Dial 911: Porsche Unveils Hardcore New GT3 RS

Looking for the ultimate performance Porsche? You're likely to run into some divergent opinions on exactly which model that is. Most would agree that it lies in the 911 range, not the Cayenne sport-utility or Panamera sedan, but the iconic sportscar has more varieties than the Bugatti Veyron has special editions. Some would point to the latest all-wheel-drive 911 Turbo, others would go with the similarly turbocharged but rear-drive GT2, while others still prefer the basic purity of the naturally-aspirated GT3. But now Porsche has taken the wraps off the most hardcore, bare-bones version: the GT3 RS.

To unburden the newly revised 450-horsepower 3.8-liter Flat-Six engine, Porsche has taken out as much weight as it can, right down to the titanium exhaust system and lightweight lithium-ion battery. The German automaker has also fitted a revised PASM active suspension system and even variable engine mountings to make the 911 GT3 RS the most direct driving machine in its range, and given it the look-at-me graphics to let everyone know what it is. It'll set you back $132,800 after its official debut next month at the Frankfurt auto show.