A new era of flat-six power is here. Porsche is asking you to forget about the old 3.8, mainly because of its valvetrain issues. The factory has made an unprecedented move and extended the warranty for all 991.1 GT3 cars to 120,000 miles, one of the longest in the industry. Going back to the drawing board, the engine was stroked to 4.0 liters, and it has forged internals along with new cam followers. The oil system is also all new, which makes the 4.0 essentially a new design.
I first experienced the 4.0 in the 911R, and it made such an impression that the boss added a 2016 GT3 RS to the collection downstairs. Without turbos or the front axle, all it needs is a manual transmission to make the ultimate Porsche 911. For the revised 991.2 series, the GT3 has returned, without the race-ready RS edition. Rear wheel steering and the PDK transmission are standard equipment, but it does without the wide body or massive aero package. Chris Harris got his hands on a new GT3 for an upcoming episode of Top Gear, so allow him to explain the finer points of the mean machine. I prefer the RS because of its “go big or go home” styling, but there is no denying the abilities of this new model. Stay with us for all your Porsche news and Top Gear videos.