We're expecting to see an engine with direct fuel injection, either mated to the current GT3's 3.6-liter flat-six, or a tuned-up 3.8-liter flat-six from the new 911 — potentially bringing the new GT3 to the 440 HP neighborhood. Either engine could possibly be coupled to a seven-speed DSG gearbox, marking an evolutionary step in the right direction. We're expecting this newest GT3 to show its stuff at either the 2009 Geneva Motor Show or Frankfurt Auto Show, so until then you'll have to sit tight for the full details. [Automobile]

Audi factory driver Frank Biela has already been putting the R8 GT3 through its paces. The cars are scheduled to enter production at Hungary's Györ plant, with expected delivery to customers starting some time next year. No word on how many will be built, or what they'll cost, but we're sure it's more than a road-going R8. [via MotorAuthority]

Our sources say this picture — it's been floating 'round the fan-forums for the past few days — of a GT3, an RS4 and an F430 Spider sitting pretty on the El Toro airfield is in fact the first on-set picture from the new NBC-BBC-whatever team for the 'merican market. Call it "Gear," or call it whatever you want — all you need to know is you can call us interested in seeing what it ends up looking like when they're done with the pilot. [via Final Gear]

The 911 GT3 RSR will continue to race in the GT2 class, last year it won that class at both the Le Mans and Spa 24-hour races. Porsche intends to offer 35 RSRs for sale. If you want one, write a check for €349,800 plus tax.

So I know this is probably a little late, but between computer issues at home, and sorting through the roughly 2100 pictures I took... I thought you might be interested in a few from this years 24 hours. I was there with Team Seattle - we ran a pair of Porsche GT3's. Both cars are sponsored per lap completed raising funds for Children's Hospital Pediatric Cardiac Care Center. This year they raised just about $450,000.00 , for a 12 year total of over 3.2 million.
The plan right now is to go to Le Mans in 2009.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is entering the 2008 motorsport season with engine output increased to 420 bhp. The car will be raced in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, the world's fastest international brand trophy, and worldwide in national Porsche Carrera Cups and GT3 Cup Challenges. 265 units of this production-based racing car developed in Weissach will be built on Porsche's production line in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, marking a new record for a car of this category.

The most significant modification compared with last year's model is the new rear end following the design of the production model. Air venting slits ensure better dissipation of heat at the rear. The 3.6-litre six-cylinder boxer engine developed in Weissach is also based on the street-legal GT3 and develops maximum output of 420 bhp, 20 horsepower more than on the previous model. The sequential six-speed transmission with interruption of engine power enables the driver to shift up under full throttle without disengaging the clutch. The transmission itself has been optimised and the gear ratios adjusted to the characteristics of the engine. Weighing 1,150 kg in race trim, the new 911 GT3 Cup has a power-to-weight ratio of 2.7 kg per horsepower.

The 26 units of the 911 GT3 Cup built for the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup feature a special exhaust system with an even more striking sound pattern reminiscent of the Formula 1 racing scene as well as PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes as exclusive highlights. Compared with conventional brake discs, PCCB reduces unsprung masses by 20 kg and sets new standards in terms of responsiveness, resistance to fading, and a long service life. The racing cars entered worldwide in the Carrera Cup feature a modified exhaust system and steel brake discs.

Porsche's Racing Department in Weissach is responsible for the fine-tuning and running in the 911 GT3 Cup cars. Deliveries will be directly from Weissach, depending on the country of destination and the schedules to be observed. While the cars for the Carrera Cup New Zealand have already been shipped, delivery of the racing cars for the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup and the Carrera Cup Germany is scheduled for early March 2008.

Specifications

Power Unit
Water-cooled six-cylinder boxer; 3,598 cc; stroke 76.4 mm (3.01"); bore 99.98 mm (3.94"); max output 420 bhp (309 kW); max torque 420 Nm (310 lb-ft); max engine speed 8,400 rpm; four-valve technology; dry sump lubrication; two-stage resonance intake distributor; central air intake; electronic MS 3.1 engine management; fuel injection (multi-point, sequential); fuel grade 98 RON premium plus unleaded; racing exhaust with fully controlled catalytic converter (400 cells); rear silencer with centrally mounted double tailpipe; special exhaust tailpipes for the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup.

Power Transmission
Six-speed gearbox with sequential jaw-type shift; compressed oil lubrication; oil/water heat exchanger; single-mass flywheel; hydraulic disengagement lever; 5.5-inch three-plate sintered metal clutch; limited-slip differential 40/60 %; rear-wheel drive.

