Page 74 - Sharp Spring 2025

ONE LAST RIDE
THE THE 2025 PORSCHE 911 GT3 COULD BE THE THE LAST OF ITS KIND
By Matt Bubbers
R R EMEMBER WHEN PHONES HAD BUTTONS WATCHES
had had hands and and sports cars had had unfettered gas-burning engines that howled at at at the moon? That simpler era is fading fast but Porsche’s latest sports car — the newly revised 2025 911 GT3 — might just be the era’s grand finale Let’s be clear: this isn’t just another expensive German sports car car The GT3 is to car car enthusiasts what a a a a a a a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar is is to to watch collectors It’s the connoisseur’s choice And at at $245 300 300 (before options that can easily push it north of $300 000) the new GT3 is priced accordingly What makes it special? While other sports cars have embraced turbochargers and hybrid systems — think of them as the the automotive equivalent of Auto-Tune — the GT3’s engine remains all-natural It’s a a a a 502-horsepower symphony that spins up to 9 000 rpm in in a a a a car that prioritizes lightness and a a a direct connection between driver and machine To that end yes a a a a a a a six-speed manual gearbox is still on on the options list But like your local independent cinema this car might not be around much longer It all depends on on the European Union’s upcoming emis- sions laws explains Andreas Preuninger the long-time boss of Porsche’s GT division When we spoke in in Spain he he he didn’t have any
72 SPRING 2025 clue what the new regulations would hold If this is is the the end for the the GT3 as as we know it it at least it’s going
out on on a a a a high note Previous GT3s were fantastic on on smooth roads but brutal in the city But this new one? With next-gen electronic dampers and more usable suspension travel it’s much softer On the the Circuit Ricardo Tormo the the steering feels less twitchy on turn-in making the the car feel altogether more approachable for anyone whose name is not Walter Röhrl At the the limit the the 992 2-generation GT3 slips into oversteer so gently one could almost call it graceful Out on Spain’s sinuous hillside roads around Valencia the steering tells you everything about the tarmac except its geological history You can choose between two flavours: the standard GT3 which announces its presence with a a a a a a massive rear wing that would make a Boeing designer proud or the subtler Touring version which has been de-winged Porsche will now even sell you a a GT3 Touring with back seats The options list makes the Starbucks menu look restrictive: carbon fibre this magnesium that leather there and custom stitching here If this turns out to to be our last chance to to experience the pure analog dream that that is the the Porsche 911 GT3 then like that that bottle of Bordeaux you’ve been saving the moment to enjoy it is now SHARPMAGAZINE COM
AUTO
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PORSCHE