Porsche’s current 911 GT3 and GT3 RS are without a doubt top-of-the-line performance vehicles with technological feats and automatic transmissions that have made owning and driving a Porsche more accessible for novice drivers.
But has the iconic German company forgotten about the enthusiasts who want the feel of a manual transmission at their hands and feet? Well that question was answered at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show recently with the debut of the 911 R, and Porsche hasn’t disappointed those who are seeking the ultimate driving experience from a sports car.
The 911 R features a six-speed that has closer gear ratios and overall is more performance-oriented than its automatic siblings. The new Porsche also has the same naturally aspired 4.0-liter flat-six engine as the GT3 RS, which produces 500 horsepower and 338 pound-feet of torque.
Going old school with a manual transmission didn’t cause the supercar to lose any of its speed on the track, with the R sprinting to 60 mph from stop in just 3.7 seconds and hitting a top speed of 200 mph. A loss of 110 pounds from the GT3 RS, making the 911 R weigh in at 3,021 pounds, helps out with increasing speed as well.
The 2016 911 R will start at $185,900, and Porsche will bring the manual model to U.S. salerooms later this summer.