Porsche continues to prove that it’s a master
creator of niches with yet another new edition of their 911 based on the GT3,
the Touring Package (TP). It borrows its name from an equipment variant of the
911 Carrera RS from 1973.
Available exclusively with a 6-speed manual gearbox,
the new 911 GT3 Touring Package follows close on the heels of the similarly
fashioned 911 R. However, unlike the latter that was limited to just 991 units
resulting in outrageous prices in the used car market this one will be produced
as a regular model.
While maintaining the same naturally aspirated
4.0-liter flat six with 500 PS and 460 Nm as the original
911 GT3 that results in a 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 sec and a top speed of
316 km/h or 3 mph less than the standard car, the TP is less extreme
offering more equipment for the same price.
On the outside, it loses the recently facelifted
GT3’s jumbo-sized rear wing gaining a more understated look with the regular
911 Carrera’s automatically deploying spoiler. Other unique features include
the silver-colored side window strips, sports exhaust system tailpipes and
headlight washer system covers, as well as the Porsche logo at the rear. In the
“Black Exterior Touring Package” equipment option, these elements are in black,
as with the 911 GT3. Finally, the front and rear lights are dark-tinted.
The interior gets a few upgrades as well thanks to
Porsche swapping out most Alcantara surfaces for fine leather that now covers
the steering wheel, gearlever, door panels and lower center console. The seat
centers are now made of black fabric while the headrests feature embossed
Porsche crests and all seams in the partial leather interior are sewn in black
thread. Another special touch to the interior is the trim in black aluminum.
While Porsche usually ends up charging you more
whenever it removes stuff from its cars or upgrades their equipment, that’s not
the case here as the new Touring Package has the exact same price as the
standard GT3 at US$ 143,600 in the U.S. before destination or EUR 152,416 in
Germany.