Most track-focussed street-legal 911 ever already spoken for in Australia, where pre-orders for 2023 Macan EV also mount
It’s long been the case that many of the most sought-after new models are sold out long before they arrive in Australia; for example if you’re not a current Ferrari owner you’ve got Buckley’s of getting on the list for the next-generation model.
But if you’re in the market for one of the most hard-core road-registerable sports cars ever produced – the 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS – you’re fresh out of luck, following news that Porsche Cars Australia’s entire allocation is already spoken for even before the of hotly-anticipated new 992.1-series model is officially revealed.
There’s strong demand for more pedestrian upcoming Porsche models too, with the German car-maker’s first all-electric SUV, the Macan EV, also attracting healthy pre-order interest in Australia – despite the fact it won’t be revealed until 2023.
“We already have people going into Porsche Centres and asking about Macan EV,” said Porsche Cars Australia’s head of public relations, Chris Jordan.
“It’s a familiar problem for Porsche and we have an EOI [expression of interest] process for these cars that haven’t even been unveiled yet, especially on 911.
As for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, only a small number of the road-legal race cars will make it Down Under and although Jordan wouldn’t say how many, it’s expected to be less than 100 units.
“I’d urge people – if they’re really, really interested in the GT3 RS – to speak to their Porsche Centre. But supply is likely to be extremely limited, even at this stage before the car has been unveiled. But you never know unless you ask,” he added.
There are 14 Porsche dealerships in Australia and the larger establishments with the biggest sales will be allocated the most examples of the track-bred 911.
Jordan implied that GT3 RS vehicles are so sought-after that, as with many Ferraris, only an elite list of buyers with long-established relationships at dealerships will get a look-in.
“It’s fair to say for both GT3 and GT3 RS, a lot of owners have a [buying] history with Porsche and register their interest in the car and put down their deposits very, very early. Years before the cars arrive.”
Expected to make its debut later in 2022, the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS will build on the recently-launched 911 GT3 ($369,600) – which is also sold out – and is expected to be priced from around $420,000.
Taking the Zuffenhausen brand’s naturally-aspirated supercar to giddying new levels, the RS looks set to add a huge rear wing with gooseneck mounts and the ability to make active aero adjustments on the fly, and potentially even an F1-inspired DRS (drag reduction system) to increase top speed on long straights.
Spy photos of the 911 GT3 RS snapped in mid-2021 confirm the gargantuan rear spoiler will be joined by increased body width and wheel tracks to improve grip levels, along with a more aggressive front-end design, a redesigned bonnet and a chunky new rear apron.
The GT3 RS’s rear-mounted engine will be a development of the 911 GT3’s 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine (375kW/460Nm), the stultifying 9000rpm redline of which may be raised slightly higher for the GT3 RS, which should deliver small power gains.
However, the 911 GT3 RS will outperform its donor car thanks at least to an improved power-to-weight ratio, following weight savings of up to 100kg.
While the 911 GT3 is available with manual and automatic PDK transmissions, the GT3 RS will be an auto-only proposition, but clearly the purists are not perturbed by that.
As Jordan noted, Porsche buyers are well informed of future product releases and while that can create challenges in an already supply-restrained market, he said it’s a good problem to have.
“It happened with Taycan and now with Macan EV – people on their next visit to their dealership are saying ‘keep me updated, I’m interested’”.
Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at [email protected]
Keyword: Hard-core Porsche 911 GT3 RS sold out before it’s revealed