2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS: High-Res Gallery and Full Details on 450HP Hardcore 911

Described by Porsche as the "most sporting road-going 911 yet", the rousing new 911 GT3 RS is the closest thing you can get to a racing version of the 911 while remaining street legal and it is set to make its first public appearance at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show. Based on the recently introduced 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 facelift, the latest generation RS model benefits from increased engine power, lower weight, shorter transmission ratios and an optimized chassis.

The hardcore RS, which sets the foundation for homologating the racing version of the 911 GT3, is powered by a tweaked version of the GT3's naturally aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six tuned to deliver more power and rev even faster and more dynamically. It produces a maximum output of 450 horsepower or 15 HP more than its GT3 counterpart and 35 HP more than the previous generation 997 RS.

Power is delivered to the rear wheels exclusively through a low-ratio, six-speed manual gearbox with a short-throw gear lever. Porsche is keeping the performance figures to itself for the time being, but for the record, the standard 435 HP GT3 accelerates from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 312 km/h or 194 mph.

The RS also features wider front and rear tracks as well as additional wheel arch covers that increase the span across the nose. The pronounced wheel arches house 19-inch alloys shod with 245/35 ZR 19 sports tyres up front and 325/30 ZR 19 at the rear.

Other goodies include the specially set-up Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system and the active engine mounts (Porsche Active Drivetrain Mounts - PADM) that can change their stiffness and damping effect to resist the movement of the drivetrain in the bodyshell. Furthermore, Porsche replaced the car's conventional lead battery with a lithium-ion battery that helps reduce weight by more than 10 kg or 22 pounds.

The Stuttgart automaker said that the new model's carefully honed aerodynamics develop even more downforce than on the GT3. Talking about aerodynamics, you may have noticed that the RS gets a larger-than-life carbon-fibre rear wing with aluminum supports while other styling changes include the hard to miss bright red accents and livery, the specific dual tailpipes of the lightweight titanium sports exhaust and unique front and rear parts.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 RS is expected to go on sale in most European countries at the end of the year, with the UK and the United States following in early 2010.

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