According to an old saying, less is more. However, sometimes less just means less. And the same goes for this new Porsche 911 GT3 Touring.
Less wing, so less downforce. A lot less downforce. Recently, I drove the regular GT3 on the Bilderberg-track and you will notice the lack of downforce there.
Luckily, I'm not there today. Instead, I'm on a deserted twisty road and I'm driving the best-looking 911 on sale today.
That's the big advantage of the GT3 Touring compared to the regular GT3, the lack of a wing. Because of that, the natural lines come out better.
I really think it's the best looking 911 today. It doesn't have the weird third brake light from the Carrera either.
What it has inherited from Carrera-versions is the adaptive rear spoiler, which raises a tad higher now, to generate a bit more downforce.
And at the front, they've removed some vents to prevent it from generating its maximum amount of downforce. That would become dangerous,
if it generated the maximum downforce of a GT3 at the front and nothing at the back. Try driving 200 km/h with that, would you?
Since it's just the downforce that's different, everything else is still as we know it from the GT3.
Double wishbone-suspension, four-wheel steering, everything's on here. Optionally, you can get it with Michelin Pilot SportCup II semi-slicks,
this particular car doesn't have those though. This is fitted with Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport-tires, and I really recommend...
them, because you'll be spending more time on regular roads than on circuits. And if it's wet, your family doesn't have to call an ambulance...
every time you want to drive your Touring. It's still a tricky car when it's wet, but these tires do offer enough grip.
Having said that, it's partially eligible for daily driving. Also, because of the double wishbones, it's both sturdy and communicative, but not too...
hard. And if you don't get the carbon fibre bucket seats, but you have these adaptive sports seats,
the seating isn't bad either. Last friday I drove it for over 600 kilometres on a single day, and the comfort is still very good.
The noise however, was driving me crazy.
The chassis then. It's astonishing if you consider how fast this car can actually go. If it's dry, the limit is so far away.
Because of the double wishbone-suspension, there's literally no understeer. You steer, it goes, it'll communicate with you,
despite the fact it still has four-wheel steering, you can feel everything in your fingertips.
And even on an empty road like this, you're not pushing it 100 percent, or even 80 percent, but the feeling the car gives you... It's simply amazing.
It's incredibly puristic, which is partly because of the engine as well, and the lack of isolation.
The 4.0-litre flat-six behind you is incredibly audible, and even when you're not redlining it at around 9.000 RPM, but just driving at around...
4.000 RPM, it sounds so incredibly puristic. And the throttle response is so direct. I mean...
It's like Bach and Mozart have written a symphony which is being performed by Jimi Hendrix, really.
It's not that it's incredibly quick either, because it's only explosive whenever you go above 5.000 RPM, which you'd expect from 510 horsepower.
But it feels fast, it sounds fast, and you have to work really hard to get all of the speed out of it. You have to use all your skills.
And that makes it a fantastic car, honestly. The engine is connected to a six-speed manual gearbox and it's just phenomenal.
So if you're considering a Touring, just take the manual. Because the moment your driving on a road like this, with the perfect positioning...
through corners and in all the right gears with you changing gear at the right times, is such a sensation.
It's so much more rewarding than a Carrera GTS. If you want a 911 to drive every day, go for the GTS. It's just as quick but much...
more comfortable and accessible. But if you have one of these for special occasions and it all comes together on a day like this,
you, the road and the car... It'll be an experience that no other 911, or even another sports car will ever give you.
This is an incredible sensation, I'm speechless.