Design | Comfort | Tech | Performance | Safety | Fuel Economy | Pricing | FAQ
One might think the point of a vehicle like the Porsche 911 GT3 is simply to go as fast as possible on a racetrack. And sure, if we want to distill the essence of the GT3 down, that is the point. But while outrunning friends at the local track day is fun, there’s also something undeniable about simply being seen in the big-winged, boxer-powered star.
Admittedly, though, showing off is not for everyone, and that’s where the 911 GT3’s Touring pack comes into play. Now entering its second generation following a wildly successful appearance in the last-gen 991.2, the latest GT3 Touring improves on the formula with a no-cost dual-clutch transmission. Whine if you want about the purity of the standard six-speed stick, but as I found out during a week at the helm, a two-pedal Touring is a glorious vehicle for low-key heroics.
A vehicle's ratings are relative only to its own segment and not the new-vehicle market as a whole. For more on how Motor1.com rates cars, click here.
Quick Stats: | 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring 7AT |
Engine: | 4.0-liter H6 |
Output: | 502 Horsepower / 346 Pound-Feet |
0-60 MPH: | 3.2 Seconds |
Trim Base Price: | $163,750 |
As-Tested Price: |
Gallery: 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring: Review
- Exterior Color: Iris Blue Metallic (Porsche Paint To Sample)
- Interior Color: Black/GT Silver
- Wheel Size: 20 Inches / 21 Inches (Staggered)
Porsche’s expanded Paint To Sample service ($12,830 in this case) shines with this tester’s stunning Iris Blue Metallic. The ultra-low-profile tires (255/35 front and 315/30 rears) and sizable silver wheels fill the arches perfectly and play neatly with the GT3’s lowered ride height. That height difference emphasizes the 911's classic proportions, with the GT3’s nose – modified via the menacing, CFRP vented hood – looking even longer than normal. The rear of the Touring might do without the big wing, but it retains the fantastic center-exit exhaust pipes, engine intake scoops, and integrated diffuser.
- Seating Capacity: 2
- Seating Configuration: 2
- Cargo Capacity: 4.6 Cubic Feet (Frunk)
The GT3 is all about performance and the Touring pack does little to change that. And yet, the track-stiff ride is surprisingly tolerable, even on Detroit roads. The firmness is the biggest issue – you’ll feel impacts here, there’s no denying that – but in terms of stability and predictability on rough roads, the GT3 and its adaptive dampers are a cut above even rivals like the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Of course, switch the GT3 Touring’s chassis into Sport mode and all bets are off.
- Center Display: 10.9-inch Touchscreen
- Instrument Cluster Display: Twin 7.0-inch Displays
- Wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto: Yes
- Engine: 4.0-liter H6
- Output: 502 Horsepower / 346 Pound-Feet
- Transmission: Seven-Speed Dual-Clutch
Twist the stubby ignition knob on the left of the steering wheel and the GT3’s naturally aspirated flat-six fires up with a purposeful, precise, and motorsports-inspired bark before quickly settling into a classic Porsche clatter. It’s truly remarkable how that clatter, despite being so much like lesser 911s, builds into something wholly different and more special as the revs climb.
The 4.0-liter flat-six has a precise, weighty throttle – everything that happens around your feet, for that matter, demands strength and commitment – but is all too willing to surge forward when given enough boot. Despite the naturally aspirated nature, torque feels like it’s always a wish away, although that’s probably because the engine explodes to its 6,100-rpm torque peak in a flash.
But it’s the sound, the almost baleful howl from out the back, that helps the GT3 stand out. As a total package, this 4.0-liter flat-six might be my favorite engine… well, ever. Truly, from the sound to the performance to the way it screams toward redline, it feels every bit as special as AMG’s old 6.2-liter V8 or the Audi R8 and RS4’s 4.2-liter V8.
And I’m sorry purists, the seven-speed dual-clutch is just plain better. The shifts are so fast and so electrifying that every pull of the right-most paddle gives a taste of what life would be like as a 911 factory racer. And not to get technical, but with a 3.2-second run to 60, the 7AT is half a second quicker to 60 than the six-speed GT3 Touring.
Frankly, attempting to suss out the GT3’s handling prowess on public roads is as difficult as it is stupid. The thresholds are just too high. But in the few instances where I could properly and safely attack a bend, the 911 wowed with effortless grip from the big Goodyear tires and virtually no unwanted body motions. To be fair, the biggest problem is that my foolhardy attempts to explore the 911 felt like the car was merely tolerating me. It always seemed to want or need more than I could give.
- Driver Assistance Level: SAE Level 0 (Hands-On/Off)
- NHTSA Rating: Not Rated
- IIHS Rating: Not Rated
- City: 15 MPG
- Highway: 18 MPG
- Combined: 16 MPG
Efficiency: | City: | Highway: | Combined: |
15 MPG | 18 MPG | 16 MPG | |
2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (no Carbon Aero pack) | 12 MPG | 21 MPG | 15 MPG |
2023 Nissan GT-R Nismo | 16 MPG | 22 MPG | 18 MPG |
- Base Price: $114,400 + $1,650 Destination
- Trim Base Price: $163,750
- As-Tested Price: $193,400
As the old saying goes, if you have to ask about the price… The good news is that Porsche charges no more for the Touring than it does for the standard GT3. But still, the 2023 edition’s price comes in at a hefty $186,250, including $3,350 in destination and gas-guzzler charges, or a whopping $22,500 more than my 2022 GT3 Touring tester’s $163,750 base price.
That said, the GT3 still manages to slot in pretty neatly between its two main rivals, the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Nissan GT-R Nismo. My 2022 test model comes in at $193,400, including its $12,830 Paint To Sample finish, $3,670 front-axle lift, upgraded seats, and a host of smaller options. Ignore the aesthetic changes and there isn’t a huge amount of must-have options on the GT3.
Model Competitor Reviews:
2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring