2016 Porsche 911 R

• Essentially a 991.1 GT3RS with manual transmission

• Numerous driver focused options such as single mass flywheel

• 113 pounds lighter than the already lightweight GT3RS

Upon introduction of the 991 generation GT3 and GT3RS, Porsche fans expressed disappointment for Porsche not offering a manual transmission option. The future looked  bleak if a manual transmission was not going to be offered. This sense of distress quickly vanished thanks to the 911R. The purist’s itch for a GT3 with a stick was scratched, but the R was much more than that, quickly gaining a cult following and stratospheric resale values, as all the cars were originally sold to 918 owners. The R has turned out to be one of the greatest driving 911’s of all time. 

By 2016, Porsche had mastered the dual clutch transmission (or Porsche Doppelkupplung, PDK for short in Porsche language) having decided to move forward with it as the only transmission option for the GT line of cars. There was no doubt that the instantaneous shifts from the PDK translated to faster lap times, but as a result, removes the fun of rowing your own gears. Porsche not only surprised the world with the 911R, but they also outfitted the car with a handful of interesting and unique upgrades that made the car more fun than enthusiasts imagined.

The 911R nomenclature dates back to Porsche’s 1967 lightweight experiment with the 911. All unnecessary weight was removed to lessen curb weight to a staggering 1810 lbs. In the new R, weight reduction was the first step. A magnesium roof, forged wheels, deletion of rear seats, reduced sound deadening, along with carbon fiber fenders and hood, all aided in bringing the weight down to 3042 lbs, 113 lbs lighter than the GT3RS. Air conditioning and  navigation delete are also options that provide further weight savings, though these 2 options were not chosen for this specific car. In Europe, plastic rear windows were also an option, though are not legal in the U.S. Perhaps the most captivating option on this R is the single mass flywheel, a $3650 option. The 4.0 liter flat-six from the GT3RS still produces 500 horsepower in the 911R, however without inclusion of the large rear wing, Porsche added a unique underbody diffuser to the R, allowing it to make nearly as much downforce as the RS. 

The result of these technical additions and subtractions equaled a car that individually changed the direction of Porsche. The second half of the GT3 generation was introduced with a stick, along with a GT3 Touring model without the wing. Other more driver focused cars came to light as well, such as the 911 Carrera T, a base model Carrera with weight savings, and the 911 S/T, the direct successor of the 911R.

Specifications:

Engine: 4.0 Liter flat 6-cylinder

Power: 500 @ 8250 rpm / 338 lb-ft torque @ 6250 rpm

Transmission: 6-speed automated manual PDK

Top Speed: 201 mph / 0-60 mph in 3.8 sec