I could listen to this guy talking about the 991 GT3 for hours. He has passion for what he does and he is obviously very proud of the end result. Great car without a doubt.
davidrivas305 I had the very lucky chance to actually drive it about a month ago. I wish all you other enthusiasts get such a chance, at least once, because you'll be at a loss for words to describe just how spectacular it is. Absolutely jaw-dropping stuff. I really have no way to explain how insane that new engine and PDK box are together, and I haven't even gotten to the chassis, stability, and turn-in ... and yes, the NOISE...oh the NOISE...you have no idea until you experience with your own body and ears, a WOT rev from low to 9000 with a shift bang to the next gear...
This is why the 911 reigns supreme year after year. This is why you see so many designing cars just to dethrone this classic. Porsche has been able to do what many companies are unable to do and that is they have learned how to improve perfection!
Fascinating interview. It's great to hear from someone who knows the cars inside and out and can give articulate answers borne from in-depth knowledge of the cars. Loved his jacket also!
Awesome interview - Preuninger really knows what he is doing. I'm a die-hard manual fan, but this new form of specialized PDK seems to be very versatile, extremely efficient while retaining some of the characteristics of a manual.
What a well-spoken guy. Love the obvious passion and the intimate knowledge, as well as the fully-reasoned answers to some good, specific questions. I fully understand the concerns and the controversy, but he made a lot of good points.
I was not a Porsche fan several years ago, but I began listening to Andreas Preuninger and he is a true enthusiast, and a great spokesman for Porsche. I wish I could afford one of these GT3s, it is definitely a dream car, but I am hoping in 5 or 6 years I can get a used one. What a machine!!
recalling how excited Chris Harris was when he interviewed Andreas on the GT3 RS 4.0. WIshed it was still him, he has a lot of questions, and genuinely one of the best automotive journalist/presenter there is.
Just speechless,I´m in love with this car!!! What a great job is doing Porsche with their 991 models. Congratulations and can´t wait to see the 991 turbo.
The Doc it's not about speed, it's about fun and full driver involvement, this is what the car was all about, that is why it used to come with a manual transmission only.
thaik56 It's not about speed FOR YOU. For others, driving enjoyment may be derived from something else. In addition, it USED TO come with something; Porsche has obviously evolved.
"Batteries are heavy.....and this for a GT3 is outrageously high!" Love this commitment! Thanks Jethro for asking all the right questions and thanks Porsche for clearly moving the game on. Want!
GOD I LOVE GERMAN ENGINEERING! Thank you so much Evo for this detailed interview with a official from the factory and not just guessing at the reasons why they did certain things.
I have so much respect for Andreas he and Walter push the engineers to the limit . they are like yeah it's okay but this needs to be like that and they managed to pull it off
I do own a GT3 RS MKII and I wouldn't trade it in for this if I was offered.. not even if it was RS with PDK.. the way you downshift/heel-toe in manual is just more exciting.. everyday you learn something new, I just love the communication between the car and driver..
i was strongly against this car not being available with manuel, but this, i think i can live with, that clutch kick feature just seems amazing, and that the gearstick shifts like the cup cars now in having to pull the stick back to change up a gear is also very cool
Yes they do, they've been improving the 911 with every new and prospective model... lap times and performance figures are clearly reflective of this. Not to mention how lauded the 911 lineup as been since its inception by practically every automotive expert in the industry.
I learned to drive stick when I was 12, I'm 17 now but there isn't a day that I drive a manual that I don't learn something new. It's not that it's incredibly hard to learn the basics, just as with most things all it takes is practice, but the satisfaction of doing it properly is worth more than a couple tenths on a track
Incredible car. As a motorsports enthusiast (meaning I'm not only a GT-R or mustang fanboy, I love everything) this is truly an enrapturing automobile. I can tell the PDK is going to be a dream to drive. Everyone complains about the paddle-shifters but trust me, if you were in a 458, GT3, Aventador, etc. you'd be smiling ear to ear. And he mentioned that this is the only street legal car with a rocker arm valvetrain? Maybe I misunderstood, but my C6 Z06 definitely uses rocker-arms..?
