Limited Edition Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport Is A 700-HP Track Weapon

Turns out Porsche had a surprise to share in LA after unveiling the new 911.

After presenting the all-new 911 to the world, the Porsche 911 GT2 RSClubsport has made its surprise debut at the LA Auto Show, a new limited-edition track-only version of the already-hardcore sports car.

Limited to just 200 examples, the race-ready 911 GT2 RS is designed to compete in clubsport events and selected motorsport meets. “For the upcoming years, our customers will not only race the GT2 RS Clubsport on track days but also at international motor racing events. We are currently holding very productive talks with the race organiser SRO,” said Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President Motorsport and GT Cars.

Like the Le Mans-inspired 935 racer revealed a few months ago, the Clubsport retains the road-going GT2 RS’s rear-mounted 3.8-liter flat-six twin-turbo that sends 700 horsepower to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. According to Porsche, positioning the engine behind the rear axle ensures excellent traction and braking performance. Six-piston aluminium monobloc racing callipers have been fitted to the front axle combined with 15.3-inch diameter steel brake discs, while the rear axle is fitted with four-piston callipers and 14.9-inch discs.

Weighing in at 3,064 pounds, the Clubsport version is equipped with Porsche Stability Management including traction control as well as an anti-lock braking system. These assists can be adjusted separately or switched off completely, depending on the driving situation. The carbon steering wheel and the color display behind it have been taken from the 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 R model. Inside, there’s also a massive safety cage, a Recaro racing bucket seat, a six-point safety harness, and air conditioning.

To reduce weight, Porsche has added a CFRP roof with a removable escape hatch, lightweight CFRP hood with quick release, removable CFRP rear hood with quick release, 115-liter FT3 safety fuel cell (refuelling through the front hood). There’s also a massive rear wing providing copious amounts of downforce, as you would expect to see on a track-only Porsche.

The Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport will set you back €405,000 ($457,000), with deliveries starting in May 2019.

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Porsche Mission E Will Destroy The Tesla Model S At The Track

The Tesla may dominate at the drag strip, but the Porsche will own lap times.

As development continues on the upcoming production version of the all-electric Porsche Mission E concept, we know this so far: there are separate motors for the front and rear axles, and there’ll be a combined output of over 600 hp, 0-60 mph time of less than 3.5 seconds and the sprint to 124 mph will be in under 12 seconds. Do a quick comparison and you’ll see the Tesla Model S is faster in a straight line, meaning a drag race. On track, however, it’s a different story.

Car and Driver spoke with Joachim Kramer, Porsche’s director of power electronic for the Mission E, who not only confirmed the Mission E is being developed for optimal track day performance, but also that “The quick-charge cooling demand on the system is not higher than the demand when we go on a racetrack. That’s our development goal: to perform on the Nurburgring and other racetracks.” This will specifically be made possible thanks in part to a single liquid-cooling system designed regulate control and regulate temperatures. For example, the battery itself will not exceed 185 degrees Fahrenheit, but the motor itself will work just fine at far higher temperatures.

Even the air-conditioning compressor plays a part in regulating and cooling the systems during fast driving and even fast charging. In other words, Porsche understands that waiting several minutes for the battery to cool off in between track runs won’t be acceptable for many buyers. What’s the point of a track day if one is constantly being interrupted by their EV’s battery needing some cool off time? Porsche has clearly done its homework and this technological advancement will serve it well especially once its Formula E racing team gets into action next year.

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Amazing Track Cars Transformed From The Street

These are ten of the best street-turned-track cars on the market.

There’s something about track-ready versions of road-going cars that makes us tingle with excitement; the notion that when you see one destroying lap records anywhere in the world, there’s the potential for you to drive a piece of that DNA at a discount price. Not to mention the fact that track-specials are where engineers let their hair down a little and show us what a car is really capable of, without the shackles of the financial department telling them to cut costs. It would’ve been all too easy to go and find race cars that utilize road-going cars as their base from which to start, but we wanted to keep this list to those cars which can be bought track ready by the public.

