Porsche 911 GT2 keeps Porsche ahead of sports car pretenders Blog Post at Automotive.com
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Porsche 911 GT2 keeps Porsche ahead of sports car pretenders

Posted December 11 2007 10:04 AM by staff 
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Porsche 911, Coupes, Sports


0712_02_z 2008_porsche_911_gt2 side_view.jpg

Put a Porsche 911 Turbo into a pencil sharpener and you get the Porsche 911 GT2.



Put a Porsche 911 Turbo into a pencil sharpener and you get the Porsche 911 GT2.

This metaphorical statement is supported by Automobile Magazine's recent write-up of the newest hyper 911. Traditionally the GT designation, wither GT2 or GT3, denotes a more focused, intense and generally terrifying iteration of an already world-class sports car. It stands to reason as the 911 model improves and evolves over the years, now better than ever in its 997 designation, the GT versions make corresponding leaps in physics-defying performance. By most accounts, this is indeed the case.

The GT2 takes the 3.6 liter turbocharged flat-six from the 911 Turbo and cranks up the scary-o-meter from 480 to 530-hp. The first 100 kph (or 62 mph) goes to the standard Turbo, with its all-wheel drive system digging into the tarmac more ferociously than the GT2's rear-wheels-only setup. After that it's all GT2 all the way up to its 204 approximate top speed. What was quick is now blinding, so it seems.

Handling too has been refined. Riding on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, essentially street legal racing shoes, the GT2 grips like a pit bull. The car is also substantially lighter, lacking rear seats and featuring weight saving aluminum doors and deck lid. Suspension components have also been upgraded to enhance cornering abilities and track widened. This car is simply built to maul the road.

Although not as raw and visceral a ride as the naturally aspirated GT3, which is geared more to the racing circuit than the autobahn (or whichever stretch of interstate you think you can get away with it), the GT2 represents the pinnacle of Porsche 911 performance available to the public. Of course, to make any use of that availability you'd better have at least $192,560 available, a whopping $56,660 more than the 911 Turbo. You'd have to be crazy to buy one, which is exactly the purpose of the Beast From Zuffenhausen.




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