I like what they did with the pdk in this car. The clutch in the previous gt3 was a workout which made it a tough daily driver now it has the best of both
I reckon they've reached the point that they are happy with the pdk's performance. The faster changes from the pdk outweight the extra mass issue, and also the power increase compared to the previous gt3 is considerable. Personally I wish a manual was available, not that I can afford the car anyway, but I m afraid it is the end of an era...
Absolutely Amazing Video, thank you ! Btw Jethro Bovingdon no longer in car and driver or was he always on evo? Haven't seen anyone except harry on evo for a couple of months so cant remember.
Thanks EVO. Great questions. Everyone who has owned or driven a GT3 is of course concerned about the new 991 GT3 since it seems very mainstream with PDK and words like "comfort". I guess we will have to try for ourselves how the car handles and feels.
the PDK rev matches for you, no need for heel and toe shifting. you dont need to feel the shift, it does it for you. i agree with your view on the lsd and steering issue, but technology is moving foreward.
I have loved Porsche since I could walk. I still have two model 911s that I was given for my 5th birthday. But no longer having a manual transmission makes me cry. It takes away from the fact that real driving should be raw, about a drivers grasp, control and understanding of an almost living machine. For me vintage and classic racing are fast becoming the only form or driving/racing that interests me.
He forgot to add that above 80 kph the rear wheel steer is in phase, moving the same way as the front wheels. This is what he's talking about regarding lane-changes, the car switches lanes almost flat.
Not to say I'm an expert, but when talking about the valvetrain I think Preuninger got it in reverse - I suppose he means they use low-mass (and usually quite high maintainance) tappets like on a motorbike engines, not rocker arms which are more commonly used on roadcar engines, as they make variable valve geometries simpler to implement. The cutaway-image on Porsche.com of the GT3 engine looks like tappets as well. Him not being aware of other cars using tappets in their valvetrain is actually a bit surprising. Many of the small sporty engines of the 1990s were tappet driven (Toyota 4A-GE, Rover K-Series...), I'm not sure of the modern engines though.
Ture, I hope it remains a rare site too. I talked to a lot of dealers in the DFW area about many used GT3s and they say that hot heads buy them to have the coolest fastest car but they quickly sell them back because they didn't realize that the car is a raw, demanding drivers car. However the 991 GT3 will appeal to both the track guy and the hot head so I bet we do see more of them. Especially because anyone can get inside a car with paddles and drive it. Still the 991 GT3 is going incredible.
Damn, nice interview! Summed up all the questions I had and I have lot of confidence in Porsche making the correct choices for this car. It will be a great great car!
I agree, yet some people persist to call them "automatics" in the same way that a 76 Buick had and automatic lol. back in the day manuals were the way to go for performance drivers, time has changed, and technology has improved. PDK is fast!
Check Porsche's official website for details: "Manual operation of the 911 GT3-specific gear selector is based on the established motorsport principle: back to shift up, forward to shift down." "PDK is essentially two gearboxes in one and thus requires two clutches." PDK is standard - it will come in all new GT3's, but you can use the paddle shifters from what I understand. Of course contact your local Porsche dealer to be sure.
Nice! I had that question for some time now. Why none of the manufacturers with double clutch cars didn't use both paddles at the same time to disengage the clutches? Good to see this feature in the gt3. Just like having a manual transmission, it gives you more control over the engine.
he says he isnt aware of any other carmaker using rocker arms, well my 20 year old 1.6 honda engine has rocker arms, revs stock to 8200 rpms, and with stronger valve springs (which i have) u can safely rev to 9000 rpm, never had any issues or engine problems :) 20 years old nearly
As soon as Andreas said WRC and donut mode I was sold! Forget heel toe and learn to tap dance like WRC driver! I own a manual and an auto. I heel toe in the manual and left foot brake with the auto. I find at the limit both are very fun but at the a leisurely pace or stuck in traffic the manual can be annoying especially with a heavy clutch. I trust Porsche did it right.
Because theres more to driving a car than just how quick it is, it has to feel right and connect the driver properly. If this new PDK gearbox can do that aswell as a manual box can then theres no problem. Personally I will always like a manual but I won't judge thios system until I try it.