Body
Monocoque body made of hot-galvanised steel; aerodynamically optimised front end with front spoiler; doors with side frames made of CFP and reinforced plastic door panels; rear lid with adjustable rear wing made of CFP; rear body panels made of CFP; air jack; welded-in rollcage; bucket-type racing seat (on driver's side only) with flame-resistant seat cover; six-point seat belt adapted for use of the HANS Head and Neck Support; electric fire-extinguishing system; 90-litre fuel tank; safety bar holding the battery in position.

Chassis and Suspension
Front: McPherson spring strut axle; Sachs gas pressure dampers; double coil springs (main and ancillary spring); front axle arms adjustable for camber; adjustable sword-type anti-roll bar; reinforced front axle crossbar with six-point fastening and double clamping; power steering with electrohydraulic pressure supply.
Rear: Multi-arm axle with rigidly mounted axle subframe; Sachs gas pressure dampers; double coil springs (main and ancillary spring); rear axle track arm adjustable for camber; rear axle tiebar reinforced and infinitely adjustable; adjustable sword-type anti-roll bar.
Complete suspension infinitely adjustable (height, camber, track).

Brakes
Brake system with balance bar control.
Front: Single-piece six-piston aluminium fixed callipers; Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB), inner-vented, 380 mm (14.96") in diameter; racing brake pads.
Rear: Single-piece four-piston aluminium fixed callipers; Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB), inner-vented, 350 mm (13.78") in diameter; racing brake pads.

Wheels/Tyres
Front: Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (9J x 18); ET 43 with central locking;
Michelin rain tyres (24/64-18).
Rear: Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (11J x 18); ET 30 with central locking;
Michelin rain tyres (27/68-18).

Electrical System
Motec display with integrated data recording; battery: 12 volt, 50 Ah, 90 Ah alternator.

Weight
Approx 1,150 kg (1,130 kg with PCCB).[Porsche via World Car Fans]

"So you wanna buy a 997 GT3 RS eh? Well, there is only one question, do you get orange or green?"

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.

First AutoX [VW Vortex]

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Save The Dikes! Ferrari 599 Burns In Holland; Mazda RX-7 Chases Cat Up Tree, Ends Up On Ass; Question Of The Day: Was The Eddie Griffin Enzo Crash A Publicity Stunt? [internal]

Lotus has lots up its sleeve here in Geneva. Last night, the company released info on the plug-in hybrid concept it's showing off. The green dealie is the product of a partnership between it and parent, Malaysia's Proton. But for sheer sexification, you can't do much better than its other, more sporting display-case bait. That is, the Exige GT3 concept road car. A product of Lotus Sport, Lotus's performance arm, the GT3 is a prototypical offshoot of the company's GT3 racing efforts. And it's not a bad idea to attract attention to your racing program by building a roadgoing model that uses many of its counterpart's, er, parts. That includes the powertrain, a supercharged 271-hp version of the Exige's 1.8-liter Toyota-sourced firebrand, with twin oil coolers. The GT3 also gets 10" rear wheels with 255 width tires. Zero to sixty happens in under four seconds and V-max is reached at 160 mph. Uprated brakes and a new aero kit complete the package. No word on production yet, but who could possibly bet against something like that? – Mike Spinelli

Press Release (vitals):

Engine

The supercharged and intercooled 1796 cc engine in the Lotus GT3 has a maximum power output of 275 PS (271 bhp / 203 kw) at 8000 rpm and a torque figure of approximately 258 Nm (190 lb/ft) at 7000 rpm. This significant amount of extra power and torque now available together with the VVTL-i variable cam system ensures that there is a smooth and linear surge of power from low engine speeds all the way to the maximum 8000 rpm. The Roots-type Eaton M62 supercharger (with a sealed-for-life internal mechanism meaning that it does not require the use of the engine's oil) is run from the crankshaft and has an integral bypass valve for part load operation. Four high capacity injectors and an up rated fuel pump add additional fuel under hard acceleration or high speed driving.

An Accusump (engine oil accumulator unit) is included in the whole package as an oil reservoir back-up for extreme track use ensuring that, under those conditions, the engine oil pressure remains constant.

Twin oil coolers complete the powertrain package.

