Porsche Builds A 911 for the Purist

Porsche revealed the 911 R this week at the Geneva Motor Show. R has a very special meaning at the German sports car builder as it designated a 911 that was built for rallying, road racing, and attempting speed records back in the sixties. This new 911 R sort of follows in the footsteps of those iconic vehicles.

Porsche did a lot to make the R lighter than a 911 GT3 RS such as carbon fiber being used for the front fenders and luggage compartment; magnesium for the roof, and front and side "glass." The total curb weight for the 911 R is 3,021 pounds, about 110 pounds lighter than the GT3 RS.

Power comes from the same 4.0L flat-six engine found in the 911 GT3 RS producing 500 horsepower and 338 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a six-speed manual, the 911 R reaches 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 200 mph.

Porsche also did some work to the 911 R's chassis to make it a joy in the corners. The rear-axle steering system has been tweaked to provide precise handling and improved stability. Larger ceramic composite brakes help bring the 911 R to a stop, and a set of 20-inch wheels feature center-locking hubs.

The 911 R's exterior comes with red or green racing stripes as standard (you can delete them if you think its a bit much), a pop-up rear wing, and a rear diffuser. Inside are a set of bucket seats with houndstooth fabric and carbon fiber backsides. The steering wheel is a specific one for the R model.

Porsche will only be building 991 examples of the 911 R and each one will cost $185,950.