Haha when he said 315 for the top speed I was so surprised, then I remembered that it is in kph... I really wish we(America) would switch to metric, it is such a better system of measurement!
I've owned a 2007 997 GT3 and loved the manual. However, it will be interesting to see what they will do with this car. I personally will miss the old gearbox. This car is made for the general public and no longer caters to a select few as it aught to be. Obviously, I've never driven the 991 but I just hope that because this car is so much easier to live with, that everyone ditches the Turbo because this car is so much cooler to drive. I still hope this car remains rare to be seen.
What happens when you are breaking hard into a corner with the front wheels at 10 degrees and the back wheel steering activates because you went under the threshold? From the description it sounds like the back wheels would instantly snap to an out-of-phase position corresponding to the 10 degrees of angle on the front wheels.
im only guessing on later special models or maybe final year they will, im sure customers who buy this will show great interest in a manual and porsche hopefully will respond and make a model with a stick shift manual....hopefully.
I drive manual now and love it. things can't stay the same forever.evolution may not be good but it is Necessary for growth as a hole. Lets hope they do something truly special with th RS. Personally i think it will be a great car to own. I wouldn't kick it out of my garage
Yes, but what is exiting about the manual is that the car obeys every single command, the connection between the car and the driver. I've been in contact with the 991 PDK. It is impressive, don´t get me wrong, As well, I've driven a 997.1 GT3 RS and just the feeling is priceless. It is not wrong that Porsche incorporates PDK, but having it as the sole option (correct me if wrong) is disappointing. Hopefully the RS will have the manual as the purpose of the RS is to reduce weight from the GT3
I understand paddle shifters are faster and F1 uses them mostly so the drivers can have two hands on the steering wheel more often. I'm not arguinf against dual clutch trans. I was arguing against people saying the porsche switched the GT3 to paddle shifters because of the American market.
I could listen to this guy talking about the 991 GT3 for hours. He has passion for what he does and he is obviously very proud of the end result. Great car without a doubt.
davidrivas305 I had the very lucky chance to actually drive it about a month ago. I wish all you other enthusiasts get such a chance, at least once, because you'll be at a loss for words to describe just how spectacular it is. Absolutely jaw-dropping stuff. I really have no way to explain how insane that new engine and PDK box are together, and I haven't even gotten to the chassis, stability, and turn-in ... and yes, the NOISE...oh the NOISE...you have no idea until you experience with your own body and ears, a WOT rev from low to 9000 with a shift bang to the next gear...
One of the best videos on the internet
This is why the 911 reigns supreme year after year. This is why you see so many designing cars just to dethrone this classic. Porsche has been able to do what many companies are unable to do and that is they have learned how to improve perfection!
Fascinating interview. It's great to hear from someone who knows the cars inside and out and can give articulate answers borne from in-depth knowledge of the cars. Loved his jacket also!
"What you call it in England, a flappy paddle..." Someone's been watching Top Gear!
Awesome interview - Preuninger really knows what he is doing. I'm a die-hard manual fan, but this new form of specialized PDK seems to be very versatile, extremely efficient while retaining some of the characteristics of a manual.
My favorite Porsche right now!
What a well-spoken guy. Love the obvious passion and the intimate knowledge, as well as the fully-reasoned answers to some good, specific questions. I fully understand the concerns and the controversy, but he made a lot of good points.
I think Jethro's in love with Andreas.
Aren't we all?
A great interview, Jethro. I like how passionate Andreas is, he stumbles for words from excitement. Can't wait to see it tested!
I love the GT3. naturally aspirated.
I was not a Porsche fan several years ago, but I began listening to Andreas Preuninger and he is a true enthusiast, and a great spokesman for Porsche. I wish I could afford one of these GT3s, it is definitely a dream car, but I am hoping in 5 or 6 years I can get a used one. What a machine!!
Did u get it?
Love the car and the interview, sack the drunk camera-man. Driving me nuts with his in and out focal work
We appreciate the candid interview Andreas. I suspect this will be a very special car!
jethro's ears are about to blow
recalling how excited Chris Harris was when he interviewed Andreas on the GT3 RS 4.0. WIshed it was still him, he has a lot of questions, and genuinely one of the best automotive journalist/presenter there is.
