Porsche has managed to maintain the 911 as the company's flagship sports car with a steadfast adherence to tradition that remains in the form of the rear-engined layout. But today, there are a ton of different Porsche 911 variants available from the factory, with the numbers even for the various iterations of the newest 992-gen 911 increasing steadily, as well. Perhaps the range-topping 992 currently is the Turbo S, which is available in both coupe and cabriolet form, with a twin-turbocharged flat-six hanging off the rear axle. But is the new Turbo better than the outgoing track superstar 911 variant, the GT3, with its naturally-aspirated powerplant and weight savings? Well, the streaming YouTube channel CarWow has decided to pit exactly those three sports cars against each other in a drag race for sibling supremacy.
On Your Marks
Other than the engine placement, these cars all have different purposes. The 2021 model year 992 Turbo S leaves the factory with forced induction producing a whopping 641 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque from the 3.8-liter boxer-six, with the latter available way down low at only 2,500 RPM. That power is routed to all four wheels through Porsche's new eight-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox. In terms of weight, opting for the cabriolet adds on about 150 pounds, which translates to a 0-60 sprint taking the coupe only 2.7 seconds, while the convertible takes 2.8.
GT3 On A Slippery Day
The outgoing 911 GT3 is known as the 991.2 (post-facelift) generation, offering a 4.0-liter flat-six without the benefits of forced induction that produces a more modest 500 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque — but it also weighs in at 3,270 pounds when equipped with a six-speed manual (or 3,247 with a seven-speed PDK box). That's a full 400 pounds lighter than the new Turbo, which might be able to help the GT3 overcome its lower power figures and lack of all-wheel-drive traction during a sprint off the line.
Sources: youtube.com and porsche.com.