Transmission

A sports-type clutch plate and heavy duty clutch cover transfer the engine power and torque to the lightweight aluminium C64 six-speed gearbox - with the same perfectly spaced ratios as the Exige S. An open type limited slip differential is fitted as standard. The Lotus switchable traction control system (LTCS) works through the engine, reducing power to maintain traction; it is active above 8 kph (5 mph) and reacts much more quickly than many brake-based systems.

Chassis Structure

Lotus designed lightweight structure of epoxy bonded aluminium alloy extrusions with crash structure, extruded aluminium door beams, integral steel seat-belt support structure and lightweight galvanized steel rear sub frame incorporating a structural shear panel.

Body

GT3 derived one-piece front clamshell and wide track rear clamshell with full length roof scoop design taken from the Cup Exige 255. New full width rear wing with integral end plates mounting to rear clam. Race style full width front splitter; standard Exige door and body sides retained. Multi element rear diffuser with carbon option.

Wheels & Tyres

5-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheels (front 7Jx16 and rear 10Jx17) are shod with Lotus Sport specific Yokohama A048 R LTS tyres (front 195/50 R16 and rear 255/40 R17), designed to maximise grip and achieve the ride and handling targets set by Lotus.

Brakes

The brake system includes 308 mm diameter 2 piece aluminium belled cross drilled and ventilated front discs and 288 mm diameter cross-drilled and ventilated rear discs. AP Racing two-piece radially mounted 4 piston calipers at the front and Brembo single sliding piston at the rear. Pagid RS14 sports brake pads all round. High grade silicone brake fluid; stainless steel braided brake hoses. In addition, the proven Lotus track tuned servo-assisted fourchannel ABS system enhances braking performance and minimises stopping distance without taking over from the skill of the driver.

Suspension

Fully independent suspension utilising unequal length wishbones; hlins 2-way adjustable dampers with coil over springs and Lotus Sport adjustable front anti-roll bar. A rear double shear track control arm brace is provided to cope with the expected kerb abuse during heavy track day driving.

Performance

0-60: 3.9 seconds (estimated)

0-100km/h: 4.0 seconds (estimated)

0-100mph (0-160km/h): 9.8 seconds (estimated)

Maximum Speed 160 mph (257 km/h) - electronically limited

Max Power 275 PS (275 bhp / 203 kw) at 8000 rpm

Max Torque 258 Nm (190 lb/ft) at 7000 rpm (electronically limited)

Related:
Lotus Launches Sport Exige GT3 Racer [internal]

Jaguar and motorsports have — of late — combined like cats and 220v power lines. Having smothered Jackie Stewart's former F1 team under a deluge of Ford bux earlier in the century, the company's coming back with a new FIA GT3 racer it hopes will reclaim the Jaguar racing heritage. A joint venture with Apex Motorsport, the new XKR GT3 will compete in the FIA GT3 European Championship — a relatively new sports car series, whose entries include the Aston Martin DB9, Corvette Z06, Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo and Maserati GranSport. It's not a factory team, though Jag is greenlighting Apex's efforts and providing it with XKR models powered by the company's supercharged, 4.2-liter V8. Apex upclocks that powerplant to 475 hp, and inserts a Hewland six-speed sequential gearbox and tri-plate carbon racing clutch in place of the six-speed ZF automatic. Shakedown testing will come next month at Monza, where we'll get final specs. – Mike Spinelli

Related:
Aston to Offer Race-Ready Vantage V8 [internal]

Just wait until 58 seconds in. Up to that point, the video is your standard 996 GT3 tailing an Aston Martin DB9. But then... I am not going to ruin it. You will laugh. And scratch your head. Sorry about all the German. A Merry Kwanza to you. Enjoy. – Jonny Lieberman

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Ridiculously-Extra-Stupid-Fast VW Type 2 [Internal]

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Vasek Polak's Porsche Engines Recovered, Auctioned For Charity [Internal]

New Porsche mod house, J.N. Hephaiss, aimed high with their first tuner. The company sent Porsche's new GT3 (996) into the lab, and came up with an extreme version that has more tail than Moby Dick. An adjustable exhaust allows the driver to hush the flat six in public, while letting it roar on track day. Its front bumper assembly has a lowered lip section that improves downforce, damping the standard GT3's forward lightness under hard acceleration, and wider intakes that offer greater airflow. Of course, the white elephant in the room is that rear wing, which comes in FRP or carbon fiber, and has a main flap and sub flap that can be adjusted for specific circuits. They didn't mess with the mechanicals, but they say the exterior details make for a car that's sharper on the road, and exceeds the stock GT3 in aerodynamics and cooling. Now, about that tail... [Gallery]
– Mike Spinelli

Related:
Precision Comes to Paris: The Porsche GT3RS [internal]

Porsche Motorspots has a new, four-bulding complex to house its secret cabal of engineering gnomes, their slide rules and a million gallons of Jolt Cola. The company's swank new center in Weissach is complete, with more than 30,000 square feet of racing goodness — including workshop areas for development of the RS Spyder sportscar prototype, the 911 GT3 RSR, servicing of Cup and customer race cars, and other development projects. With all that space, can a return to F1 be far behind?