McLaren P1 GTR

As one-third of the hypercar holy trinity, the McLaren P1 needs no introduction. The P1 GTR is what happens when McLaren’s mad scientists are unshackled, and the result is a track only McLaren P1 with power upped from 903 horsepower to 986 hp. In addition to more power, the P1 GTR gets slick tires, fixed ride height race suspension, a new exhaust, and of course a massive fixed rear wing capable of using F1-inspired DRS. The P1 GTR isn’t even road-legal, though if you’re fortunate enough to own one, Lanzante – the same Lanzante involved in the McLaren F1’s Le Mans win – will convert it and register it as a road-legal vehicle for you, for a price.

Ferrari FXX-K Evo

Much like the McLaren P1 GTR, the Ferrari FXX-K is the track-only version of Ferrari’s range-topping LaFerrari hypercar. The latest in a line of FXX track-only derivatives, you have to be invited to purchase one, and when you wish to use it on track, a team of Ferrari engineers is available to come and tailor the setup of the FXX-K for whichever track you’re at. The FXX-K produces 1036 hp from its V12 engine and electric motor combination, up from 950 hp in standard road-going trim. But the FXX-K Evo is the most hardcore of all – offering an even more aerodynamic body kit allowing 23% more downforce than the standard FXX-K, and an astonishing 75% more than the road-going LaFerrari, along with a 198-lb reduction in weight.

BMW M4 GTS

Roll-cage, check. Massive spoiler, check. Carbon fiber front splitter, check. Who doesn’t love a road-going car that looks straight out of DTM? Well, that’s pretty much what the BMW M4 GTS is, designed to be the most potent BMW M4 for track use, that’s also legal on the road. In addition to the over-the-top bodywork, the interior has been stripped out, and the roll-cage has been added as standard. Revised suspension and upgraded brakes are standard too, but what’s really special about the M4 GTS is the tweak to the engine. To get the twin-turbo inline-six from 425 hp to 493 hp, the M4 GTS boasts water injection that cools down the combustion chamber, prevents knock, and enables a cleaner burn of fuel for more power. The M4 GTS has Nurburgring credo too, lapping the Nordschleife in 7 minutes 28 seconds.

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

We could’ve opted to stick the 500-hp 911 GT3 RS on here, conqueror of hearts and racetracks alike as the purists 911. Instead, we’ve chosen the 911 GT2 RS, not just because it packs a walloping 690 hp from its twin-turbo flat-six, but because the GT2 RS actually has more heritage as far as Porsche goes. The GT3 nameplate first surfaced in 1999, but the GT2 badge was first seen back in 1993 when it adorned the 993-generation 911 and developed 444 hp. But in its latest incarnation, 690 hp and rear-wheel drive are what it gets, along with a magnesium roof, and extensive use of carbon fiber to reduce weight, making it the most insane Porsche this side of the 919 Evo. The fact that until recently it was king of the Nurburgring just adds further weight behind its inclusion here.

Bentley Continental GT3-R

Though Bentleys may ooze class, they’ve done their stint in motorsport throughout the years. So while it may have seemed out of place for the brand’s market placement, the Continental GT3-R released in 2014 has some roots within the Bentley brand. The big luxury GT car was given a big upgrade to make it a proper performance machine. Starting from a base of a V8 S Coupe, engineers stripped 220 pounds of weight, including the rear seats, increased engine outputs to 572 hp, added torque vectoring to the rear wheels, shorter gearing, upgraded brakes and suspension, a new exhaust, and recalibrated programming on all the ESP systems. It also got sports seats, carbon fiber door casings, and a host of exterior upgrades to make the gentleman’s cruiser look a little more boy-racer.

