Porsche’s unrivalled legacy for pioneering state-of-the-art performance technology stole the show early this week at the 2015 installment of the EXCS International Motorshow in Riyadh. The Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer showcased its resounding advancements in the form of the 911 GT3 RS, Cayman GT4 and a life size model of the now legendary, Le Mans-winning 919 Hybrid. Embodying Porsche’s latest developments in evolving racing technology from the track to the road, all models were displayed for members of the public at the Four Seasons in Riyadh during the show.
Together, the models demonstrate the pinnacle of Porsche’s automotive innovations. As road legal variants, the 911 GT3 RS and Cayman GT4 are high-performance sports cars which seamlessly blend with everyday practicality in a way that has become synonymous with Porsche.
From direct fuel injection to Porsche Doppelkupplung (double-clutch transmission); active aerodynamics to ceramic brakes, the list of track-to-road technology continues to grow as Porsche’s race-inspired philosophy develops new advancements which permeate all of its models.
Speaking at the EXCS International Motorshow, Michael Mueller, Executive Director of Porsche Saudi Arabia, said: “Motorsport is at the core of each Porsche car; it’s in the DNA. The brand’s unrivalled racetrack heritage is what sets it apart and allows it to continually reach new highs for automotive innovation. With each model Porsche takes pioneering steps into the future and these industry-leading innovations have become a brand’s hallmark. Porsche technology is developed and tested on the track and integrated into all new models to create something quite unique – an everyday sports car – and this is exemplified in the models on display at the EXCS International Motorshow.”
Representing the brand’s latest developments in evolving racing technology from the track to the road, the iconic 911 GT3 RS exemplifies pure Porsche performance, as it pushes back the boundaries of possibility for a road-legal car. The top model in the 911 range redefines what it means to create a car at the cutting edge of motorsport technology that is also suitable for everyday driving.
Powered by a four-litre six-cylinder engine with 500 hp and a specially developed PDK transmission, the 911 GT3 RS has the largest displacement and most power of any naturally aspirated engine with direct fuel injection in the 911 family. The model accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and to 200 km/h in 10.9 seconds. Functions such as declutching by “paddle neutral” – which is comparable to pressing the clutch with a conventional manual gearbox – and speed limiting by the Pit Speed button have been customized for motorsport use. They give drivers more freedom in terms of driving dynamics, while also providing them with more assistance when driving on a racetrack.
Car enthusiasts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will also be treated to another shining example of Porsche’s latest technological advancements, in the form of the Cayman GT4. With pure sports performance stemming from increased downforce, traction and power to a standard Cayman, the mid-engined GT signifies a new era of motoring distinction for the brand.
The radical two-door sports car handles the racetrack as masterfully as it does everyday streets, powered by a 3.8-litre flat-six engine with 385 hp which propels the model from zero to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 295 km/h. The Cayman GT4 embodies Porsche’s renewed commitment to extraordinary high-performance sports cars in every market segment. — SG
