The new Porsche 911 GT3 is sheer joy to drive. It’s raw but polished, crisp and visceral. The GT3 is a proper sports car standard, and its new Touring package should elevate this 911 to new heights. The 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 Touring, which made its premiere on Tuesday, follows a tried-and-true formula. The removal of the massive, fixed swan neck rear wing, similar to the 991.2-generation Touring, is the significant difference between this 911 and a regular gt3. Instead, the Touring sports a minor rear spoiler that opens and shuts automatically based on speed, similar to previous 911 variants. 

The appearance is completed with a unique mesh covering for the engine’s air intakes. However, your gaze will undoubtedly be drawn to the GT3’s wide stance, prominent diffuser, and massive centre exhaust pipes. The other distinctions are even more subtle. The Touring features aluminium trim around its side windows, which, like the tailpipes, may be completed in black as an option. Unlike the regular GT3, which has a black bottom portion, the Touring’s whole front fascia is body-colored. The GT3’s weird nostrils are still here, but I think the full-colour treatment looks way better. It’s hard to tell in the darker colour of this show car, but I think it will look fabulous in a more vibrant hue. 

The Touring replaces the GT3’s Alcantara suede with black leather on the steering wheel, gear lever, centre console, and door cards, among other places. Although the Touring features extremely friendly textile fabric inserts, the sport seats are also made in black leather. All of the standard GT3’s comfort and tech features are accessible here, as well as Porsche’s complete range of personalization choices. There’s even a specifically built, model-specific Porsche Design clock because, of course, there is. 

The Touring is mechanically identical to the regular GT3; Porsche claims that the engine, gearboxes, suspension, wheels, and tyres are shared between the two cars. The 992 is available with Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox instead of the 991.2-generation GT3 Touring, which was only available with a manual transmission. The free-breathing flat-six engine produces 502 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque, and it can rev to 9,000 rpm regardless of which option you pick. 

But first, a word about the transmissions. When using Porsche’s online configurator to create a 911 GT3 Touring, the PDK transmission is shown as standard, whereas the manual transmission is illustrated in other nations. Why? Because manual transmission isn’t accessible in all 50 states in the United States. All GT3 variants are PDK-only in California. I know it’s a bummer, especially considering Porsche claims a 70 per cent success rate.

In any event, if you want one (and you should), the Touring will set you back $162,450, plus $1,350 for the destination. That’s the same price as a standard GT3, making a choice even more difficult for those who are undecided. Me? Every day, I’ll take the Touring. The 992 GT3 is fantastic, and the Touring’s minor tweaks add to its appeal.