Shelby Mustang GT350R

The Shelby Mustang GT350R doesn’t need much of an introduction, does it? It’s the most hardcore Mustang you can buy, packing a 5.2-liter flat-plane crank V8 engine outputting an unchanged 526 hp from the standard GT350. But items like air conditioning, stereo, the trunk floorboard, rear seats, carpeting, and the reverse camera have all been removed, and a large splitter and rear wing improve downforce. The GT350R sheds 130 pounds, partially due to carbon fiber wheels, and handling has further been improved over the already impressive GT350 by the addition of a Torsen limited-slip differential with a 3:73 axle ratio. Until such time as they GT500 arrives, the GT350R is the most hardcore track Stang you can get.

Mercedes-AMG GT-R

Who would’ve though Mercedes-AMG would try and build a 911 rival… and succeed? Though the Mercedes-AMG GT is a little more hammer than a scalpel in the way it does things, it’s an exceptional sports car. But at the top of the AMG GT ladder – for now at least – the AMG GT R is for Mercedes what the 911 GT3 is for Porsche; the enthusiasts track-car. Nicknamed ‘The Beast of the Green Hell’, it makes use of the same ‘hot-vee’ twin-turbo 4-liter V8 but turns the power up to 577 hp. In addition, the GT R features rear-wheel steering, upgraded aerodynamics, vastly overhauled suspension, a fixed rear wing, less weight, and a 9-mode AMG traction control system.

Dodge Viper ACR

Those fancy European carmakers can try all the tricks they want, but when it comes to smashing lap records just about anywhere, the Dodge Viper ACR is the car you want to be driving. From its 8.4-liter V10, it generates 645 horsepower, though the ACR is more than just brute force. With an addendum of race-inspired extras, such as the ginormous fixed rear wing and huge front splitter, handling is the focus here. The Viper ACR set the record as the fastest ever road car around Laguna Seca with a lap time of 1:28.65, more than a second quicker than the Porsche 918 Spyder – if that’s not impressive, we don’t know what is.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Based on the Corvette Z06, the ZR1 takes the track day fun and turns the dial up to where numbers are no longer written. The C7 ZR1 features an all-new 6.2-liter pushrod LT5 V8 engine equipped with a 2.6-liter Eaton supercharger that develops 755 hp. Of course, that much power generates a lot of heat, so enhanced cooling is a must, and the ZR1 has an extra four radiators, bringing the total number to 13 to keep things cool. But more than just power, the ZR1 has been developed alongside Pratt & Miller’s Corvette racing team, with the aerodynamic package taking heavy influence from motorsports to achieve maximum performance. The giant fixed rear wing is most noticeable, but it can be made even bigger with an optional ZTK Performance Package that generates an additional 60% more downforce over a regular Z06 with the Z07 package. Larger tires, carbon ceramic brakes, double-wishbone suspension, and magnetic ride control are all standard to help make the ZR1 the most lethal track weapon around.

Ferrari 488 Pista

What’s a mid-engined Ferrari without a super track version to see out the end of production? Think of the 488 Pista as the turbocharged equivalent of royalty such as the F430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale. Based on the 488 GTB, Ferrari engineers worked closely with the GTE race engineers to improve things. Borrowing the camshaft, intercooler, strengthened pistons, titanium con-rods, and Inconel exhaust manifolds from the 488 Challenge racecar, Ferrari was able to increase power from the 3.9-liter twin-turob V8 from 661 hp to 710 hp. The dual-clutch gearbox also shifts quicker, and the body has been heavily revised for increased downforce without the use of messy large spoilers. It generates 20% more downforce than the 488 GTB upon which it’s based, and is 200 lbs lighter. Signing off on its track credentials, ‘Pista’ is Italian for 'track', and is a nod to the Pista di Fiorano where all Ferraris are developed.

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Even If It's Not The Best Track Car, The Mercedes AMG GT Reigns King

The Jaguar F-Type SVR can't beat it, and it's even accomplished its goal of toppling the Porsche 911.

Car lovers come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and personality types, which is why automakers like to loan press cars out to a variety of outlets, whether they mainly cover cars or not, so that a broader audience can be reached. If you're reading this now, chances are you enjoy the Chris Harris type reviews that involve a lot of tire smoke, insider references, and quick driving in fast cars. However, that leaves an entirely different breed of enthusiast out of the picture.

