the greatest 911 ever?

The evidence weighs heavily in favor of "oh,yeah." as vincent vega would say, though,"that's a bold statement."

strap in as we substantiate our claim.

body by ginsu

Is that a sly smile between the headlamps?the new 997-based GT3 looks like it knowssomething you don't-and unless you havea Ph.d. in sodium-filled exhaust valves,asymmetric-locking differentials, and intakemanifoldresonance flaps, it does.

Now look again: that's the grin of a killerwhale. and after all, with a box kite nailedto its rear end and a front air dam as low asthe average iQ on "the real housewivesof orange County," the GT3 is clearly noordinary 911. add in the less-obvious stuff,including bending rigidity improved by 40percent over the 996-based car, and youhave a physique bred for slicing sir isaacnewton's silly little laws to shreds.

One could argue that the bodywork ismore fitting for a race machine (you're onto something; see sidebar), that the wingsand slots clutter the 911's timeless lines. theacademic in you, however, will appreciatethat the various surfaces produce aerodynamicdownforce front and rear (even atlow speeds) yet the overall drag coefficient is just 0.29. besides, after four decades thaticonic Porsche profile is getting awfullyfamiliar. the GT3's dress-up adds somewelcome spice. you should see one of thesethings in speed yellow.

Engine by thor

The GT3's 3.6-liter flat-six makes 415 horsepower.in case you don't have your abacushandy, that's 115.3 horsepower per liter-higher specific output than the ferrari f430.no turbos, no nitrous-oxide canisters, nodrop-off solid-rocket boosters. Just 8400 rpmof shattering, naturally aspirated head-rush.lightweight components (pistons, rods, crank)help keep the six from pulling a supernovaat the redline, special heat-resistant lightalloyheads and those sodium-filled valvesenable it to survive the 8000-rpm furnace,a dry sump maintains oil circulation even in the maelstrom, and infinitely variable intakecams and a variable intake manifold (thoseresonance flaps) ensure that the torque curveis as fat as a Churchill cigar.

Not even the vaunted turbo, whichmakes an additional 65 horsepower, hasthis engine's rifle-shot responsiveness andangry-cat ferocity. is the GT3 powered bygasoline-or lightning?

Chassis by Cinnabon

The GT3 apparently sports one of thosefamiliar airport cinnamon buns in eachwheelwell. at least, it feels that sticky thefirst time you hurl it into a corner. Credit aracebred suspension that, like the old GT3's,is a feast for tinkerers: the front anti-roll bars are adjustable to any of five positions, therears are good for three, and you can tilt thewheels through six degrees of camber. newis Porsche active suspension Management(PasM), whose computer-controlled dampersoffer driver-selectable standard and sport modes. wheels have grown to 19-inchers allaround (in back they're also an inch widerthan before) wearing brilliant Michelin Pilotsport Cup tires-which are about as closeas you can legally get to street-legal racingslicks. be warned: though the GT3 features anew traction Control system borrowed fromthe Carrera gt exoticar, with the shallowtreadCup tires you'll only want to drivein the rain if you're auditioning for the iceCapades.

PerforManCe by six flags

Is this a car, or an astronaut-training device?launched from a standstill, the GT3 screamsto 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds and duststhe quarter mile in 12.1 at 117.8 mph. top speed is a claimed 193 mph. yes, we arehaving fun yet.

Staggering as the GT3's straight-linespeed is, though, that's nothing comparedwith what it can do elsewhere on the frictioncircle. rip the GT3 into a corner and…excuseus a moment. our sunglasses just flew outthe passenger window and landed in omaha.Maximum skidpad grip is a staggering 1.02g-race-car stuff. by the time you exit theturn, your face looks like a Picasso. you willnever, ever be able to approach the limit ona public road (if you're the type to try, wehave a few skyscrapers in Chicago we'd liketo sell you). the GT3 has handling reservesas deep as the Marianas trench-which isto say, on a twisty road it'll carry you alongquicker than you've ever gone without oncefeeling unsettled. you'll swear the speedois 20 mph off.

Our test car also had the optional carbontongue-launchers-er, that is, the optionalcarbon-ceramic brakes (a mere $8840). incombination with the Michelin gumballs,these brutes haul the GT3 to a dead stopfrom 60 mph in a near record-setting 99feet (is that teeth marks there on the steeringwheel?). unlike the light-switch feel of manyother racelike binders, the GT3's vented discsdeliver excellent feel and modulation, even when cold, with perfect pedal placement forheel-and-toe downshifts.

Elegance by tiffany

With extreme performance usually comeextreme compromises. not so this fiery 911.the overall mood is confident, suave, refined.the engine sounds like a standard 911's-atleast until your right foot crushes the pedal,whereupon the exhaust butterflies open andthe sound explodes into thx surround. thefirm chassis doesn't beat you up, absorbingroad irregularities as if the shocks wereworking in syrup and never steppingout of line. the variable-ratio steering issimply brilliant, heavy but full of life andalways keeping your fingertips apprised ofcornering loads. the seats apparently arecapable of performing body magnetism,such is the security of their embrace. noquibbles at all? well, yes, sometimes the sixspeedshifter could be tricky to slot betweensecond and third. sometimes.
The previous GT3 endeavored to combinerace-car brio with road-car liveability, butthis new GT3 has truly achieved that unlikelymarriage. Performance has improved rightalong with road manners. you could drivethe GT3 every day in complete comfort(watch your left calf muscle slowly grow afterregular workouts with the bowflex clutchpedal). the GT3 even delivers remarkablyreasonable fuel economy (17 mpg city and24 mpg highway).

The only serious obstacle to 911 blissis at the sales desk, where the GT3 startsat just under $107,000 and climbs quicklywith options (including $3070 for thenavigation computer, $1090 for the bi-xenonheadlights, and $690 for the chrono-clockpackage).

But here's what you tell your accountant:the GT3 isn't simply another new Porsche.it's the #1 of 911s.