This is the most versatile sportscar known to humankind

What if you’re willing to spend a lot of money (200k Swiss Francs plus list price) on a fast Porsche sportscar, but still want that classy, timeless and sleek 911 looks where you always seem to be equipped correctly: at the Gala Dinner, Track day, Mountain Pass Run, in your wifey’s parents driveway on Easters Sunday brunch or just the company parking lot – then, this one is for you; The Porsche 911 GT3 Touring.

What is it all about?

Like all great stories, it begins with the greatest hero in history. In the case of the Porsche 911, this is the Carrera 2.7 RS from 1972, which is 20 hp more powerful than the normal 911 S. To make the extra power more effective, it is given less to carry. The technicians pluck out everything that the car carries around with it that is unnecessary: Rear jump seats, carpeting, thickly upholstered seats, storage boxes, armrests, even the clock, the right sun visor and the interior door handle. This is replaced by a leather strap, plus thinner glass for the windows and thinner sheet metal for the bodywork. This adds up to a weight saving of 100 kilos. And quite a mountain of parts. What does Porsche do with them? Well, reinstall them, but for an extra charge. The M274 touring package was available as an option. With this, the RS almost plushes itself back up to the cozy interior furnishings of the 911 S variant. 1,306 of the 1,580 RS customers chose the Touring, they could have also deselected the Carrera lettering on the sides, but not the side spoiler, which has had to stay on.

The 991.2, the direct predecessor of the current 911 (992), was available as a Touring for the first time. At that time, a small wave of indignation rolled over Porsche because the GT3 Touring was basically identical, but cheaper than the limited 911 R that had debuted one year earlier which was already sold out before people even had time to marvel at its appearance.

As the 992 GT3 is also available as a Touring, too. Without the large rear wing, but with all the other drive and chassis refinements of the sports model. So here, too, the magnificent four-liter six-cylinder naturally aspirated engine produces its 510 hp in the rear. It is now permanently connected to the body via the crankcase, which saves the 3.5 kilos for the active engine mounts. Together with the lightweight sports exhaust system (minus 10 kg) and many detail optimizations (127 grams due to different pistons, for example), this compensates for the additional weight of the individual throttle valves (5 kilos) and the particulate filters. They also take on the task of sound insulation - although they do not exactly perform this side job with exaggerated ambition. As standard, Porsche couples the engine with a close-ratio, outstandingly precise, manual six-speed gearbox.

First impressions:

The Porsche 911 GT3 with its “Touring” package is one of only a very few cars only enthusiasts can truly appreciate – or even recognize at first sight. Due to its optics, it flies under the radar but still is a proper sportscar without drawing too much attention. Other would call it a “wolf in sheep’s cloths”. Especially this exact Porsche with its unique specification we’re going through more detailed in a minute.

Although you might think, the Touring hasn’t got a softer suspension,or a more forgiving set-up compared to the regular GT3. But it stayed the same. It’s all in the cosmetics.The big GT3 wing left, and in its place comes the pop-up spoiler from the regular 911, plus a unique engine cover with a bespoke badge. The exterior brightwork is literally that – aluminium as standard rather than black – and inside leather is standard rather than Race-Tex. Short: It’s the Gentlemen’s GT3 and classier version of a track-oriented Porsche 911. Although this example is specced in a rather unconventional way with black trim and details all over, it isn't quite supposed to look classy, but rather seriously sporty.

Let’s have a seat.

Deep dive into these magnificent optional carbon bucket seats upholstered with race-tex inlays and clear grey leather. It turns out that the race-tex might be the better upholstery due to its breathability. Once you snugged in, the Porsche carbon buckets turn out to be surprisingly comfortable even for longer journeys.

Porsche doesn’t cut corners with interior materials, even in its most hardcore models. The GT3 Touring features a blend of high-quality leather, Alcantara, brushed aluminum, and optional carbon fiber trim. The leather-wrapped dash and door panels elevate the feel of the cabin, and Touring-specific badging adds a subtle, refined touch.