In this case, Bloomberg, better known for helping its readers digest the latest financial news, gets behind the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG GT S, Jaguar F-Type SVR, and Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet to cater to the type of person who won't be seeing any track days. Hanna Elliot (props on there being female automotive journalists somewhere on Earth) gives us her report.

The verdict? Well, just what you’d expect. The Mercedes comes out on top for being the most well-rounded of the group. Though the emphasis is on luxury, it appears that Jaguar sent over the stripped out and souped-up F-Type SVR. Being based on a British grand tourer, it's luxurious, but it's also more at home on a track than on the back alleys of Los Angeles. On the other hand, Porsche knows quite a bit about making prime performance cars that stave off mid-life crisis, but the focused 911 can sometimes lack in the luxury department. Mercedes takes the cake here for offering the best of both worlds and a side serving of stunning looks.

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Porsche 935 Racer Returns As GT2 RS-Based Track Weapon

Only 77 will be produced, each costing over $800,000.

Porsche has unveiled a surprise new race car at the Rennsport Reunion motorsport event at Laguna Seca Raceway. Inspired by the legendary 935/78 Le Mans racer nicknamed “Moby Dick” due to its elongated shape, massive fairings and white base colour, the Porsche 935 is a new limited edition clubsport track car based on the GT2 RS road car.

“This spectacular car is a birthday present from Porsche Motorsport to fans all over the world,” said Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President Motorsport and GT Cars. “Because the car isn’t homologated, engineers and designers didn’t have to follow the usual rules and thus had freedom in the development.”

Like the 935/78, the body is mostly constructed out of lightweight carbon-fiber composite parts. Several of its components were also designed as a tribute to other competition-winning Porsche race cars. The LED lights have been adopted from the 919 Hybrid LMP1, while the side mirrors are taken from the 911 RSR and the titanium tailpipes echo those on the 1968 Porsche 908. The aerodynamically optimized wheels also mimic those on the 935/78.

These race car references have also been carried over to the cockpit. The knob on the gearshift lever has a laminated wood design reminiscent of racers such as the 917, the 909 Bergspyder and the Carrera GT super sports car, while the carbon steering wheel and the color display behind it have been taken from the 2019 911 GT3 R. The car has also been fitted with a safety cage, racing bucket seat, a six-point harness, and air conditioning. A second seat for the passenger is available as an optional extra.

Being based on the GT2 RS, the Porsche 935 is powered by a twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six engine that produces 690 hp and is mated to a seven-speed PDK transmission. Porsche hasn’t released any performance specifications but confirmed the 935 weighs 3,042 lbs and features a high-performance braking system with six-piston aluminum monobloc racing calipers up front. Like the road-going GT2 RS, the 935 also has Porsche Stability Management, traction control and an anti-lock braking system. These assists can be adjusted separately or switched off completely depending on the driving situation.

Production of the Porsche 935 will be limited to 77 examples. Prices start at €701,948 ($816,840) excluding VAT Europe, with US pricing to be announced at a later date. In the US, GT2 RS-based race car will be imported and sold by Porsche Motorsport North America. Customer deliveries will begin in June 2019.

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Can't Afford The McLaren 600LT? Here Are Some Cheaper Track Weapons

Remember that "cheaper" doesn't mean "cheap."

McLaren has just revealed the fourth car in a line of Longtail variants. It's called the 600LT, and it is a lighter, more track-focused version of the already quick 570S. The 3.8-liter V8 delivers 592 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque, and the whole car only weighs 2,749 pounds. McLaren says the 600LT will be a limited production vehicle, with prices starting at $242,152. Assuming you can even buy one at all, that is a large sum of money. Luckily, there are plenty of cheaper track weapons for a lot less.

