This is the updated, 503bhp Porsche 911 GT3 (and GT3 Touring) – Top Gear

It’s here. The latest Porsche 911 GT3. It’s even faster than the old one, and that’s saying something given the last GT3 was one of the most exciting and potent sports cars on the planet.

Yes, we’re excited. And not just for ourselves. Let’s be honest, any car nut would be a little giddy when they’re faced with the sight of this:

It’s a real masterpiece, is the 911 GT3. A thoroughbred in the world of super-quick performance cars. This latest model still uses the 4.0-litre, naturally aspirated flat-six engine – one that Porsche itself described as “perhaps the most emotive, and possibly the most effective engine ever produced” for road use. It gets a little boost from its last outing in the previous GT3. Power increases by five ponies to 503bhp, revving all the way to 9,000rpm and going from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds.

While all that is a lot to digest, it’s important to realise just how much more there is to the latest 911 GT3 than just an extra bit of go. We know what you’re thinking. Why? How can you possibly make an already exceptional supercar better?

Porsche answers this by digging into the specifics, of course. From the tyres, to the aerodynamics, and all the way through to the suspension, every area of this 911 GT3 has been reworked to eke out further performance. It means you can get it to stick and to grip like never before – even on public roads. We’re looking at something that will really get you right to the limit before anything even remotely like breaking traction.

Take the 911’s lightweight swan neck rear wing for example – now bigger, lighter and much more powerful. There’s also a bigger front splitter, more aero at the front, underbody aero that really flows and works well, as well as a clever new rear diffuser, so the whole thing looks more dynamic than ever.

Porsche isn’t going into much detail about the new 911 GT3’s suspension just yet, but it looks like they’ve worked with Michelin to introduce the next-gen Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyre – designed specifically to work with the extra aerodynamic downforce from the 911’s new kit.

Inside, the driver is treated to a seriously sporting experience. The standard 911 cabin has been stripped back even further to create an experience of the very essence of driving, the core components that are just vital for keeping you fast and connected. If you want luxury, if you want comfort, look at the GTS. If you want a dedicated performance driver, here it is.

This car truly is the ultimate driving machine, with a beautiful, almost minimalist cabin with an FIA-approved cage that is the GT3’s crowning glory. There is no doubt about its performance and looks, but does that make it any less accessible for normal everyday driving? Is this still a practical machine with enough room to be comfortable, easy and safe enough for everyday use?

This is where Porsche’s cleverness truly shines. This might look like a hardcore performance car and feel like it belongs on a race track but don’t forget, the latest Porsche 911 GT3 is a refined everyday car that feels safe, is still comfortable, and does everything you need. You’re even still getting features that give you a genuine feeling of security such as safety features, as well as creature comforts such as a decent sound system.

It may not be the best at providing space and comfort when comparing it to other GT cars, but for what it’s offering as a true driver-focused and hardcore machine, it has room enough. This new car manages to maintain a balance of performance and accessibility while maintaining that ultimate driving experience that makes it a legend. We’ve already driven the GT3 before, so now the big question is whether or not we’d recommend going for the touring option.

You know what’s coming, right? You’re wondering what’s the point in this whole ‘touring’ affair? Sure, it’s a little less aggressively styled. It has the standard 911’s wing (which you can choose in carbon fibre) but as well as losing some of those aggressive curves, and those enormous side wings, it actually delivers some really neat performance. And, in this car’s case, ‘neat’ just means it’s more agile and quicker around the corners and a lot easier to manage than the outright performance of the GT3. You might even be thinking this touring package makes this version a slightly better choice because, despite having fewer extreme bits and pieces, the touring 911 GT3 actually outperforms the standard car in most real-world tests, with it showing real prowess on track and a brilliant performance overall.

This one comes as the car you can get more comfortable in, even with its stiffer suspension. We also enjoyed the manual gearbox because, well, let’s be honest, what else would you choose when you’re getting a pure-blooded racing car that will go toe to toe with many hypercars? Sure, there is an option for a seven-speed PDK transmission, but the standard car comes as the one with a 6-speed manual gearbox which we highly recommend as a core piece of the driver’s experience.

There are many things that will set it apart. But first, a quick comparison. If the touring is a touch more comfortable and nimble than the GT3 and comes in a few different and well-received options, we would definitely recommend going for the touring – if only because this car really stands apart as its own model. And you can feel this from behind the wheel too. The GT3 Touring gives you something that we would happily recommend, so why even compare it with the standard car?

If we’re thinking about this car in this way, we could very easily see how the GT3 Touring is a better package. While the 911 GT3 Touring is probably a good step forward for most road driving situations, it comes as an expensive way of achieving your driving dreams. Sure, it has all those features, the touring car stands as the 911 that you can live with day-to-day, without a problem.

In the world of Porsche’s iconic 911 range, there are only a handful of truly great and purebred drivers’ cars. Some of the best you’ve ever seen in any era, and in this new iteration of the car, there’s not much that can keep you off track if you’re passionate about driving and want a top-tier car for pure fun. You can tell there’s been so much thought that’s gone into the performance, from the engine down to the brakes, as well as to the suspension and every last detail, that every inch of the GT3 feels built for absolute dedication and performance, on or off the track.

That’s really how these cars should be though. Porsche has taken every opportunity to make the 911 the car it’s always been: perfectly balanced, completely thrilling and unbelievably fun, as if it’s born ready for the world’s best circuits and best drivers, ready to handle every single push that you can offer.