COMPETITORS CURRENT BASE PRICE* dollars x 1000 *Base price includes freight, any performance options, and applicable gas-guzzler tax. GT-R TRACK EDITION VIPER GTS 911 GT3 R8 V-10 PLUS 100 130 160 190 NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS Two electric motors control the toe-control links that steer the rear wheels up to 1.5 degrees. At low speeds, the rear wheels steer in the opposite direction of the fronts to increase the yaw rate. Above 50 mph, the rear wheels steer in the same direction as the fronts for greater high-speed stability. SPECIFICATIONS PRICE AS TESTED ........................................ $142,265 BASE ................................................. $131,350 VEHICLE TYPE: rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe OPTIONS: Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, $9210; Sound Package Plus, $700; Sport Chrono clock, $400; Guards Red seatbelts, $340; telephone module, $265 STANDARD: power windows and locks, remote locking, tilting and telescoping steering wheel AUDIO SYSTEM: CD player; media storage; minijack, USB, and Bluetooth-audio inputs; 7 speakers ENGINE flat-6, aluminum block and heads BORE X STROKE ... 4.02 x 3.05 in, 102.0 x 77.5 mm DISPLACEMENT ................... 232 cu in, 3800 cc COMPRESSION RATIO .............................. 12.9:1 FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM ........... direct injection VALVE GEAR: double overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder, hydraulic lifters, variable intake- and exhaust-valve timing REDLINE/FUEL CUTOFF .......... 9000/9000 rpm POWER .............................. 475 hp @ 8250 rpm TORQUE .......................... 324 lb-ft @ 6250 rpm DRIVETRAIN TRANSMISSION ................... 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with manual shifting mode FINAL-DRIVE RATIO ................ 3.97:1, limited slip EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS WHEELBASE ..................................... 96.5 in LENGTH ........................................... 178.9 in WIDTH ............................................... 72.9 in HEIGHT ............................................ 50.0 in FRONT TRACK ................................... 61.0 in REAR TRACK ..................................... 61.2 in GROUND CLEARANCE .......................... 3.7 in INTERIOR DIMENSIONS SAE VOLUME ................................... 50 cu ft TRUNK ............................. F: 4 cu ft R: 9 cu ft STABILITY CONTROL .............. partially and fully defeatable, launch control WHEELS AND TIRES WHEEL SIZE/CONSTRUCTION ........ F: 9.0 x 20 in R: 12.0 x 20 in/forged aluminum TIRES ........................ Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 F: 245/35ZR-20 (91Y) R: 305/30ZR-20 (103Y) CAR AND DRIVER TEST RESULTS TEST NOTES: We attempted a launch using the “paddle neutral” scheme, but the engine bogs as the clutch slams shut. The real launch- control program manages the clutch and wheelspin judiciously to knock off 0.3 second. Upshifting with the paddles shaves off another tenth. HANDLING ROADHOLDING, 200-FT-DIA SKIDPAD ............... 1.12 g UNDERSTEER ....................... MINIMAL TEST NOTES: The GT3 is absolutely neutral around the skidpad. At the limit, it’s much easier to provoke understeer than it is to break the 305/30 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires loose at the rear. INTERIOR SOUND LEVEL IDLE ........................................... 59 dBA FULL THROTTLE ...................... 94 dBA 70-MPH CRUISING .................... 77 dBA FUEL CAPACITY .................................. 16.9 gal OCTANE .......................... 93 (required) EPA CITY/HWY ....... 16/23 mpg (C/D est) C/D OBSERVED ..................... 17 mpg WEIGHT CURB ............................................ 3197 lb PER HORSEPOWER ...................... 6.7 lb DISTRIBUTION ......... F: 39.3% R: 60.7% TOWING CAPACITY ........................... 0 lb TEST NOTES: Braking performance from the carbon-ceramic setup is nothing short of phenomenal, averaging 1.21 g during the shortest stops. The pedal is firm and easily modulated. BRAKING, 70-TO-ZERO MPH FIRST STOP ................................... 135 ft SHORTEST STOP ...................... 135 ft LONGEST STOP ............................ 139 ft FADE RATING ................................ NONE ACCELERATION ZERO TO SECONDS 30 MPH .............................................. 1.2 40 MPH .............................................. 1.7 50 MPH ............................................. 2.3 60 MPH ....................................... 3.0 70 MPH ............................................. 3.9 80 MPH ............................................. 4.8 90 MPH ............................................. 5.9 100 MPH ....................................... 7.1 110 MPH ...................................................... 8.5 120 MPH ..................................................... 10.1 130 MPH .................................................... 12.0 140 MPH .................................................... 14.3 150 MPH ...................................................... 17.1 ROLLING START, 5–60 MPH .......... 3.9 TOP GEAR, 30–50 MPH ................. 2.2 TOP GEAR, 50–70 MPH .................. 2.1 1/4-MILE ............. 11.2 sec @ 126 mph TOP SPEED (DRAG LTD, MFR’S CLAIM) .............. 195 mph tested by ERIC TINGWALL in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany GEAR RATIO MPH PER MAX SPEED 1000 RPM IN GEAR (rpm) 1 ........ 3.75 ...... 5.3 ............ 48 mph (9000) 2 ........ 2.38 ..... 8.3 ............ 75 mph (9000) 3 ........ 1.72 ....... 11.6 ............ 104 mph (9000) 4 ........ 1.34 ...... 14.8 ........... 133 mph (9000) 5 ........ 1.11 ........ 18.0 ........... 162 mph (9000) 6 ........ 0.96 ..... 21.3 ........... 192 mph (9000) 7 ....... 0.84 ..... 24.0 .......... 195 mph (8100) CHASSIS unit construction BODY MATERIAL: steel and aluminum stampings STEERING rack-and-pinion with variable ratio and variable electric power assist RATIO ................................................ 17.2–13.1:1 TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK ................................ 2.7 TURNING CIRCLE CURB-TO-CURB ........... 36.4 ft SUSPENSION F: ind, strut located by 1 diagonal link and 1 lateral link, coil springs, 2-position cockpit-adjustable electronically controlled shock absorbers, anti- roll bar R: ind; 2 diagonal links, 2 lateral links, and a toe-control link per side; coil springs; 2-position cockpit-adjustable electronically controlled shock absorbers; anti-roll bar BRAKES F: 16.1 x 1.4-in vented, cross-drilled, carbon- ceramic disc R: 15.4 x 1.3-in vented, cross-drilled, carbon- ceramic disc AUDI R8 V-10 PLUS (5.2-LITER V-10, 550 HP, 7-SP AUTO) NISSAN GT-R TRACK EDITION (3.8-LITER V-6, 545 HP, 6-SP AUTO) PORSCHE 911 GT3 (3.8-LITER FLAT-SIX, 475 HP, 7-SP AUTO) SRT VIPER GTS (8.4-LITER V-10, 640 HP, 6-SP MAN) PORSCHE 911 GT3 ACCELERATION 0–60 & 1/4-mile, seconds GT-R TRACK EDITION 911 GT3 R8 V-10 PLUS VIPER GTS 2.8 3.0 3.2 11.2 11.4 11.6 ROADHOLDING 200- or 300-foot skidpad, g 911 GT3 GT-R TRACK EDITION VIPER GTS R8 V-10 PLUS 0.95 1.00 1.05 1.10 1.15 70–0 BRAKING feet 911 GT3 GT-R TRACK EDITION VIPER GTS R8 V-10 PLUS 130 135 140 145 150