997 911 GT3 RS ($160-$200,000)

McLaren's $242,000 price tag assumes that you are well connected enough to secure one of these limited edition cars. Instead of fighting to get on the ordering list, why not just buy a used Porsche 911 GT3 RS? The most recent 991 generation GT3 RS can now be found for less than $200,000, but hasn't depreciated below its original MSRP. The GT3 RS obviously does a good job avoiding depreciation, so it is likely a safer investment than the McLaren. We would recommend spending between $160,000 to $200,000 for the manual-only 997 generation GT3 RS, which could become a collectible in the future.

Porsche Cayman GT4 ($90-$120,000)

The 991 GT3 RS is a great track car, but some people aren't fans of the 911's rear-engine layout. Porsche finally built a high-performance variant of the mid-engined Cayman, known as the GT4. The GT4 is powered by a 3.8-liter flat-six from a 911, producing 385 hp going out to a six-speed manual transmission. Expect to pay less than $100,000 for a GT4 with minimal options and low mileage. More well-optioned cars with paint-to-sample will command much more.

Lotus Evora 400 ($80-$100,000)

People who buy a McLaren may be in love with the idea of owning a bespoke, British sports car. Luckily, another British sports car company builds a track-focused car for a lot less. Many people forget about the Lotus Evora 400, which produces 400 hp from a 3.5-liter Toyota Camry-derived V6 with a supercharger. Though the engine has humble origins, it is plenty powerful and will be easy to maintain. You can scoop up a practically new Evora 400 for around $80,000 to $100,000.

Gallardo Superleggera ($140-$195,000)

McLaren has made a name for itself in racing and building road cars, but most people still associate supercars with Italy. If you want an Italian track-focused supercar, it's hard to go wrong with the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera. Expect to pay between $140,000 and $195,000 for this 562 hp, V10, mid-engined supercar.

Ferrari 430 Scuderia ($170-$300,000)

Some McLaren models, like the 675LT, managed to increase in value. Still, McLaren has had a hard time controlling the market prices on its used cars - unlike a certain Italian supercar maker. Specialty Ferrari models have been skyrocketing in value lately, which makes the F430 Scuderia such a good value at the moment. You can currently buy a Scuderia from around $170,000 up to over $300,000 for an example with delivery miles.

Dodge Viper ACR ($130-$170,000)

If you don't mind sacrificing a mid-engine layout, as well as the exotic name, the Dodge Viper ACR may be the ideal track car for you. Not only does the Viper's 8.4-liter V10 produce more power than the McLaren (645 hp), the ACR version has enough aero to keep up with almost any car on the track. We expect the ACR to be a future collectible, and prices now range from around $130,000 to $170,000.

Nissan GT-R Nismo ($110-$150,000)

The McLaren is a great track car because it is blisteringly powerful, but also easy to jump in and drive quickly thanks to its amazing software. Before McLaren even started to build road cars again, Nissan made the ultimate tamable sports car, the GT-R. The most powerful GT-R Nismo produces 600 hp from its 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 (more than the McLaren), and can now be found for around $110,000 to $150,000.

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Can't Afford The McLaren 600LT? Here Are Some Cheaper Track Weapons

Remember that "cheaper" doesn't mean "cheap."

McLaren has just revealed the fourth car in a line of Longtail variants. It's called the 600LT, and it is a lighter, more track-focused version of the already quick 570S. The 3.8-liter V8 delivers 592 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque, and the whole car only weighs 2,749 pounds. McLaren says the 600LT will be a limited production vehicle, with prices starting at $242,152. Assuming you can even buy one at all, that is a large sum of money. Luckily, there are plenty of cheaper track weapons for a lot less.

997 911 GT3 RS ($160-$200,000)

McLaren's $242,000 price tag assumes that you are well connected enough to secure one of these limited edition cars. Instead of fighting to get on the ordering list, why not just buy a used Porsche 911 GT3 RS? The most recent 991 generation GT3 RS can now be found for less than $200,000, but hasn't depreciated below its original MSRP. The GT3 RS obviously does a good job avoiding depreciation, so it is likely a safer investment than the McLaren. We would recommend spending between $160,000 to $200,000 for the manual-only 997 generation GT3 RS, which could become a collectible in the future.

