New Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Package adds a subtle twist

General Guides  New Launches 

Taking one of the finest sports cars ever made and making it a bit less exciting should be a terrible idea. It's a bit like asking Usain Bolt to run in wellies and a trench coat. And that would probably be the case if the car in question wasn't the new Porsche 911 GT3 Touring.

And just to be clear, that's not Touring as in an estate car. This is the GT3 with a new Touring Pack option.

Porsche describes this car as a high-performance athlete that doesn't show off its talent, hence the Usain Bolt reference. Underneath it's still the same blisteringly fast car, but now it's a little more subtle, more understated.

In terms of numbers, you still get the same 500bhp, flat-six engine bolted to the same track-focused chassis. Top speed is 199 mph, and acceleration from 0-62 mph takes 3.9 secs. Add the bonnet made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), lightweight glass windows, forged alloy wheels, and a lightweight sports exhaust system, and it's clear this car is still very much a performance model.

This is also the first time the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission can now be specified at no extra cost. You should definitely do that if you get one. Not only does it make it a complete joy to drive around in traffic, if you're prepared to lose 1 mph off the top speed you can knock half a second off the 0-60mph time with the automatic gearbox. Not that there's anything wrong with the six-speed manual gearbox.

The difference the Touring Package brings is clear when you step back and look at the GT3.

Gone is the distinctive fixed rear wing – replaced with the extending rear spoiler found on other 911 models - along with the extrovert styling of the standard GT3. The Touring Pack offers a cleaner silhouette and a much stealthier journey along the high street. A rear grille with the ‘GT3 Touring' logo hides the 4.0-litre engine, and there are a few extras like satin black tailpipes and tinted lights. Silver-coloured trim strips around the side windows are another feature that underline the discreet look, and the nose apron is painted in the exterior colour. Other than that, it's essentially an undercover Porsche.

Behind the wheel, the Touring Package adds a little bit of comfort and luxury to the 911 GT3. The steering wheel rim, gear shift/selector lever, cover of the centre console, armrests in the door panels and the door handles are trimmed in black leather. The head restraints bear embossed Porsche crests, and the door entry guards and trim elements on the fascia and centre console feature brushed black aluminium.

There's also a selection of optional equipment for the 911 GT3 to complement the Touring Package. This includes all exterior and wheel colours, LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System and Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus, PCCB ceramic brakes, the front axle lift system, the Chrono package, and audio upgrades.

At almost £128k before you even look at the options list, the new Porsche 911 GT3 Touring isn't a particularly cheap car. But then that's one of the many benefits of leasing: the ability to drive an incredible piece of automotive engineering without the hassle of ownership.

If you're in the process of arranging your next lease car, and you want something subtle and understated that's actually anything but….there's a brilliant new Porsche 911 with your name on it.

---

View our latest blog posts