911 GT3 RS 4.0: The ultimate 500 bhp naturally-aspirated 911

Porsche has announced the ultimate naturally-aspirated 911 for track and road  – the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 – using a 500 bhp 4.0-litre engine from the latest 911 GT3 RSR racer and available exclusively with a six-speed manual sports transmission. It's going to be limited to just 600 examples worldwide, and will be on sale from July 2011, priced from £128,466. Porsche say: "The new model transmits thoroughbred motorsport technology through to its innermost core. The flat engine's crankshaft has been lifted unchanged from the 911 GT3 RSR racing car’s six cylinder engine and the forged pistons’ connecting rods are made of titanium. The flat six 4.0-litre sports engine, the biggest 911 engine ever, is also the most powerful naturally aspirated engine with 125 bhp/litre. It achieves its maximum power of 500 bhp at 8,250 revs per minute and delivers its maximum torque of 460 Nm at 5,750 rpm. And it has a power to weight ratio of 368 bhp/tonne." The new GT3 RS 4.0 laps the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in a stunning 7:27 minutes – not far of a pukka RSR racer! And its straight line performance is stunning too, sprinting to 62 mph from a standing start in just 3.9 seconds and, with its gearing designed for the racing circuit, takes it to the 124 mph (200 km/h) mark in under 12 seconds. Other features include: Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), serious weight reduction  – via bucket seats, bonnet and front wings made of carbon fibre, plastic rear windows and weight-optimised carpets (!!) – taking it to just 1,360 kg, motorsporty Carrara White paintwork, wide track, low ride height, large rear wing with adapted side plates, central twin tailpipe and aerodynamically optimised body (lateral front air deflection vanes, so-called ‘flics’, making their first appearance on a production Porsche, testify to the aerodynamic precision engineering). Inside, there's the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 logos galore, bucket seats, more C-F than you can shake a pair of race gloves at and "the Clubsport package" – comprising half roll cage, seat belt harnesses, fire extinguisher, battery cut-off switch.  Fancy a slice of NBR24Hr car for the track day market? Us too...!