Porsche Cayman GT4 ($90-$120,000)

The 991 GT3 RS is a great track car, but some people aren't fans of the 911's rear-engine layout. Porsche finally built a high-performance variant of the mid-engined Cayman, known as the GT4. The GT4 is powered by a 3.8-liter flat-six from a 911, producing 385 hp going out to a six-speed manual transmission. Expect to pay less than $100,000 for a GT4 with minimal options and low mileage. More well-optioned cars with paint-to-sample will command much more.

Lotus Evora 400 ($80-$100,000)

People who buy a McLaren may be in love with the idea of owning a bespoke, British sports car. Luckily, another British sports car company builds a track-focused car for a lot less. Many people forget about the Lotus Evora 400, which produces 400 hp from a 3.5-liter Toyota Camry-derived V6 with a supercharger. Though the engine has humble origins, it is plenty powerful and will be easy to maintain. You can scoop up a practically new Evora 400 for around $80,000 to $100,000.

Gallardo Superleggera ($140-$195,000)

McLaren has made a name for itself in racing and building road cars, but most people still associate supercars with Italy. If you want an Italian track-focused supercar, it's hard to go wrong with the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera. Expect to pay between $140,000 and $195,000 for this 562 hp, V10, mid-engined supercar.

Ferrari 430 Scuderia ($170-$300,000)

Some McLaren models, like the 675LT, managed to increase in value. Still, McLaren has had a hard time controlling the market prices on its used cars - unlike a certain Italian supercar maker. Specialty Ferrari models have been skyrocketing in value lately, which makes the F430 Scuderia such a good value at the moment. You can currently buy a Scuderia from around $170,000 up to over $300,000 for an example with delivery miles.

Dodge Viper ACR ($130-$170,000)

If you don't mind sacrificing a mid-engine layout, as well as the exotic name, the Dodge Viper ACR may be the ideal track car for you. Not only does the Viper's 8.4-liter V10 produce more power than the McLaren (645 hp), the ACR version has enough aero to keep up with almost any car on the track. We expect the ACR to be a future collectible, and prices now range from around $130,000 to $170,000.

Nissan GT-R Nismo ($110-$150,000)

The McLaren is a great track car because it is blisteringly powerful, but also easy to jump in and drive quickly thanks to its amazing software. Before McLaren even started to build road cars again, Nissan made the ultimate tamable sports car, the GT-R. The most powerful GT-R Nismo produces 600 hp from its 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 (more than the McLaren), and can now be found for around $110,000 to $150,000.

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This Porsche 911 GT3 RS Driving On An Ice-Covered Race Track Is Magical

Kick back for six minutes. You'll want to head to Finland afterwards.

We’ve all been told rear-wheel drive sports cars are terrible on snow-covered and icy words. Typically that’s true. At the very least you really ought to opt for a set of winter tires. To play it safe, maybe it’d just be best to garage your RWD exotic for the winter. But that’d be boring. Porsche understands this, and it wanted to prove just how capable RWD can be (with an experienced driver, of course) in some grueling wintry track conditions. So it loaded up a brand new 911 GT3 RS into a plane and headed to Finland where it was let loose on an ice-covered circuit.

A film crew was also part of the shipment and some truly mesmerizing footage was captured, which has been edited down to six minutes of winter and Porsche magic in this video. The scenery is obviously stunning and having the lime green 2018 911 GT3 RS slice its way what would normally be an off-limits track makes the setting all the more special.

With its recently upgraded naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six churning out 520 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque, the updated 911 GT3 RS also features front brake cooling and new ball joints inspired by the GT2 RS. A tweaked rear-steering system, undoubtedly great to have in snowy Finnish winters, is another upgrade. Just last week at New York, Porsche showed off the 911 GT3 RS equipped with the Weissach package, which swaps a number of components for carbon fiber versions, resulting in further weight loss. That package costs an extra $18,000 over the 911 GT3 RS’ $187,500 base price.

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