturally aspirated supercar, combining performance, drivability, and reliability while honoring the legacy of the Porsche RS and RSR. Based on a 996, the build began with the installation of a roll cage, enhancing structural rigidity, safety, and strength. The legendary “Mezger” 3.6L engine was...
Few, if any, other cars bring more pure motorsport technology to the road than the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. The new Manthey Kit can further enhance the on-track performance of this top-of-the-range sports car through improved aerodynamic efficiency, modified suspension, and optimized braking components. Porsche is offering a Manthey Kit...
The RUF Rturbo, based on the Porsche 996 Turbo, is available in configurations producing 520, 550, or 590 bhp, with the top-tier version delivering an impressive 830 Nm of torque. This remarkable performance is achieved through a combination of enhancements, including upgraded turbochargers, a meticulously engineered exhaust system, and re-mapped...
The 996 GT2 packs a serious punch, it  shared much with the 996 Turbo S, including a 3.6L flat-six engine, but with upgraded turbochargers, enhanced cooling, and a stronger six-speed manual gearbox. Producing 460 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque, the GT2 sent all its power to the rear wheels,...
The new “Beyond Performance. 50 years of Porsche Turbo” special exhibition at the Porsche Museum is officially open. Over the next five and a half months, the Porsche Museum will present numerous cars and small exhibits in the way that they are perceived by sports car enthusiasts – as powerful...
The Porsche 911 is a legendary car, revered for its timeless design, exceptional performance, and exhilarating driving experience. It also offers a spectrum of driving experiences, from the attainable enthusiast’s dream like the Porsche 996 to the pinnacle of track-focused performance, the 991 GT3 RS. The 996 strikes a balance...
Last weekend, the ‘Fuori Concorso’ was staged on the western shore of Lake Como for the fifth time now. This year’s motto was ‘British Racing Green’. In keeping with this theme, Porsche invited car culture enthusiasts to the greenhouse at Villa del Grumello. Known for its wide range of options...
In the beginning… The engine of the Porsche 911 has come a long way over the past 60 years, now with four times the power from twice the displacement. Its drive technology has continued to develop, but the fundamental concept has remained unchanged—whether naturally aspirated, as a turbo, or in...
To date, 27 different variants make up the current generation of the 911 model line-up. Chatting to its developers at a ‘speed dating’ event made one thing clear above all: each Porsche 911 has its own story. Chaos is the enemy of the engineer. Perhaps that would explain why there...
The improbable win The afternoon of 2 February, 2003, was a historic day for Porsche. When a privately entered 996 GT3 RS crossed the line at the Daytona International Speedway, it had not only won its class at one of the toughest and most prestigious endurance events on the international...
Frequent Porsche 911 Problems & Solutions – A Step by Step Guide to Help Owners Diagnose and Solve Your Most Annoying 911 Issues Focusing On Modern 911s – The 996, 997, 991 and 992 Owning a Porsche 911 is an exhilarating experience, combining cutting-edge performance with timeless design. However, even...
Kalmar Automotive, enhancer and restorer of bespoke sports cars and special purpose-built adventure vehicles, has revealed its first water-cooled ‘Adventure Range’ 911. The KALMAR RS-6 is its latest rugged all-terrain 911 engineered to challenge perceptions of what a classic sports car can do. After customers fell in love with the...
2001 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Race Car
The GT3 RS race cars, modeled after the 911 GT3 R, incorporated various technical enhancements to ensure optimal competitiveness on the racetrack. A total of 50 racing cars were manufactured at the Weissach racing division, and the majority of them have already been delivered. Porsche’s Gran Turismo racing sports car...
2004 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Clubsport Dirk de Jager ©2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's
The 2004 Porsche 911 GT3 RS serves as a homologation model, designed to comply with the new international GT rules and follow the tradition set by models like the Carrera RS 2.7 (1972) and the 911 SC RS (1984). These homologation models not only reflect proud chapters in Porsche’s heritage...
For the 2004 and 2005 racing season, Porsche Motorsport used the 911 GT3 RSR. This near-standard racing sportscar aimed to keep private customer teams competitive in international Gran Turismo sport and to continue the success of the predecessor model which won its class at the Le Mans 24 Hours five...
