When the redesigned 2025 Porsche 911 was unveiled earlier this year, it ruffled some feathers. Like almost every high-end sports car these days (and many cars that are neither high-end nor sporty), the new 911 introduced a hybrid powertrain and dropped the manual transmission. While the result was certainly fast, it was a double slap in the face of the traditional driving enthusiasts that Porsche has long catered to.
However, that insult has now been remedied, and the new 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 may just be the last true enthusiast-oriented supercar, offering an incredible driving experience that keeps things focused on what really matters. It also introduces several new options that make the GT3 a more compelling pick for track days and Sunday drives alike.
Rev Your Heart Out
Porsche stands out among supercar manufacturers for not blindly chasing horsepower at the expense of the driving experience and the overall package. For instance, the 911 Turbo S, the brand’s most powerful non-electric model, tops out at just 640 hp while similarly-priced competitors are approaching or even exceeding 1,000 hp.
The GT series models have historically taken this philosophy a step further, eschewing turbos and other power-boosting gimmicks to offer one of the purest driving experiences possible. And despite being significantly less powerful than competitors, Porsche’s careful attention to detail means that these cars are often noticeably faster when pushed to the limit on the track. The question was, in the face of increasingly strict emissions regulations, would Porsche change the formula for 2025?
Well, enthusiasts can rejoice because the answer is a resounding “no.” The new 911 GT3 is powered by an updated version of Porsche’s naturally-aspirated 4.0L flat-six engine that still revs to a glorious 9,000 RPM. There is no hybrid boost, and the car continues to be available with a six-speed manual transmission. (A seven-speed PDK is, of course, also an option.) Porsche did have to make some compromises to meet emissions, and the use of two particulate filters and no fewer than four catalytic converters means a drop of a single horsepower and 16 lb-ft of torque compared to the previous generation.
Still, 503 hp and 331 lb-ft are nothing to sneer at, and Porsche has shortened the gear ratios enough that the new 911 GT3 is actually slightly quicker despite the cost of a few miles per hour of top speed (although 195 mph is still plenty fast for any track). The eight-percent shorter gearing should also address complaints about the car being less fun to drive because there is little need to shift when it can hit highway speeds in second gear.
More Customization, Higher Prices
For 2025, the 911 GT3 offers an updated Touring Package and can be optioned with the Weissach Package for the first time. If you choose the Touring Package, you get a more road-focused version of this track weapon that trades off the massive rear gooseneck wing and adds a more plush interior. In a major change, the Touring Package also now has the option of rear seats, making the GT3 a more well-rounded everyday supercar. Folding front buckets make it easier to access the back, whether you choose the four-seat option or keep it a two-seater.
If you would prefer to instead go the other way and hone this car to a razor edge, the new Weissach Package shaves pounds off the car through the extensive use of CFRP in place of metal. Want the best of both worlds? The Leichtbau Package brings several aspects of the Weissach Package to the Touring Package.
There are some nods to modernity in this new model, and the classic Porsche analog center tach has finally been replaced by a fully digital instrument cluster. Still, Porsche did its best to keep everything easily legible while driving hard, even including a useful option that rotates the tachometer so that the redline is at the 12 o’clock position to help you avoid missing shifts. There is also a new wireless charging pad, but Porsche has kept the motorsports-inspired rotary ignition switch rather than update it to a more mainstream push-button start.
It’s hard to find a car this driver-focused these days, and just about the only bad thing to say about the new 911 GT3 is the price. At $222,500, it’s a big jump up from last year’s model, but if you have a quarter-million to spare, I can’t think of a better car to spend it on.