Why are we not talking about how painfully red Bovingdon's ears are?
Just speechless,I´m in love with this car!!!
What a great job is doing Porsche with their 991 models.
Congratulations and can´t wait to see the 991 turbo.
Remember when cars used to have real gearboxes instead of playstation paddles?
Pepperidge farm remembers
But the shifts are faster.
Progress is a good thing.
The Doc I can lap the Nurburgring faster in Gran Turismo than I can lap it in real life, guess which one I'd rather do
Thomas1098R
I'm not sure what that has to do with anything.
The Doc it's not about speed, it's about fun and full driver involvement, this is what the car was all about, that is why it used to come with a manual transmission only.
thaik56
It's not about speed FOR YOU.
For others, driving enjoyment may be derived from something else.
In addition, it USED TO come with something; Porsche has obviously evolved.
"Batteries are heavy.....and this for a GT3 is outrageously high!" Love this commitment!
Thanks Jethro for asking all the right questions and thanks Porsche for clearly moving the game on. Want!
Best thing you've put out EVO for a long time.
GOD I LOVE GERMAN ENGINEERING! Thank you so much Evo for this detailed interview with a official from the factory and not just guessing at the reasons why they did certain things.
Thank you for producing this very well made video. Good interviewer and a great interview subject. A true car channel without the fluff. Cheers!
I have so much respect for Andreas he and Walter push the engineers to the limit . they are like yeah it's okay but this needs to be like that and they managed to pull it off
What a fantastic interview between two car fanatics. This is just car nerd heaven. Never heard of the Porsche dude, but i am an instant fan.
I do own a GT3 RS MKII and I wouldn't trade it in for this if I was offered.. not even if it was RS with PDK.. the way you downshift/heel-toe in manual is just more exciting.. everyday you learn something new, I just love the communication between the car and driver..
i can listen to Andreas talk about this car for days
It looks ABSOLUTELY perfect. Not a single flaw, it looks beautiful.
Great interview. Andreas not only knows this car exceptionally well, but he clearly is an avid fan. I want want wantttttt a 911 GT3!!!!!
i was strongly against this car not being available with manuel, but this, i think i can live with, that clutch kick feature just seems amazing, and that the gearstick shifts like the cup cars now in having to pull the stick back to change up a gear is also very cool
Yes they do, they've been improving the 911 with every new and prospective model... lap times and performance figures are clearly reflective of this. Not to mention how lauded the 911 lineup as been since its inception by practically every automotive expert in the industry.
Thank you so much for this interview.
i could just listen to this in the background. it's so soothing.
I learned to drive stick when I was 12, I'm 17 now but there isn't a day that I drive a manual that I don't learn something new. It's not that it's incredibly hard to learn the basics, just as with most things all it takes is practice, but the satisfaction of doing it properly is worth more than a couple tenths on a track
Fantastic company rep and a SUPERB auto! You can see the thought and research that goes in to EVERY part. WOW!
Evo makes the best vids out there. THANK YOU
Awesome interview, can't wait for the first drive reviews!
Incredible car. As a motorsports enthusiast (meaning I'm not only a GT-R or mustang fanboy, I love everything) this is truly an enrapturing automobile. I can tell the PDK is going to be a dream to drive. Everyone complains about the paddle-shifters but trust me, if you were in a 458, GT3, Aventador, etc. you'd be smiling ear to ear.
And he mentioned that this is the only street legal car with a rocker arm valvetrain? Maybe I misunderstood, but my C6 Z06 definitely uses rocker-arms..?
It has manual, PDK system always includes option for auto/manual mode. You can use paddle shifters to manually shift gears.
Still love watching this vid. AP is the consummate passionate Porsche man.
I like what they did with the pdk in this car. The clutch in the previous gt3 was a workout which made it a tough daily driver now it has the best of both
looks amazing.
I reckon they've reached the point that they are happy with the pdk's performance. The faster changes from the pdk outweight the extra mass issue, and also the power increase compared to the previous gt3 is considerable.
Personally I wish a manual was available, not that I can afford the car anyway, but I m afraid it is the end of an era...