Porsche Completees Motorsport Center [Pistonheads]

Related:
Porsche Announces RS Spyder LMP2 Drivers; Goin' to the Spa: 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR to Make Track Debut [internal]

This weekend will mark the debut of Porsche's 2007 911 GT3 RSR racer at the 24 Heures of Way the Hell Out in Rural Belgium, or whatever the Spa race is called. It'll be the first outing of the track version of the homologation version of the recently revealed GT3 RS. The Manthey Racing team from Germany will run two of the 485-hp, 9,000-redline cars in the Group 2 category, and next year customer teams will have their shot at the 35 cars that will be built this winter.

Related:
Porsche to Launch 911 GT3 RS in Europe this October [internal]

The Stuttgart gang is pushing out yet another variant of its 911 of the 997 variety. It's the 911 GT3 RS, and it's a street-legal, track-tuned version of the already snogworthy GT3. Serving as Porsche's homologation model for GT racing, the RS works from the same 415-hp, naturally aspirated 3.6-liter flat six as its non-RS sibling. An emphasis on weight savings (hello, carbon fiber) gives it a tenth-of-a-second advantage over the base GT3 in the zero-to-62 (100 km/h) sprint (4.2 vs. 4.3 seconds). Top speed is around 193 mph (remember when that number used to sound like infinity?). It'll go on sale in Europe this October at the equivalent of around $177,000, with a US version slated for next March.

Recently reborn Venturi tested its new H ritage GT3 car on the Paul Ricard circuit last week, as part of the FIA GT3 championship's test days. Despite gearbox problems, the Audi V8-powered H ritage — the French specialty automaker's first racer since it was adopted by new sugar daddy — appears to have tested well. JMB Racing, will run a team of three of the cars during the 2006 season. We'll see later this year whether the company's got a winner, or whether it'll remain best known for having Intel inside.

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Venturi Prepares New GT3 Car [internal]

Earlier this morning, Porsche brought out the red meat for a crowd of ravenous media types: The 911 (997) Turbo and GT3 for modelljahr 2006. Were someone to have, say, tossed a set of keys into the mob, we'd be reporting right now from a pool of blood on the Palexpo Center floor. Engine geeks will go absolutely arse over tit for the adjustable turbine thingies in the turbo setup, and everyone else will probably wind up getting "GT3" tatooed where the sun doesn't shine. (No, not Lapland.)

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Porsche Reveals New 911 Turbo; Porsche Reveals 911 GT3 Ahead of Geneva Launch [internal]

Oh momma. The final piece in Porsche's 997 puzzle is in place. That is, the screaming fast, stripped-to-the-rafters GT3 model, which will likely turn 911 fans to jelly at ten paces. Set to debut in Geneva next week (no test drives there for us proles, sadly), the GT3 relies on a turboless, 415-hp, 3.6-liter flat six that winds out at 8,400 rpm — enough to make an electric-generating dynamo spit-take a kilowatt or three. Zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, top speed of 193 mph, track-tuned active suspension, sticker price of $106,000... We could go on and on.

2006 Geneva Motor Show: 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 [MPH]

More at Dubspeed Driven

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Porsche Reveals New 911 Turbo [internal]

Best known these days at the builder of the F tish electric supercar, Venturi — a recently rescued French specialty car brand and former LeMans competitor — has worked up a car it hopes will rock the 2006 FIA GT3 European championship in spectacular fashion. The "Venturi H ritage GT3," which will debut at the FIA GT3 European championship test days in March 2006, sports a supercharged, 4.2 liter Audi-sourced V8 (450 hp) linked to a six-speed sequential-synchromesh-manual gearbox, and a body and chassis of carbon fiber. The Venturi will join such cars as the Aston Martin DBS9, Lamborghini Gallardo, TVR Sagaris and Lotus Exige GT3 on the approval trail.

