Gunther Werks returned to Monterey to show their new and even more extreme offering: the Project Tornado. The model that was showcased at The Quail is a heavily “remastered” Porsche 993 Turbo with an ultra-wide carbon-fiber body, a bespoke interior, and a tuned twin-turbo engine producing up to 700 hp. Starting with the exterior, every single body panel of the Project Tornado with the exception of the doors is made of carbon fiber. This makes the body 227 kg lighter than the original, resulting in a low overall weight of 1,225 kg. Besides weight-saving, the redesigned bodywork vastly improves cooling while increasing downforce.
Styling-wise, the Project Tornado looks
like a modernized version of a 993 Turbo, with elements from Porsche GT cars
and racecars. The new front bumper has larger intakes and a splitter, leading
the air to the vented bonnet. The wide front fenders have integrated openings,
with the new side sills leading to the even wider rear fenders with large
intakes. The lightweight wheels have a diameter of 18 inches and combine carbon
fiber barrels with magnesium centers.
The double-bubble roof is another
motorsport-derived touch, but the most striking view is definitely the rear
end. The highlight is the massive whale-tail rear wing with functional cooling
vents, but there are also a new rear bumper with huge openings, a large
diffuser, and high-mounted dual exhaust pipes 3d-printed from Inconel or
titanium, reminiscent of the Carrera GT. Of course, Gunther Werks added the
bespoke LED taillights which are also used in their 993 Speedster and Coupe
models. Inside, everything is covered in carbon fiber or Alcantara, with
contrasting body-colored accents. The brand-new carbon fiber bucket seats offer
maximum support with the cushions being tailored to the owner’s body shape. The
steering wheel is also made of carbon fiber while the center console has a
magnetic tablet mount offering wireless charging.
The rear-mounted air-cooled twin-turbo
4.0-liter flat-six engine was built by Rothsport Racing, with a
motorsports-derived flat fan (like in Le Mans racecars), liquid charged
cooling, and a Motec engine management system. This increases power output to a
healthy 600 hp in standard form, or up to 700 hp in track mode, while the torque is more than 759 Nm. The
engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission sending power to the rear
axle, with Gunther Werks promising huge amounts of mechanical grip. The chassis
is tuned with modern standards, using a sophisticated active suspension system
and Brembo CCMR brakes. Overall, the model is expected to be quite fast in
Laguna Seca where it will be tested soon, most likely challenging the lap times
set by the Porsche 918 Spyder and the McLaren P1.
Besides the pictured example, the company
will also offer a touring package for those who intend on using the Project
Tornado on the road instead of the track. This one will feature a smaller
ducktail rear spoiler, more comfortable carbon-fiber seats, a more practical
carbon fiber trunk, and a different engine tune. Gunther Werks didn’t specify
the production numbers, but according to Autocar, only 25 units of the Project
Tornado will come out of the factory. Each example will be tailored to the
owner’s wishes, with pricing expected to be close to seven digits. Below you
can watch a video by YouTuber Mr. JWW who visited the company’s headquarters in
Huntington Beach, US, to check out the Project Tornado from up close.
