Defy Physics with a Smile in the New GT3

The 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 gets suspension, technology, and aero upgrades. It also keeps its naturally aspirated muscle, albeit with a bit less torque.

Porsche recently revealed the 992.2 generation, 2025 911 GT3 and GT3 Touring. And, of course, it includes some improvements over the new for 2022, 992.1 GT3. But, since Porsche first launched it 25 years ago, the GT3’s continued existence in today’s world, and with largely the same identity, is the real news.

What’s new?

The 992.2 GT3 carries on with a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine, just as before. It still climbs to 9000 rpm. And it still outputs the same peak 502 horsepower. But this version actually drops 15 lb.-ft of torque, now peaking at 331 lb.-ft as opposed to 346 lb.-ft.

That’s because Porsche needed to meet much stricter exhaust regulations. To keep the 4.0-liter legal, it now uses two particulate filters and four catalytic converters. Porsche also revised the cylinder heads, played with the butterfly valves in the individual throttle bodies, and improved oil cooling.

Engineers compensated for the 4.5 percent percent loss in peak torque, at least partially, by shortening the final drive ratio by 8 percent. That slightly improves torque multiplication in the process. And that’s for both transmissions. You still choose between a seven-speed PDK and six-speed manual.

If you go with the PDK, you’ll hit 60 mph from rest in 3.2 seconds. The manually equipped GT3 needs 3.7 seconds. The manual has the PDK beat for top speed, however: 195 mph, verses 193 mph.

2025 Porsche 911 GT3, in profile. Image courtesy of Porsche.

Chassis Changes

Unlike the powertrain, which Porsche needed to mitigate emissions issues, the chassis benefits from pure development. The 992.1 made a huge change by adding a double wishbone geometry front suspension to the GT3, as opposed to struts up front.

For the 992.2, Porsche lowered the front ball joint of the lower control arm, which aids in giving the GT3 an anti-dive geometry. That helps maintain a level body under braking and keep downforce levels high. It also receives tear drop shaped trailing links of the control arm front suspension to slightly increase downforce further.

2025 Porsche 911 GT3, front wheel. Image courtesy of Porsche.

Porsche installed 255/35 ZR20 tires in front and 315/30R21 tires in back. And, if you want, you can buy Ultra high-performance, but still street legal, tires.

Designers also tweaked the look of the latest GT3. It gets a new front diffuser, front spoiler lip, and under body air guides. These changes also increase downforce, Porsche claims. Not for downforce, but the latest GT3 also gets redesigned the Matrix LED headlights. In the rear, designers tweaked the diffuser, air inlet and end plates of the wing as well.

To take weight out of the latest GT3, Porsche installed new, lightweight aluminum wheels. The set reduces unsprung mass by roughly 3.3 lbs. And the battery is now lithium-ion and saves another 9.9 lbs.

2025 Porsche 911 GT3, interior. Image courtesy of Porsche.

What’s new Inside?

Inside, you do get a digital instrument cluster and a center display, of course. But you also still get a rotary switch for ignition, no start push button here. As for seating, Porsche will install 18-way adaptive sport seats plus. But you can instead choose carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) bucket seats as an option to save a few pounds. Despite the carbon fiber material, these seats still fold and offer heating.

2025 Porsche 911 GT3, weissach package headrest. Image courtesy of Porsche.

Weissach Package on the GT3

Or take lightweighting to another level and get the Weissach package, it’s offered on the GT3 for the first time. With it you get: CFRP anti-roll bar, coupling rods, and shear panel of the rear axle. More CFRP for the roof, rear wing endplates, top half of the sideview mirror covers, door handles, and a few other pieces. You also get leather and Race-Tex used more generously in the interior. Finally, Magnesium wheels, which take an additional 20 lbs. of weight off the car.

2025 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring, front 3/4 in action. Image courtesy of Porsche.

Let’s Go Touring

If all of this sounds great, except for the rear wing, Porsche simultaneously released the GT3 Touring. It loses the wing and gets a less motorsport more luxury themed interior. In fact, Porsche will even install rear seats in the GT3 Touring, if you wish

And if you want to give the Touring similar treatment to the Weissach package, Porsche offers something called the lightweight package, which comprises forged magnesium wheels, liberal use of CFRP throughout, and the shortened 911 S/T gear lever. Finally, a plaque that says “Leichtbau” or lightweight construction, according to Google Translate

The GT3 and Touring package are available to order at the end of the year with expectations of reaching customers in the middle of 2025. How much? Please sit down. Base price is $222,500 plus a $1995 destination charge to start at $224,495.

A Pure Sports Car in Today’s World

But there is more to talk about because it’s not just about the car itself, but what the Porsche 911 GT3 stands for. The GT3 is the purest definition of an enthusiast car. The ultimate connection between human and machine. For the extremely lucky few that can afford one, it delivers a bridge between road car and race car reflexes yet does so in an unintimidating way.

That’s its magic. You can feel the limit in a GT3. As you approach it, reach it, even edge past it, you so do without feeling like you might lose control in the process. It’s never twitchy or unnerving.

It is astonishingly quick, sticks to the road like glue, reacts to your inputs like a flash, yet provides a constant communication back to you about how its tires are handling the road.

In my automotive journalist career, I’ve been lucky enough to experience the GT3 since the 991.1 arrived and went on to win the 2015 Road & Track Performance Car of the Year. Since then, I reviewed the 2019, 991.2 GT3 RS for Autoweek.

2025 Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 Touring, front and rear 3/4. Image courtesy of Porsche.

And—again—when the revolutionary 992.1 GT3 arrived for me to put together a review for Views on Vehicles. The sonorous engine revving and revving all the way to 9000 rpm, the super low seating position, and the neck straining grip. It’s all mega.

And here we are, 25 years after Porsche first launched the GT3 in Geneva in 1999, witnessing a new one arrive. In the era of ever stricter rules against emissions and the proliferation of electric propulsion. I am endlessly grateful that this particular naturally aspirated masterpiece still gets to sing.