As the Porsche market continues its strong trajectory, RM Sotheby’s is thrilled to unveil “The White Collection” auction—a unique gathering of rare Porsche models, all wearing brilliant shades of white. The collection, set to go under the hammer on 1-2 December 2023, represents over a decade of dedicated collecting by...
Evolution, not Revolution Since its debut in 1964, the Porsche 911 has epitomized engineering evolution. Conceived by Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche, this iconic vehicle has undergone continuous refinement, while preserving its distinctive rear-engine layout and silhouette. Each stage represents a chapter in Porsche’s heritage, from air-cooled engines of the yesteryears to...
August 18, 2023: Referring to The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering as a car show would be incorrect. Call it a “Concours,” and you would still be off the mark. Situated on the lawns at the Quail Golf Club in Carmel Valley is, instead, what I will call a Luxury Lifestyle...
The Porsche 911 GT2 combines the sporting character of the 996 911 GT3 with the power and straight line performance of the 911 Turbo. The fastest member of the 911 family, the 911 GT2 gets power of 462 bhp @ 5700 rpm and torque of 457 ft lbs @ 3500 rpm. It accelerates to...
Featured here is a a supercharged 996-generation 911, built by famed Porsche tuner RUF. The R Kompressor is based on a narrow-bodied 911 Carrera 2. RUF’s own centrifugal belt-driven supercharger was installed on the engine for optimal performance. Additionally, the car is equipped with the X51 Powerkit upgrade, which includes...
The Type 997 GT3 family, from left to right: GT3 Cup Race Car, GT3, GT3 RS, and GT3 RSR Endurance Race Car
Overview The GT3s are the low volume 911s, road-going production cars homologated for what was Group 3 competition. The original homologated 911 was of course the famous RS 2.7 in 1972. After that Porsche concentrated on the higher Groups for which the 930 Turbo served as the homologation model. In...
The power unit featured in the new Porsche 911 GT2 is a high-performance evolution version of the six-cylinder horizontally opposed engine first appearing in the 911 Turbo. The two turbochargers now have an even higher air throughput allowing an increase in charge pressure under full load to 2 bar. Output...
Porsche Of The Day: 2001 Porsche 911 GT2
The Porsche 911 GT2 combines the sporting character of the 996 911 GT3 with the power and straight line performance of the 911 Turbo. The fastest member of the 911 family, the 911 GT2 gets power of 462 bhp @ 5700 rpm and torque of 457 ft lbs @ 3500 rpm. It accelerates to...
Until now, the classic Porsche 911 still attracts a lot of enthusiasts and admirers. And the gorgeous, classic design definitely inspires the imagination of its more artistically inclined fans. Virtual artist Khyzyl Saleem, or more popularly known as the_kyza, recently posted his interpretation of the first water-cooled Porsche 911. He...
Bring A Trailer is currently offering three interesting low mileage Porches that will surely catch your interest. 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet 6-Speed Since the 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet was purchased by the consigner back in 2003 it has been registered in California. It has a Black Metallic (L744)...
Porsche 911 996 Turbo Review – Worth The Premium Over A C4S? Today I get to drive a car I’ve long lusted after – a 911 Turbo. My only experience of a Turbo so far was in a very heavily modified 993. The 996 has always been my favourite generation...
To commemorate the 40th year of 911 production, Porsche built 1963 of the 40th Anniversary Porsche 911 Carrera for model year 2004. Painted only in a GT Silver Metallic finish, with a dark gray leather interior, the 40th Anniversary (or 40 Jahre in German) took the Base Model 996 Carrera and added the front fascia of the 996 Turbo, side skirts and luxury features for the cabin – including a luggage set that matched the special grey leather interior. Mechanically, the X51 Powerkit increases power to 341hp, combined with rear wheels power wheels, a standard 6-speed manual and sport suspension and limited-slip differential included.
