A tantalising taste of what the upcoming Porsche 911 GT3 will look like in its next generation has just been released online. This alluring sneak peek highlights one exciting aspect of the new car, the dual clutch gearbox.
There seems no limit to the excitement building around the impending Porsche 911 re-launch. Not only will there soon be a new model to carry the iconic 911 name, but it will also come into being with all the variants such as the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S Coupé and Cabriolet. Now the new GT3 version has seen the light of day. What is even more enticing about this legendary street racer is that it has just been caught on film, most likely trying out its new PDK gearbox, on the Nurburgring.
Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, or PDK, is the unique Porsche double-clutch gearbox which offers seamless gear changes at lightning speed, up to sixty percent faster than an automatic gearbox. It has seven forward gears and combines the driving comfort of a torque converter-equipped automatic gearbox with the dynamic manual gear change functionality of a sequential racing gearbox. It can also function entirely as an automatic gear box. With such intuitive and adaptive gear-change programmes, both acceleration and fuel consumption are improved.
In engineering terms, PDK means that there is a conventional manual gearbox and a hydraulic control system, with two clutches, each operating a set of odd or even gears. The gear change felt by the driver comes not from a physical gear change but from one of the clutches engaging as the other disengages. This means faster gear change and better performance as the gears are already enmeshed at gear change and the power of the engine remain uninterrupted through the process.
This alone is enough to get moving, but packed into the GT3, the combination should be awesome. A three-pedal manual was what engaged the previous GT3, and the new GT3 may have a PDK and manual options available. The new car will also be anything up to 200 lbs lighter and carry a 480 hp 3.8 litre flat six engine.
To see what all the excitement is about, our Porsche 911 Carrera S with PDK provides an illustration of what it feels like to drive with this gearbox. The arctic-white car exemplifies the precision with which PDK takes performance to the next level. When combined with other features of the car such as Sports Chrono Package Plus you have the opportunity to feel the electrifying acceleration. A time of 0-62mph is achieved in just 4.1 seconds. A self-drive hire experience is flavoured with the enthusiastic use of PASM Sports suspension and the Sports Exhaust System. There really is no need to wait until next year for the new 911 GT3 with the Porsche 911 Carrera S available now.
Experience the excitement yourself by hiring our Porsche 911 Carrera S on self-drive hire. We also offer a range of Porsche’s such as the Porsche 911 Turbo 997 and also our brand new Porsche Boxster S! To quote, simply call us on 0845 370 2222 or email us at sales@signaturecarhire.co.uk.
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