The tactile feedback from every knob, switch, and button is classic Porsche—precise, heavy, and well-damped. There’s also a noticeable lack of flashy trim or superfluous tech clutter; the Touring embraces a more restrained and timeless aesthetic, in line with its purist ethos.

The 911 GT3 Touring retains the 992-generation digital/analog hybrid gauge cluster, which blends tradition with modern tech. The central tachometer is still analog—a nod to Porsche purists—flanked by configurable digital displays that relay navigation, vehicle data, and performance metrics.

The infotainment system features a 10.9-inch touchscreen running Porsche’s PCM (Porsche Communication Management), which is clean, responsive, and logically laid out. Wireless Apple CarPlay comes standard, though Android Auto was a late addition and may depend on the build date. Climate controls are still managed via tactile physical switches, a welcome choice for those who prefer not to navigate through screens while driving.

Controls for driving modes, suspension settings, and exhaust valves are easily accessible, reinforcing the driver-focused layout. Porsche’s signature center-mounted ignition switch remains, adding a touch of analog charm.

Let’s hit the road!

A little flick of the ignition switch to the left of the steering wheel. Let’s fire up the naturally aspirated 4.0L flat-six engine! It hisses itself into a hotter idle, chunters and rattles slightly, the clutch has a springy action, you need some throttle to pull away – there’s no anti-stall. It’s a car, as cars used to be, but that in itself is unusual these days. These characteristics give the car some purity.

Power’s not really what this engine is about. It’s about purity, noise and response. And those things matter more now than ever, because they’re so rare these days. I can tell you the 4.0-litre flat-six has an extra 10bhp in the 992 (over 991), for a total of 510hp, but that’s not remarkable. It revs clean through to the ultimate Hallelujah at 9,000rpm.

I was told that the 992 GT3 has a newly designed double wishbone front axle. This is very close to be the same system that Porsche's racing department developed for the 911 RSR. The advantages are obvious. The damper can concentrate fully on its upward and downward movement and no longer has to participate in lateral movements/tilting when turning in.

As a result, the tire has more contact surface with the road while the lateral forces build up. The front also feels calmer, more precise and more stable. Another advantage: the new layout allows firmer spring rates. These are already at the level of the last GT3 RS, which ensures less body roll and even less body movement. Pure go-kart feeling despite the massive appearance. Let's call it like this: German engineering at its finest. Yes, it still exists (...in some cases).

Grip is more evenly distributed front to rear and there’s more than enough of it, but it’s the texture, the sense of what’s going on from the chassis, but the drivetrain, too. That makes it so special. It’s not raw, just perfectly filtered. It means this is a car you can daily drive without concern. So, it almost touches perfectionism. Due to the great drivability, the 992 GT3 Touring feels a tiny bit artificial because it has been trimmed to perfection. Therefor it lost some characteristics, and I’d still choose a Porsche 997 GT3 or GT3 RS which are way purer and rawer. Plus, they’re equipped with the famous Mezger engines. Insiders and enthusiasts know exactly what I’m speaking about.

What should I buy?

The Porsche 911 (992) GT3 and Touring variant might just be one of the last naturally aspirated sports cars to enter the car market. It grew to be a purist’s choice alongside the fancier, regular GT3 but still is packed with a lot of tech nowadays. It seems like it slowly loses its roughness the previous generations provided. Therefore, I expect the successor (after the 992.2) to be a turbocharged or even hybrid-powered car to keep up with the 911 GT3’s competition.

As a well-looked and maintained used car, the GT3 Touring could potentially be I good investment in the future.

To end this review, I wanted to thank Auto Kauth for giving me their trust to drive this magnificent Porsche 911 992 GT3 Touring. It is a true dreamcar I’ve always been eyeballing since it came out. It is a truly special piece of machinery. I call it a future classic as it probably is one of the last proper driver’s cars out there.

Review & photos by RPM | Robin P.M.