New 911 GT2 RS Wows World’s Top Auto Critics
Some of the most iconic car mags weigh in on Porsche’s latest beast.
When the first reviews from trusted sources start rolling in, describing a new Porsche as “toweringly fast” and “intoxicating,” you just know it’s going to be something to behold.
Then again, we are talking about a car that Porsche has been touting as the “ultimate” 911. That, in itself, should have given fans some indication of what to expect from the 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS.
However, after reading the reviews from a few top industry sources, it appears that we still might have underestimated the appeal of the GT2 RS. Though, Motor Trend’s opening statement about the new 700-horsepower 911, a quote from Porsche’s Andreas Preuninger, sets one helluva stage to start putting it all in context.
It quickly becomes clear, when digging deeper into the reviews, that the 911 GT2 RS is more at home as a track warrior than it is as an everyday road car.
“It’s the alpha animal of the GT stable,” says the head of GT cars at Porsche.
So, exactly what does that mean? Apparently, it amounts to one insane experience in the driver’s seat, something that Car and Driver likens to meeting “the automotive narcotic.” However, it quickly becomes clear, when digging deeper into the reviews, that the highly-anticipated 911 GT2 RS is more at home as a track warrior than it is as an everyday road car.
“This is a cacophonous car, and if you have a long enough commute, your ears might ring,” writes Autoweek’s Robin Warner. No big surprise there though, right? Since news first broke about the GT2 RS, it was pretty much assumed that the biggest appeal of the new beastly 911 would come on the tarmac, giving foes like Ferrari and Lamborghini a wicked run for their money.
Look Out, Ferrari
The formula for creating the ultimate 911, as Motor Trend outlines, involved Porsche engineers focusing on three core attributes of the car: weight reduction, boosting power, and improving drivability.
The end result is a 911 capable of doing 0 to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds, 124 mph in 8.3 seconds, and 186 mph in 22.1 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed threshold of a raging 211 mph.
Apparently, Porsche even decided to forgo some of the interior comfort features common in some of the company’s more road-focused 911s, instead opting for a more track-ready setup, which can feel a little awkward at times. But as Car and Driver’s Mike Duff points out, it’s a small price to pay, especially when the GT2 RS is really pushed to the limit.
“Getting the accelerator pedal all the way down feels like a genuine achievement; holding it there for more than a couple of seconds requires a straight road heading to a distant horizon and the will to accept the consequences of what could be a world-record speeding ticket,” says Duff.
More Than Expected
The Car and Driver reporter goes on to note that the 911 GT2 RS, powered by a 3.8-liter, flat-6 with a 7-speed PDK, might actually even exceed Porsche’s estimates when it comes to acceleration. He also praises the car’s rear-wheel technology as “grippier” than Porsche’s all-wheel-drive systems, another area in which the 911’s performance attributes have been significantly enhanced.
It appears that the 911 GT2 RS is extremely well balanced, but that it can quickly become a bit temperamental, something that Autoweek’s reporter makes it a point to highlight.
“It provides neutral balance and confident braking and intense straight-line acceleration. Just be careful not to turn in too quickly, as the car responds to your inputs aggressively and will snap the rear loose, which in turn sends stability control ablaze,” says Warner.
Well Worth the Cash
Cost? Roughly $300,000, depending on the extras. But in the end, it’s clear that the thrill of being at the wheel of Porsche latest creation is well worth the price tag.
“The GT2 RS is a pinnacle car, one that sits at the top of the Porsche range in terms of both its price and its level of performance,” contends Duff. “If you want the most viscerally thrilling version then this is undoubtedly it, the ultimate incarnation of a roadgoing 911 to date.”