One of the best comments ever! Thank You
Absolutely Amazing Video, thank you ! Btw Jethro Bovingdon no longer in car and driver or was he always on evo? Haven't seen anyone except harry on evo for a couple of months so cant remember.
Thanks EVO. Great questions. Everyone who has owned or driven a GT3 is of course concerned about the new 991 GT3 since it seems very mainstream with PDK and words like "comfort". I guess we will have to try for ourselves how the car handles and feels.
I am really excited for this car. I am next on the waiting list and should be getting mine by early next year!
Why? He already pointed out that the PDK can do anything the manual can do, plus that the shifting times with the PDK are exceptional
the PDK rev matches for you, no need for heel and toe shifting. you dont need to feel the shift, it does it for you. i agree with your view on the lsd and steering issue, but technology is moving foreward.
Agreed, but the double paddle pull is a pretty cool innovation!
I have loved Porsche since I could walk. I still have two model 911s that I was given for my 5th birthday. But no longer having a manual transmission makes me cry. It takes away from the fact that real driving should be raw, about a drivers grasp, control and understanding of an almost living machine. For me vintage and classic racing are fast becoming the only form or driving/racing that interests me.
He forgot to add that above 80 kph the rear wheel steer is in phase, moving the same way as the front wheels. This is what he's talking about regarding lane-changes, the car switches lanes almost flat.
What a beast !!!
Beautiful in White with the grey wheels.
such an amazing car and that clutch kick thing is just amazing!!!
Andreas is THE MAN!!
Wow this car just looks and seams amazing!! Hope I'll have the pleasure of driving one some day!!
Not to say I'm an expert, but when talking about the valvetrain I think Preuninger got it in reverse - I suppose he means they use low-mass (and usually quite high maintainance) tappets like on a motorbike engines, not rocker arms which are more commonly used on roadcar engines, as they make variable valve geometries simpler to implement. The cutaway-image on Porsche.com of the GT3 engine looks like tappets as well. Him not being aware of other cars using tappets in their valvetrain is actually a bit surprising. Many of the small sporty engines of the 1990s were tappet driven (Toyota 4A-GE, Rover K-Series...), I'm not sure of the modern engines though.
Wow, great interview and he seems like a very likeable guy. Good questions asked too. This was a very interesting vid. Thanks!
Man that clutch release function might finally make me a believer in PDK...as long as I can do donuts im happy
I was blown away by the new simulation clutch kick. That could take manuals completely out of the picture.
Ture, I hope it remains a rare site too. I talked to a lot of dealers in the DFW area about many used GT3s and they say that hot heads buy them to have the coolest fastest car but they quickly sell them back because they didn't realize that the car is a raw, demanding drivers car. However the 991 GT3 will appeal to both the track guy and the hot head so I bet we do see more of them. Especially because anyone can get inside a car with paddles and drive it. Still the 991 GT3 is going incredible.
I'm watching this with an ear-to-ear smile!
Damn, nice interview! Summed up all the questions I had and I have lot of confidence in Porsche making the correct choices for this car. It will be a great great car!
I agree, yet some people persist to call them "automatics" in the same way that a 76 Buick had and automatic lol. back in the day manuals were the way to go for performance drivers, time has changed, and technology has improved. PDK is fast!
Does the 918 have the same technology that as the new GT3? Because the technology in it sounds amazing
Don't know about the PDK, but the new simulation clutch kick is pretty impressive.
Check Porsche's official website for details:
"Manual operation of the 911 GT3-specific gear selector is based on the established motorsport principle: back to shift up, forward to shift down."
"PDK is essentially two gearboxes in one and thus requires two clutches."
PDK is standard - it will come in all new GT3's, but you can use the paddle shifters from what I understand. Of course contact your local Porsche dealer to be sure.
I got a warm fuzzy feeling inside while watching this!
Nice! I had that question for some time now. Why none of the manufacturers with double clutch cars didn't use both paddles at the same time to disengage the clutches? Good to see this feature in the gt3. Just like having a manual transmission, it gives you more control over the engine.
