Skip advert
Advertisement

Porsche 911 R has no turbos, manual gears, and all the power of the 493bhp GT3 RS

The normally-aspirated, GT3 RS-engined 911 R is the road car that Porsche purists have been waiting for...

A switch to turbocharging across the Porsche 911 range has caused consternation amongst many Porsche fans, but the exciting new Porsche 911 R should silence critics at a stroke. 

With a naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six engine lifted straight out of the more track-focused GT3 RS model, the new limited-edition 911 R - just revealed at the Geneva Motor Show - will crack 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds and top 200mph. Porsche describes it as a 'wolf in sheep's clothing,' as it retains all of the GT3 RS's performance and chassis dynamics, but without that car's stripped-down and roll-caged track-oriented appearance.

Advertisement - Article continues below

• Best sports cars to buy now

The Porsche 911 R uses lightweight body panels and chassis from the GT3 RS, but does without the rear wing and instead has the normal retractable spoiler on the back. It's also lighter than the GT3 RS by 50kg, thanks to carbon-fibre construction and plastic windows.

You do still get racy-looking stripes over the roof, plus carbon-fibre bucket seats, fabric door handles and a GT sport steering wheel inside.

The key appeal of the 911 R will be that 4.0-litre boxer engine, however, which produces 493bhp at over 8,000rpm, plus 460Nm of torque. That means 0-62mph takes 3.7 seconds and the car will go up to a top speed of 201mph. Of course this means the R can't match its turbo siblings' fuel economy figures, managing just 21.2mpg.

The 911 R also gets a mechanical limited-slip differential and specific real-wheel steering to improve handling, as well as carbon-ceramic brakes as standard. The manual gearbox will please enthusiasts, too.

Lightweight aluminium wheels with extra-grippy tyres keep the car planted to the road, and you can even order the car with a single-mass flywheel to improve the engine's responsiveness at high revs.

To add to the usability of the car, you can order a 911 R with a system that raises ground clearance at the front by 30mm, to help you get over speed bumps and into car parks. Air-conditioning is optional too, as well as a stereo system.

The 911 R is priced from £136,901 and as production is limited to 991 cars globally, it promises to be hugely sought-after by Porsche enthusiasts.

Get all the latest news from the 2016 Geneva Motor Show here...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Deputy editor

Richard has been part of the team for over a decade. During this time he has covered a huge amount of news and reviews for Auto Express, as well as being the face of Carbuyer and DrivingElectric on Youtube. In his current role as deputy editor, he is now responsible for keeping our content flowing and managing our team of talented writers.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best four-seat sports cars to buy 2025
Best four-seat sports cars - header

Best four-seat sports cars to buy 2025

If you want a sports car but need the practicality of four seats, there are some great four-seat sports car options out there right now
Best cars & vans
29 Apr 2025
New Porsche 911 Spirit 70 goes back to the psychedelic 70s with far-out interior
Porsche 911 Spirit 70 - front action

New Porsche 911 Spirit 70 goes back to the psychedelic 70s with far-out interior

Porsche’s newest model in its series of retro specials is a 911 Cabriolet inspired by the seventies
News
23 Apr 2025
Best automatic cars to buy 2025
Best automatic cars - header image

Best automatic cars to buy 2025

Today’s best automatic cars are slick-shifting, relaxing and in some cases, brilliant fun. We’ve listed our favourites below
Best cars & vans
22 Apr 2025
New 2025 Porsche 911 Turbo 992.2 spied without camouflage
Porsche 911 Turbo S Facelift - front 3/4

New 2025 Porsche 911 Turbo 992.2 spied without camouflage

Porsche’s new flagship 911 Turbo is gearing up, and it’s due to pack a clever hybrid system
News
25 Mar 2025

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025