The country’s first F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan just took delivery of a bright red 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 in India!
Narain Karthikeyan is in the news, no he isn’t making a return to F1 in 2018, he just got himself a sweet new ride! A Porsche 911 GT3, it’s one of the best machines currently on sale from Stuttgart. Powered by a race derived 4.0 litre engine that’s related to the GT3 cup car, there are lots of motorsport tech going about, which might be a reason why Karthikeyan chose this machine over the many other choices in this segment.
Main rivals for the Porsche 911 GT3 in India are the Audi R8 V10 and the ‘Beast of the Green Hell’ Mercedes AMG GT-R, which is residing in a certain garage in Bangalore among many other beauties. But Porsches always have a certain mechanical charm that appeals to a wide audience including the ones who have sampled motorport racing. And the 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 ticks many boxes with the steering feel and the naturally aspirated engine that revs to 9000 rpm. Porsches are also great as a daily driver as well, so its a bit practical to drive about in India.
The Porsche 911 GT3 is available in India with a six speed manual and a seven speed automatic, and we don’t which option Karthikeyan ticked while speccing out the car. A manual might feel good, but the automatic which is a dual clutch PDK unit is faster, and race-car drivers generally go for the latter.
2018 Porsche 911 GT3 Specifications
Engine |
Manual | PDK |
|---|---|---|
| Engine layout | Rear engine | Rear engine |
| Number of cylinders | 6 | 6 |
| Displacement | 3,996 cm³ | 3,996 cm³ |
| Power (kW) | 368 kW | 368 kW |
| Power (hp) | 500 PS | 500 PS |
| RPM maximum power | 8,250 r/min | 8,250 r/min |
| Max. torque | 460 Nm | 460 Nm |
| RPM maximum torque | 6,000 r/min | 6,000 r/min |
| Maximum engine speed | 9,000 r/min | 9,000 r/min |
Transmission |
Manual | PDK |
|---|---|---|
| Driveline layout | Rear-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| manual-shift gear | available | available |
| Automatic transmission available | yes | yes |
| Automatic transmission | 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) with short gear ratios, sports setup and PDK SPORT button | 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) with short gear ratios, sports setup and PDK SPORT button |
Chassis and Suspension |
Manual | PDK |
|---|---|---|
| Front axle | McPherson front axle with anti-roll bar, selected suspension mountings ball-jointed | McPherson front axle with anti-roll bar, selected suspension mountings ball-jointed |
| Rear axle | Multi-link rear axle with integrated helper spring, anti-roll bar, selected suspension mountings ball-jointed | Multi-link rear axle with integrated helper spring, anti-roll bar, selected suspension mountings ball-jointed |
| Brakes | Six-piston aluminium monobloc fixed brake calipers at front and four-piston units at rear, brake calipers with red finish, Composite brake discs with brake chambers in aluminium, discs internally vented and cross-drilled, diameter (front/rear): 380 mm | Six-piston aluminium monobloc fixed brake calipers at front and four-piston units at rear, brake calipers with red finish, Composite brake discs with brake chambers in aluminium, discs internally vented and cross-drilled, diameter (front/rear): 380 mm |
| Chassis and suspension options | Suspension adjustable for racing use (toe angle, camber and anti-roll bars) | Suspension adjustable for racing use (toe angle, camber and anti-roll bars) |
| Steering | Electromechanical power-assisted steering with variable steering | Electromechanical power-assisted steering with variable steering |
| Stability program | Porsche Stability Management (PSM) including ABS, with two switchable stages (SC OFF and SC+TC OFF) | Porsche Stability Management (PSM) including ABS, with two switchable stages (SC OFF and SC+TC OFF) |
| Wheels front | 9 J x 20 ET 55 | 9 J x 20 ET 55 |
| Tires front | 245/35 ZR 20 (sports tyres) | 245/35 ZR 20 (sports tyres) |
| Wheels rear | 12 J x 20-Zoll | 12 J x 20-Zoll |
| Tires rear | 305/30 ZR 20 (sports tyres) | 305/30 ZR 20 (sports tyres) |
Performance |
Manual | PDK |
|---|---|---|
| Top speed | 320 km/h | 318 km/h |
| Acceleration from 0 – 100 km/h | 3.9 s | 3.4 s |
| Acceleration from 0 – 160 km/h | 7.6 s | 7.3 s |
| In-gear acceleration (80-120km/h) (50-75 mph) | 2.0 s | 2.0 s |
| Flexibility (80-120 km/h) (50-75 mph) in 5th gear | 4.9 s | 4.9 s |
Body |
Manual | PDK |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,562 mm | 4,562 mm |
| Width (without mirrors folded) | 1,978 mm | 1,978 mm |
| Width | 1,852 mm | 1,852 mm |
| Height | 1,271 mm | 1,271 mm |
| Drag coefficient (Cd) | 0.33 cW | 0.33 cW |
| Wheelbase | 2,457 mm | 2,457 mm |
| Unladen weight (DIN) | 1,413 kg | 1,430 kg |
| Permissible gross weight | 1,760 kg | 1,777 kg |
| Maximum load | 347 kg | 347 kg |
