Concept Cars Home
Image Left 2003 911 GT3
 

Image credits: © Porsche.

2004 Porsche 911 GT3 news, pictures, and information

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG of Stuttgart continues its new-model offensive wîth a further version of the 911: due to be launched in October, the 911 GT3 RS is an extremely sporty model wîth the power and purist qualities of a thoroughbred circuit racer, but legally qualified in every way for road use.

The 911 GT3 RS is a homologation model intended to serve as a basis for motor sport activities in accordance wîth the new international GT rules. Porsche will build at least 200 cars of this type and supply them to customers. The 'RS' in the model name will cause the hearts of all Porsche enthusiasts and motor racing fans to beat faster. Models such as the Carrera RS 2.7 of 1972 and the 911 SC RS (1984) were also built under the homologation rules, and not only represent proud chapters in Porsche's heritage but often rewrote motor-sport history as well. The new 911 GT3 RS is intended to continue this tradition.

When the 'RS' was developed, the emphasis was on achieving the best possible power-to-weight ratio. A figure of 4.86 kg/kW has resulted – a further improvement of four percent compared wîth the Club Sport version of the GT3. The new model is 50 kilograms lighter, and tips the scales at 1,360 kilograms wîth a full load of fuel (90 liters) in the tank.

The 'RS', like its motor-sport predecessors, is only available wîth a full roll-over cage installed. All cars have a white paint finish, wîth the inscriptions only in blue or red, also in the tradition of its famous forbears.

The road version of Porsche's new top sports car has various technical features that will also appear on the racing version, for example the complete wheel hub assemblies, divided front-and rear lateral suspension control arms, optimized rear-axle geometry, a special weight-saving rear window made of polycarbonate material and a carbon-fiber reinforced front hood and rear wing.

The engine is an extremely free-revving unit that develops 280 kW (381 bhp) at 7,300 revolutions per minute from a swept volume of 3.6 liters. The maximum engine speed is 8,200 rpm and the specific output 105.8 bhp per liter. These values are also applicable to the current GT3 model. An air collector located under the rear wing uses pressure build-up there to supply extra intake air to the engine at high speeds, so that the 'RS' reaches its maximum power output even more easily, as borne out by its performance figures. For the classic sprint from 0 to 100 km/h the GT3 RS needs 4.4 seconds, and goes on to reach 200 km/h in 14 seconds. Its top speed is 306 km/h. This abundant power is transmitted via a close-ratio six-speed gearbox. Between the engine and the gearbox the 'RS' has a single-mass flywheel wîth a lower rotating mass than the double-mass version.

The list price for this truly authentic 'RS' driving feeling is 104,000 Euro (plus specific national-market charges). In Germany, for instance, the 911 GT3 RS costs 120,788 Euro including value-added tax. The GT3 RS is to be sold worldwide wîth the exception of the ÚSA and Canada.

Source - Porsche Press
The 911 GT3 represents the most powerful non-turbocharged Porsche ever offered for street use in the Únited States and Canada.

Based on the previous 911 GT3 that was not available in North America, the 2004 Porsche® 911 GT3 features a 3.6-liter, flat- six cylinder engine producing 380 horsepower (SAE) and 285 pound-feet of torque. With a power output of an impressive 105 horsepower per liter, the engine propels the 911 GT3 from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, from 0 to 100 mph in 9.4 seconds, and to a top track speed of 190 mph. To handle this increased performance, the 911 GT3's transmission is fitted wîth transmission oil cooling and injection oil lubrication and has undergone some additional reinforcements.

The most striking visual feature of the new 911 GT3 is its unique rear wing that is largely responsible for excellent directional stability at high speeds and increased downforce for fast cornering. Combining a redesigned front apron, the GT3 achieves an outstanding drag coefficient (Cd=0.30) for a car in its class.

The GT3's handling is further enhanced by a sports suspension, wider and lighter wheels, and wider tires. Front wheels are 8.5 inches wide fitted wîth 235/40 ZR 18 tires, and rear wheels are 11 inches wide wîth 295/30 ZR 18 tires.

Brakes on the GT3 have been improved as well. Front brakes now feature six-piston, rather than the previous four-piston monobloc brake calipers and larger discs fitted wîth Porsche-patented cooling ducts. The ABS brake system was also modified. The new system (ABS 5.7) has a faster and more sensitive control response. It is also lightweight and provides greater stability for ABS braking. Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB®) discs, standard on the 911 GT2, can be fitted on request.