Could listen to those two all day long!
he says he isnt aware of any other carmaker using rocker arms, well my 20 year old 1.6 honda engine has rocker arms, revs stock to 8200 rpms, and with stronger valve springs (which i have) u can safely rev to 9000 rpm, never had any issues or engine problems :) 20 years old nearly
As soon as Andreas said WRC and donut mode I was sold! Forget heel toe and learn to tap dance like WRC driver! I own a manual and an auto. I heel toe in the manual and left foot brake with the auto. I find at the limit both are very fun but at the a leisurely pace or stuck in traffic the manual can be annoying especially with a heavy clutch. I trust Porsche did it right.
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Hugely interesting, informative and inspiring
Salute Mr Preuninger, The GT3 is in good hands with you in charge. Danke!
Because theres more to driving a car than just how quick it is, it has to feel right and connect the driver properly. If this new PDK gearbox can do that aswell as a manual box can then theres no problem. Personally I will always like a manual but I won't judge thios system until I try it.
Excellent Video. Mr Preuninger is quite an enthusiast
Haha when he said 315 for the top speed I was so surprised, then I remembered that it is in kph... I really wish we(America) would switch to metric, it is such a better system of measurement!
I've owned a 2007 997 GT3 and loved the manual. However, it will be interesting to see what they will do with this car. I personally will miss the old gearbox. This car is made for the general public and no longer caters to a select few as it aught to be. Obviously, I've never driven the 991 but I just hope that because this car is so much easier to live with, that everyone ditches the Turbo because this car is so much cooler to drive. I still hope this car remains rare to be seen.
What happens when you are breaking hard into a corner with the front wheels at 10 degrees and the back wheel steering activates because you went under the threshold? From the description it sounds like the back wheels would instantly snap to an out-of-phase position corresponding to the 10 degrees of angle on the front wheels.
Fantastic inside view - great job Evo :)
Great interview. Did he give tq specs off camera?
im only guessing on later special models or maybe final year they will, im sure customers who buy this will show great interest in a manual and porsche hopefully will respond and make a model with a stick shift manual....hopefully.
Excellent interview!
it's the new '991' generation of the 911 gt3, which takes over the '997' generation of 911's. the 991 Porsche turbo models are yet to be announced.
I drive manual now and love it. things can't stay the same forever.evolution may not be good but it is Necessary for growth as a hole. Lets hope they do something truly special with th RS. Personally i think it will be a great car to own. I wouldn't kick it out of my garage
This guy is a freakin magician or something. I just bought a Z06 and now I am seriously considering a Porsche. Damn it.
Was waiting for the beefed-up version. Looks great.
i love that video , one of the best Porsche videos out there.
He was so passionate about it.
*is
Air cooled engines went out the window long time ago,this is what we have to live with today and thisGT3 is fantastic.
Why is a rocker arm better than tappets in a valvetrain? It's one more piece between the cam and the valve.
Can't wait for a test drive and review now. Beautiful car!
One of the only cars where i actually prefer the paddles over a manual
This PDK gearbox sounds awesome but would it have really hurt to have a manual Porsche?
Awesome interview! Awesome car! A little bit sad that they don't offer both, manual and pdk but just look at it, it's amazing!
How do you turn the wheel while clutching out? And how do you use the handbrake while clutching out?
Never wanted a GT3 as much as this one! Wow.
both are correct. 991 is internal Porsche naming of the generation of cars, previous 911 was 997 and the one before it 996, 993 and so on.
Yes, but what is exiting about the manual is that the car obeys every single command, the connection between the car and the driver. I've been in contact with the 991 PDK. It is impressive, don´t get me wrong, As well, I've driven a 997.1 GT3 RS and just the feeling is priceless. It is not wrong that Porsche incorporates PDK, but having it as the sole option (correct me if wrong) is disappointing. Hopefully the RS will have the manual as the purpose of the RS is to reduce weight from the GT3
Great video. I"m really interested to feel how a 4ws 911 turns out! (or in, as it were)
I understand paddle shifters are faster and F1 uses them mostly so the drivers can have two hands on the steering wheel more often. I'm not arguinf against dual clutch trans. I was arguing against people saying the porsche switched the GT3 to paddle shifters because of the American market.