911 GT3 Touring Package was a response to ‘car flippers’
The Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Package was created to quell the skyrocketing prices of the limited-edition Porsche 911R on the used car market.
Speaking to Road and Track, August Achleitner, product director of the 911 range, said the 911 GT3 Touring Package was released in response to people buying the 911R at or list price and 'flipping' it for a massive profit.
He said the company did not expect the "crazy reaction concerning used car prices", and was particularly displeased that "some people are making only money with the car".
Above and top: Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Package.
"If [the GT3 Touring Package] helps keep the prices a little bit lower for the average customer of our cars, it's better," he noted. "Of course, there are some specific customers who are a little bit disappointed, but it's ok, we can live with this."
At its launch earlier this year, the $326,800 911 GT3 Touring Package raised some eyebrows due to its similarity with the $404,700 911R.
Above and below: Porsche 911 R.
Unveiled at the 2016 Geneva motor show, the 911R had a production run of just 991 units. It has a naturally-aspirated 368kW/460Nm 4.0-litre six-cylinder boxer engine, paired exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission.
Thanks to its carbon-fibre front wings and bonnet, magnesium roof, plastic side and rear windows, reduced insulation, and optional air conditioning, the 911 R has a 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 323km/h.
The 911 GT3 Touring Package, on the other hand, has no artificial production constraints placed on it, and is powered by a 4.0-litre engine with the same power and torque rating.
It does miss out on some of the R's features, most importantly its weight saving measures, but it's still capable of a 0-100km/h time of 3.9s and a top speed of 316km/h.
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