What's the news?
Porsche has revealed what is, in effect, an unlimited-production version of last year's special 911 R. This is the 911 GT3 Touring Package, a softer, quieter-looking version of the hardcore 911 GT3 - a car primarily tweaked for trackdays.
The Touring Package basically strips away much of the GT3's bodykit (the big rear wing is gone, although the broader wheel arches and much of the lower-down aero kit remain), and gives it a black leather interior which is supposed to feel more road-car-ish than the Alcantara suede and stripped-out nature of the usual GT3.
Out the back (of course) is the same 500hp 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six as you get int he GT3, which promises a 0-100km/h time of just 3.9 seconds, and a top speed 316km/h (just slightly lower than that of the standard GT3). It comes, as did the 911 R, with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, and as yet no mention is being made of the PDK automatic being available even as an option. It does get the GT3's active rear-axle steering system, though.
While you can have the usual GT3 options of carbon brakes, suspension lift (for working your way over speed bumps) and LED lights, the Touring Package option is supposed to be, says Porsche, for "fans of high-quality sports cars who particularly value an understated appearance and classic driving enjoyment."
On the styling front, while the Touring Package does away with the GT3's big fixed rear wing, and uses the standard's 911's electrically-extending wing instead, there is a special 'Gurney Flap' addition to the wing, so that Porschephiles will be able to identify it as it blasts past them...
Price? €152,000 in Germany, so expect it to be more than €200,000 to land one here.