Source - Porsche
Unveiled to the world in 1999, the Porsche 911 GT3 was a high performance variant of the original water-cooled version of the Porsche 911, the 996. It continued the 25 year tradition of low-weight RS models that was ended with the 993 RS. The name GT3 was taken from the Fiat GT class that it had been designed for, and it didn't use the simple engine of the standard production versions of the 996, while also a naturally-aspirated variation of the turbocharged Porsche 962 and Porsche 911 GT1 race vehicles. Though it didn't fit into GT racing regulations like the 993 GT2, the turbo-charged Porsche 911 GT2 was added to the maker's lineup. Racing versions of the GT3 were awarded several major 24h races and completely dominated their class at Le Mans.

The Porsche 911 GTI won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1998 and Porsche chose not to enter the '99 Le Mans due to not having a factory vehicle that was good enough to defend the overall win against the competition by major automakers. This was also due to an internal agreement again on less expensive GT racing classes at the Grand-Am Rolex racing series, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and started plans to update the new 996 generation of the 911. At the same time they produced a road-worthy variant, they developed a race car. In 1999 this car was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show before it went on sale.

The GT3 came with an engine unlike any other 996 models, even though it shared the same basic 3.6 liter displacement of the standard 996 ‘integrated dry-sump' flat-six engine. This engine is based completely on the original air-cooled 911's versatile, true dry-sump crankcase with an external oil tank. Originally the GT3's engine had 360 PS, in comparison to the 300 PS of the original 996.

Quite similar to the completely water-cooled 962 racing car's engine, the GT3 engine configuration was a so called 'split' crankcase uses separate water jackets added onto each side of the crankcase to cool banks of three cylinders with water pumped through a radiator, rather than a fan and finned cylinders. This engine is also based on this same crankcase. This engine is different though because the 962 utilized 6 individual cylinder heads while the GT1/GT3 used 2 cylinder heads, each covering a bank of 3 cylinders. One could think of the GT3 engine as a similar to a 959 engine, but with water-cooled cylinders.

The basic casting utilized for the crankcase of the GT3, up until 2004, was virtually the same as the air-cooled engine. The '964' casting number on the bottom of the crankcase and areas could clearly be seen and were normally machined in the air-cooled application that are not machined for use in the water-cooled application. Halfway through the 2004 year, a '996' casting number crankcase to eliminate these external air-cooled remnants, while internally it remained virtually the same.

Dating back to the Porsche 904/6 of the mid-1960's, the engine gives the GT3 a distinct racing heritage all the way up the racing vehicles of today.
The GT3 utilized a manual gearbox that was also of air-cooled 911 heritage, due to the 911 air-cooled crankcase that used the Porsche 356 engine to transmission mounting flange configuration. The gear ratios were interchangeable on the gearbox and it was much more durable which makes it more preferable for racing over the standard 996 type 911 gearbox. The most ‘powerful naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine' in any production vehicle, was the 3.8 liter flat-six engine in the 997 GT3 and GT3 RS, rated at 435 hp.

The 2004 Porsche 911 GT3 is considered to be the most powerful non-turbocharged production vehicle that had ever been offered in North America. Considered to be a true sports vehicle that allowed you to achieve lap times on the racetrack, no one really expected it to also be a street-legal and non-turbocharged road vehicle. President and chief executive officer of Porsche Cars North America, Peter Scwarzenbauer is quoted as 'This is the fastest normally aspirated Porsche road car' and 'the sports car for the purist, through and through'.

Though the GT3 didn't come with a back seat, and other commodities drivers really preferred, it continued to be a car than can be driven on a daily basis. The GT3 also maintains the same fuel consumption ratios as other 911 models, though it produced more horsepower and torque. The '04 Porsche 911 GT3 is rated at 380 hp at 7,400 rpm and 284 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. In first, second, third and fourth gears, the engine revs to 8,200 rpm right before its computerized rev limiter is activated.

The 04 Porsche 911 GT3 could achieve 0-60mph in just 4.3 seconds and could hit 100 mph in just 9.4 seconds. The brakes were also bigger on the GT3 than the 911 Turbo's. The GT3 is also equipped with 13.78-inch front brake discs and six-piston fixed calipers that increase the contact area between the discs and the pads. In a carry-over of a Porsche tradition, the six-piston brake calipers are adorned with a red paint. By 40% these calipers enlarge the contact area between the brake lining and the brake disc in comparison to the first generation GT3. The front discs are also nearly an inch larger than those found on the '03 911 turbo. Much like the Turbo's, the rear discs are 13.00 inches. Patented by Porsche, the cooling ducts were inner-vented and cross drilled, while the front discs are 1.34 inches thick. The sickle-shaped ducts act like a turbine inside the discs which made a significant contribution to cooling behavior.