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Venturi Fetish Electric Supercar Makes Public Debut; Lotus Launches Sport Exige GT3 Racer; Spy Photos: Porsche 997 GT3; Venturi Fetish Has Intel Inside [internal]

German Car Fans posted shots of Porsche's newest 911 GT3, caught in Stuttgart, likely during late-stage testing. Seen totally decked out in telltale aerodynamic skirting, the new track-ready star of the 911 line, which will get 400hp worth of 3.8-liter Porsche six fun, will likely be launched in May 2006, along with a new Cup version for race day.

New Porsche GT3 Undisguised [German Car Fans]

Related:
Spy Photos: Porsche GT3 [internal]

Lotus fans planning to eyeball the FIA Championship's new GT3 series next year will have a new Exige to cheer on (or put a hex on from afar). Lotus Sport's Exige GT3 race car (pictured) has passed preliminary shakedown testing, part of a process to qualify for the series, which requires a power-to-weight ratio of 380hp per metric ton (2,204 lbs). In the case of the Exige, the power part comes in the form of the familiar 1.8 2ZZ-GE VVTL-i engine, breathing through a Roots type supercharger and air to air intercooler, controlled by the Lotus T4e ECU, which conspire to produce 285 hp at 7,800 rpm. As for weight, the Exige tips the scales at 1,653lbs via typical Lotus weight-watching. A six-speed sequential transmission handles the cog swapping. The single-seat prototype has also been fitted with five-spoke forged alloys, carbon body panels and a high-downforce aerodynamic package incorporating a race front splitter and adjustable carbon fiber rear wing, plus FIA-required kit including six-point roll cage, ignition kill switches, and track-ready braking and suspension systems. Availability, full specs, and price of the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 will be available in early 2006. Press release after the jump.

Lotus Sport Exige GT3 undertakes testing for FIA GT3 European Championship

A prototype of the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 race car was unveiled at the annual FIA GT Championship presentation ceremony outside the world famous Casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco on 02 December, 2005. The following day (03 December 2005), the first test for the car took place at the high speed Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track in Southern France under FIA supervision, the first stage in the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 becoming eligible for FIA GT3 competition. This latest FIA series, which will start in 2006, is for race cars that have an equal power to weight, and that have a direct lineage to their road going versions.

The Lotus Sport Exige GT3 entrant has been developed by Lotus Sport, the performance arm of Lotus Cars and is a derivative of the standard Lotus Exige coup model. Weighing in at approximately 750 kg, it stays true to the performance through light weight core Lotus philosophy. The car uses a race prepared 1.8 2ZZ-GE VVTL-i engine with a Roots type supercharger and air to air intercooler which utilises the Lotus T4e Engine Control Unit to produce 285 hp (289 PS) at 7,800 rpm. This gives an impressive power to weight ratio of 380hp / tonne or 2.6 kg / PS.

Following a brief shakedown programme at the Lotus Test Track at Hethel, factory test driver Gavan Kershaw carried out final chassis set up work on wet tyres in the morning session at the Paul Ricard official FIA test. This was followed by an outing on slick tyres on a drying track by FIA nominated test driver Christophe Bouchut.

Commenting on the encouraging test session, Chris Arnold, General Manager of Lotus Sport, explained: We were delighted to attend the official FIA test session. Considering the car was still on the drawing board two months ago it s a fantastic achievement by the team to complete the build in such a short time. We knew this test would be a first shakedown for the car on slicks and I m very pleased with the results. Our winter development programme starts with a wind tunnel test just before Christmas followed by further work in preparation for the next FIA test in March.

The FIA has announced a five race European championship for the new GT3 class with rounds
in the UK, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy. Various national GT Championships are also
considering amending their regulations to include a GT3 class.

Basic prototype specification
Like the standard Exige, the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 comes complete with the award-winning light weight bonded aluminium chassis. This is complemented by low weight 5-spoke forged alloy wheels, carbon body panels, and a revised high downforce aerodynamic package incorporating a race front splitter and adjustable carbon fibre rear wing. An FIA 6-point roll cage, ignition kill switches, and uprated braking and suspension systems including hlins 3-way adjustable dampers also feature on the new race car. A 6-speed sequential transmission system, and full data logging system have been fitted to the singleseater prototype vehicle.

Availability, full specification, and price of the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 will be announced in early
2006.

Related:
Lotus Reveals New, Elise-Based Circuit Car [internal]