2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

The ever-expanding Porsche 911 family tree has a new member, a wild child born of a tryst between the 911 GT3 RS road car and the GT3 RSR racer. The 2011 911 GT3 RS 4.0 is a halo performance machine, limited to just 600 units worldwide. It will likely be the last 997 series variant, as a new 911 is waiting in the wings.
2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Porsche set the stage for the RS 4.0 as nothing less than an all-out performance machine, noting that it packs the largest displacement engine ever to come in a factory-baked 911. As the name suggests, that engine is a 4.0-liter version of Porsche's flat-six, equipped with forged pistons, titanium connecting rods, and the same crankshaft as found in the GT3 RSR racer. The result is a solid 500 horsepower at 8250 rpm (and an eyebrow-raising 125 horses per liter), with 339 pound-feet of torque available at 5750 rpm and a power-to-weight ratio of 5.99 lbs/hp.
2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0


The car is, natürlich, fitted only with a six-speed manual transmission, which has gear ratios specifically designed for track work. Porsche says the car can hit 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and 124 mph in 12.0 seconds, with a maximum velocity of 193 mph. Of course, those are the exact same benchmarks as Porsche specifies for the standard GT3 RS, which offers 450 horsepower from its 3.8-liter flat-six. That means the 4.0's quoted times may be on the conservative side, but we'll have to wait until we're offered some track time with a RS 4.0 to know for certain.