The rotors at the rear measure 1.10 inches thick and are cross-drilled and inner-vented and feature four-piston calipers. Brake caliper pistons are separated by heat-insulating circonium ceramic inserts which reduced the transmission of temperatures from the brakes to the hydraulic fluid. The Porsche 911 GT3 came with enhanced aerodynamics, mainly due the streamlining of the vehicle's body that included a swept-back nose, a large rear spoiler, and sculpted side sills. All of these components together reduce lift forces on both rear and front axles. The improved aerodynamics along with the more powerful engine resulted in a top track speed of 190 mph. The aerodynamic nature also provides more flow that cooled the GT3's braking system. Directing air to the brake discs and calipers were spoilers that were integrated into the cars wheel wells.

By Jessica Donaldson
For more information and related vehicles, click here

AUDI SWEEPS AT SEBRING WITH HYBRID POWER
Audi Sport extended its remarkable run at Sebring International Raceway on Saturday. Marcel Fassler, Benoit Treluyer and Oliver Jarvis won the 61st Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida in their No. 1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro – the first hybrid car to win at Sebring and in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. Treluyer drove a storming final two stints. He took fuel with 20 minutes left but maintained his lead over teammate Tom Kristensen in the No. 2 ...[Read more...]
SPORTS CAR STORYLINES FILL SEBRING ENTRY LIST
• 42 cars for 2013 ALMS season-opening round
BRASELTON, Ga. – For the 61st time in its history, a group of the world's best sports car manufacturers and teams are gearing up to tackle one of the toughest challenges in all of endurance racing. The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida features a 42-car entry with a number of attention-grabbing storylines for the opening round of the 2013 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón: •A hybrid-powe...[Read more...]
IT'S WINTER TEST TIME FOR THE ALMS: FIRST STEPS TOWARD THE 2013 SEASON-OPENER AT SEBRING
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón will be in 'preview mode' next week as a significant group of teams participate in the annual Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón will be in 'preview mode' next week as a significant group of teams participate in the annual Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway. The Feb. 7-8 test comes a little more than a month out from the season-opening 61st Mobil 1 Twelve Hours ...[Read more...]
Epic Finishes Highlight The American Le Mans Road Race Showcase At Road America
Guy Smith and Dyson Racing were on the other end this time around at Road America. A year after missing out by 0.112 seconds to Muscle Milk Racing in the P1 class, Smith delivered victory for Dyson Racing on Saturday in the closest overall finish in the history of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón - 0.083 seconds. Despite starting next-to-last on the grid, Smith and Chris Dyson won the four-hour Road America Road Race Showcase in an epic finish. Muscle Milk Pickett Rac...[Read more...]
Vintage Racing Ushers In The 2012 Season At Road America
It has been 62 years since racers tore through the streets of this tiny village about 60 miles north of Milwaukee. Still, every spring you would swear that the town speed limit doesn't exist when the sounds of historic racecars from days gone by seem to echo throughout the hillside. May 18-20 the Spring Vintage Weekend returns to Road America and kicks-off the start of a summer full of racing, from vintage and historic cars to motorcycles and even NASCAR. Racing came to Elkhart Lake in 1950...[Read more...]

Arrow Right 2004 Porsche models
Porsche 911
Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Porsche Boxster
Porsche Boxster S
Porsche Brumos Daytona Prototype
Porsche Carrera GT
Porsche Cayenne

Similar Automakers
Aston MartinBentley
BugattiDevon
FerrariGTA
KoenigseggLamborghini
LotusMaserati
MaybachMcLaren
Rolls-RoyceSpyker
Tesla
Similarly Sized Vehicles from 2004
Acura NSX
Acura TSX
Alfa Romeo 147
Alfa Romeo 156 GTA
Alfa Romeo GTV
Audi A4
Audi S4
BMW 3-Series
BMW Z4
Cadillac CTS

 
Porsche: 2001-2010
Similar Automakers
Porsche History
Other models by Porsche
Manufacturer Website

Related Articles and Event Coverage
Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Car Show
Watkins Glen Historic Sportscar Racing
2006 Downtown Pittsburgh Grand Prix Car Display
2005 50TH Annual Porsche Parade. Hershey Pennsylvania
2005 PVGP Car Show
2004 Jefferson 500
2006 Chicago Il
2005 Chicago Il

Porsche
Monthly Sales FiguresVolume
May 20133,928 
April 20134,032 
March 20133,487 
February 20132,805 
January 20133,358 
December 20122,952 
November 20123,865 
October 20123,211 
September 20122,736 
August 20123,026 
July 20122,803 
June 20123,002 
(More Details)

 
356
550/718 Sports Racing Cars
597
904
906
907
908
911
912
914
917
924
928
934/935
944
956 and 962
968
Boxster
Carrera GT
Cayenne
Cayman
GT3
Panamera
Type 959

Image Left 2003 911 GT3
© 1998-2012. All rights reserved. The material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.