The second generation GT3 takes all that was good about it's predecessor and then improves it! Power from the GT1 derived flat-6 is up by 21 bhp to 381 bhp (with an 8200 rpm redline), ride height is lowered for increased stability and also has an upgraded braking setup, as it features a 6-piston calipers on the front. Two versions are offered, the more extreme 'Clubsport' showing it's track day colors with a full roll cage, racing seat and a 6-point harness. The 996.2 GT3 was the first GT3 marketed in the North America. The new Porsche 911 GT3 comes with all the features of half a century Porsche motorsport. It is a sports car for the purist through and through.
The 996 Carrera 4S Cabriolet is the convertible version of the slightly-uprated 996 Carrera 4. Introduced a year after the 996 C4S Coupe. The Carrera 4S Cabriolet was introduced in the lineup with the new engine and the Turbo bodywork. The cabriolet version of the Carrera 4S paired the aggressive bodywork and suspension of the Turbo with the base Carrera 4 drivetrain, though it didn't get the Turbo's huge rear wing. The three-layer canvas-top was powered and it needed 20 seconds to completely retract or cover the car, at speeds up to 50 kph (31 mph). For winter, the car featured an aluminum hard-top.
Introducing this new top-of-the-range model, Porsche is once again placing a 911 Turbo Cabriolet right at the top of the family after a break of 14 years: From 1987 - 1989 the Porsche 930, as the first Turbo was code-named within the Company, set the first milestone in the history of these outstanding open-air sports cars. With cylinders still featuring two valves each at the time, the 3.3-litre power unit driving the first Turbo Cabriolet offered maximum output quite unique at the time of 300 bhp or 221 kW. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h was in 5.2 seconds and the car had a top speed of 260 km/h or 161 mph.
In 2002, the standard Carrera models underwent a facelift. In addition, engine capacity was also increased to 3.6-litres across the range, with power up slightly on the naturally aspirated models. 2002 also marked the start of the production of the 996 based Targa model, with a sliding glass "green house" roof system as introduced on its predecessor. It also features a rear glass hatch which gave the driver access to the storage compartment. The 996 Targa is the rarest bodystyle in the series – only 5,152 were produced (all Mk.2 generation) between 2002 and 2005.
Designed as a grand tourer, the Porsche Carrera 4 Cabriolet was the base all-wheel-drive version for the open-top 911 range in 2001. It offered enough comfort to be used as a daily driver, on all weather. The 996 Porsche was facelifted in 2002. Along with the coupe versions, the convertibles were reshaped also. There was not a big difference on the outside. It was the same sports-car and open-top grand tourer. The Carrera 4 Cabriolet, continued on through 2004, receiving the same updates as the Carrera, including the 3.6-liter engine.
The 996 was initially available in a coupé or a cabriolet (Convertible) bodystyle with rear-wheel drive, and later with four-wheel drive, utilising a 3.4 litre flat-6 engine generating a maximum power output of 221 kW (300 PS; 296 hp).[7] The 996 had the same front end as the entry-level Boxster. After requests from the Carrera owners about their premium cars looking like a "lower priced car that looked just like theirs did", Porsche redesigned the headlamps of the Carrera in 2002. With the cabriolet, buyers have a choice between this version and the hotter Carrera 4S cabriolet.
In 2002, all of the standard models received a minor makeover in 2002 which included Turbo-style headlights, a freshly designed front clip and an increase in engine capacity to 3.6L along with a subsequent 20HP boost. The bodies were more rigid which further improved handling and safety and the lower, stiffer X74 suspension became available as a factory modification. From the outside, it was hard to notice the difference between the 1998 version and the facelifted model. The main difference was on the headlights. Including the Mk 1 cars, the 996 Carrera Coupe sold 46,317 units.
In 2002, the entire generation of the 996 was facelifted. The Carrera 4S Cabriolet was introduced in the lineup with the new engine and the Turbo bodywork. Many publications called the Carrera 4S the sweet spot in the 911 lineup when it was introduced, providing more performance than the base car without the exorbitant pricing of a Turbo or GT2. The Carrera 4S paired the aggressive bodywork and suspension of the Turbo with the base Carrera 4 drivetrain, though it didn't get the Turbo's huge rear wing. It’s easily identified by “Carrera 4S” badging and a large reflective strip on the rear end, spanning the gap between the taillights.