Porsche’s most extreme 911 ever, the 911 GT2 RS, returns with 700hp and a $1.2-million (w/o COE) price

GOODWOOD, ENGLAND – The ‘Widowmaker’ has returned as Porsche’s most powerful production 911 ever was revealed on June 30 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed: the Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

The uber-uber 911 packs 700hp, less weight and numerous performance extremes (0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds, 340km/h top speed) and a $1.2-million dollar pricetag sans COE.

Like all the models fettled by the wizards at Porsche Motorsport, the GT2 RS is a crucible for technology and features that will eventually find their way into the regular models in one way or another. In this case, the twin-turbo’d 3.8-litre flat-six has been tuned for a maximum boost of 1.55-bar to deliver 700hp and 750Nm, with a possibility to lighten the GT2 RS’s already-flyweight credentials further with a Weissach Package (a lightweight option 918 Spyder owners will find familiar) – this drops an additional 30kg from the car’s 1,470kg kerbweight; in its lightest iteration, the GT2 RS makes 479bhp/tonne.

Magnesium alloy wheels mean even more weight saving

The Weissach Package sees even more liberal use of CFRP and titanium, with a smart set of magnesium wheels helping to reduce both gross as well as unsprung weight. Apart from the roof, the anti-roll bars and coupling rods on both axles are made of carbon. Already on the stock car, the exhaust system is full-titanium, while CFRP clads the front wings, wheel housing vents, air-intakes on the rear side sections, parts of the rear end, and the outer shells on the Sport Design wing mirrors.

Weissach Package shaves 30kg more off the kerb weight and includes touches like a full titanium rollcage

Naturally, the GT2 RS’s 0-100km/h and top speed ratings are off-the-chart (in case you’re wondering, they are 2.8secs and 340km/h respectively), but fans of the GT variants will appreciate that it is the dynamics of these cars that differentiate them from the regular Porsche models, and the GT2 RS’s lightweight suspension system boasts rose-jointed finery, with a gorgeous titanium rollcage and structural carbonfibre plate under the engine lid that spans the width of the car – this latter is reminiscent of the carbon composite brace in the latest 911 Cup cars.

The final talking point is the car’s price in Singapore, which starts from S$1.2m before COE and options. To put this in perspective, cars like the Lamborghini Huracán Performante start from S$998,000, the 488 GTB S$995,000 and the Mclaren 720S, S$990,000, all sans COE and options.

Porsche’s vice-president of Motorsport & GT-Cars, Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser confirms that the GT2 RS will not be limited in numbers (so there could be more than the initial 1000 units made) – however, its population will be limited by production capability. According to our sources, three units have been allocated to Singapore, with the cars expected to arrive here before the first half of 2018.

The term ‘Widowmaker’ is a badge of honour that originated with Porsche’s first production turbocharged 911 of the G-model series, the type 930 911 Turbo from the mid-1970s to the 80s. The potent combination of turbocharged thump, rear-engine weight dynamics and rear-wheel drivetrain made it a tricky handler for many owners that led to bruised egos and bodywork in mild cases, outright write-offs or worse in others, which led to the legendary moniker.

However, over the years, the 911 Turbo model has evolved into an all-wheel-drive ‘touring’ sportscar – from the third-gen type 993 911 Turbo onwards, the Turbo models became all-wheel-drive. Incidentally in 1993, the type 993 911 also saw the introduction of the GT2 turbocharged/rear-drive model, which would become the natural heir apparent to the ‘Widowmaker’ name.

The 911 GT2 was made for the 993, 996 and 997 model generations, in 1993, 2002 and 2008 respectively. The more extreme RS model last appeared in 2010, as part of the ‘997.2’ For the current generation 911, Porsche Motorsport has jumped straight to the GT2 RS, so there is no base 911 GT2 model.