2022 Porsche 911 Review

These days, we almost feel like our own subhead question should be: "What isn't the 911?" Every year Porsche seems to bake up new versions to fill every possible niche in the sports car market. Well, 2022 is shaping up to be no exception for this German icon. On tap is the return of the GTS and GT3 models, both of which we last saw for 2019. For 2022, the new variants are based on the eighth-generation 911 introduced for the 2020 model year.

The GTS is part of the core 911 lineup, adding extra horsepower and a few performance options on top of the already potent Carrera S. The GT3, on the other hand, slots between the GTS and the all-powerful 911 Turbo in terms of cost, but it has a different aim in mind. Originally designed so that Porsche could take the 911 racing, the GT3 eschews a number of creature comforts and is packed with race-derived parts, all in the name of driving engagement and performance.

The GTS and the GT3 take rather different approaches in the engine room. Like the Carrera and Carrera S, the GTS is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six engine. It produces 473 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque — an increase of 30 hp and 30 lb-ft compared to the Carrera S. Porsche says the extra boost is good for a 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds in the all-wheel-drive model with Porsche's dual-clutch automatic transmission (PDK). A Carrera S in the same configuration is estimated by Porsche to hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Buyers looking for a classic sports car driving experience will find that the throws for the seven-speed manual have been shortened 10 mm for quicker shifting.

As for the GT3, it sports a 4.0-liter flat-six engine that forgoes turbocharging but cranks up the redline to a heady 9,000 rpm. Output for 2022 is 502 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of torque. Porsche estimates that a 2022 GT3 with the PDK automatic will hit 60 mph from rest in 3.2 seconds, with the manual-transmission model trailing by half a second.

While the PDK will be the default transmission on the standard GT3, the six-speed will be available as a no-cost option. That selection flips for GT3s equipped with the street-oriented Touring package. There, the manual is standard and the PDK is a no-cost option. Porsche's logic for the flipped standard transmission offerings is that GT3 owners will want to eke out every bit of performance on track days, while Touring customers are happy to take a hit to raw acceleration for a more connected driving feel.

GTS upgrades don't stop with the additional engine output, of course. These models also borrow the 911 Turbo's more powerful brakes and come with unique tuning to the adaptive suspension module (Porsche's PASM). The sport exhaust is also specific to the GTS, and the note should be more noticeable thanks to a decrease in sound insulation. Purists might want to further spec the Lightweight package, which shaves 55 pounds off the weight of the car to give drivers an extra edge on track. It swaps out the luxurious standard seats with carbon-fiber buckets, removes the rear seats entirely, and uses a lighter glass for the side and rear windows.

Speaking of purists, though, they'll likely head straight for the GT3 if their wallets can handle it. Thanks to a unique race-derived suspension, adjustable aerodynamics and a slew of other high-performance upgrades, the 2022 GT3 stands as arguably the purest and rawest expression of Porsche's uncompromising ethos. There's nothing else quite like it.