The Porsche 911 is one of those models that you need to be careful what you say about. Any criticism can only be shared with friends you trust, and even then, you should whisper.
Luckily, not even the pickiest person will find a lot to complain about with the legendary German sports car, so there aren't that many conflicts started by a 911 argument on record. It's held in such high regard, in fact, that a lot of people think it impossible to make it better: the essence of a sports car distilled to perfection, with a touch of added luxury.
Enter Gunther Werks, a company that takes a 993 (the 1994-1998 911) apart, then puts it together using completely new parts or highly modified ones to create a vehicle that is, simply put, substantially better than the original. Apart from the chassis, very little is left untouched, including the heart of the 911: its naturally aspirated engine.
Called the Gunther Werks 400R, the result has a 4.0-liter flat-six sitting at the back that still isn't force-fed, but now develops 430 hp and 330 lb-ft (447 Nm) of torque with a red line at a very inviting 7,800 rpm. As you probably know (and are about to hear), a naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine makes one of the sweetest noises on this planet, especially as the rpm count begins to rise.
But it's not all just about power. After all, 430 hp isn't an earth-shattering figure, which is Gunther Werks compliments the muscle with a significant weight reduction. The 400R weighs just 2,500 pounds (1,134 kg) thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber and Kevlar for the interior. The company is so determined to bring the weight down that it blasts the entire body down to bare metal and then paints it back up using modern, lighter coatings.
Only 25 GW 400Rs will ever be made and each vehicle is unique, tailored specifically to its owner's desire. The one you're about to see - the first of the production version after the earlier red mule - sports a gorgeous milky olive-green paintwork that combines with cognac leather upholstery and plenty of exposed carbon fiber for a weird, sporty-luxurious interior.
Watch the clip below as Matt Farah from The Smoking Tire takes the new GW 400R out for a spin on a twisty mountain road that will instantly bring back Porsche 2000 Unleashed memories for those lucky enough to play the game back in the day. So, it turns out you CAN improve a Porsche 911, you just need a metric ton of money. Oh, yeah, I didn't mention that part: this car will set you back more than half a million dollars. Enjoy the clip, nonetheless.
"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie) Full profile
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