2013 PORSCHE 911 GT3 change time

The new 911 GT3 I 11
For the first time, 7­speed Porsche Dop ­
pelkupplung (PDK) is fit ted as standard,
with short ratios designed exclusively for
the 911 GT3. The shift throws of the
gearshift paddles on the steering wheel
are even shorter and gear changes are
even more dynamic so as to provide
even better acceleration.
The rear of the new 911 GT3 is 44 mm
wider than that of the previous model. In
addition, the track at the rear axle has
been widened by 31 mm, which improves
lateral dynamics. The addition of 100 mm
to the wheelbase has significantly
increased driving stabilit y. Fit ted as
standard, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PT V Plus) helps to ensure even greater
stability when cornering, while rear
­axle
steering provides extraordinar y agilit y
and more dynamic overtaking manoeu ­
vres on the racetrack.
The new 911 GT3 explores the lower
limit in terms of fuel consumption
thanks to intelligent technologies such
as PDK, DFI and a low vehicle weight.
All in all, the new 911 GT3 is a precision
instrument, giving you everything you
could need to push your own boundaries.
Indeed, part of the brief for our engineers
was to build a manageable sports car
that feels at home on the racetrack, yet can be taken to brand new sport y
destinations by drivers who aren’t able

to tackle the Northern Loop of the
Nürburgring day in day out.
The new 911 GT3 preserves tradition for
the future – a principle that the 911 has
embodied for 50 years. It aims to push
the boundaries of what is possible, on
each new day.
For fuel consumption, CO
2 emissions and efficiency class, please refer to page 91.

Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK).
It ’s the year 1984. Porsche unveils the
962 and a turbocharged flat­six engine
capable of producing 500 kW (680 hp).
It ’s a racing car intended to push through
existing limits and write its own motor ­
sport histor y.
Now ­legendar y victories were to follow
in Le Mans 1986 and 1987, introducing
Derek Bell, Hans ­Joachim Stuck and
Al Holbert in a C version of the 962.
A secret of its success was the double ­
clutch transmission that Porsche had
Motorsport history can be written in 60 years.
Or in milliseconds.
been continually refining since the 1960s.
In the Porsche 962C, it enabled extreme ­
ly fast gear changes, shaving off seconds
in motorsport and minutes in the 24 ­hour
race.
The subsequent transfer from the race ­
track to series production was equally
successful. Today, Porsche Doppel­
kupplung (PDK) is set ting standards on
the road, with gear changes that take
place in milliseconds and with no inter ­
ruption in the flow of power to provide
faster acceleration and low fuel con­
sumption. And yet our engineers still were not

satisfied – at least, not with the develop ­
ment of the new 911 GT3. So they
pushed the limits once again. Their goal
was to produce a transmission with gear
ratios specific to the 911 GT3 and with
a 50 % reduction in shift throw on the
even crisper and more dynamic gearshift
paddles. The result was a PDK perfectly
tuned to match the 3.8 ­litre engine. This
is the first time that it has been fit ted in
a 911 GT3, and it comes as standard. Goal achieved. Racing feel included,

with seven performance ­oriented gears
where even 7th gear has a sports ratio
engineered for maximum speed. Manual
operation of the 911 GT3 ­specific gear
selector is based on the established
motorsport principle: back to shift up,
forward to shift down.
Thrust I 25

Thrust I 27
This is how it works. PDK is essentially
t wo gearboxes in one and thus requires
t wo clutches. This double clutch
arrangement provides an alternating,
non­positive connection between the
t wo half gearboxes and the engine by
means of t wo separate input shafts.
During a gear change, therefore,
one clutch simply opens and the other
closes at the same time, enabling
gear changes to take place within
milliseconds. Highly responsive and especially sport y – just as you would
expect of the 911
GT3.
That in itself has consequences, not least
for acceleration, for overall performance
and for fuel economy. Positive conse ­
quences in fact. Driving feels even more
dynamic and agilit y is increased.
What about the gear changes them ­
selves? You’ll feel them and you’ll hear
them. Just like before, or indeed more
than ever. The electronic gearbox control logic of the Intelligent Shift Program (ISP)
offers more immediate and faster traction
­
induced upshifts and throttle ­blip down ­
shifts on overrun. In PDK SPORT mode,
downshifts under braking are more
aggressive while, under acceleration, the
shift points are raised even further. So
changing up a gear becomes a physical
experience – and an emotive one.
Shift fast without a moment ’s hesitation.
Just like the professionals.
For fuel consumption, CO
2 emissions and efficiency class, please refer to page 91.