Porsche unveils 500bhp 911 R at Geneva Motor Show

Porsche has gone back to its traditional roots and made a car that hark backs to a time when the brand was known for making pure-bred sports cars with lightweight underpinnings. The car in question is the new 911 R which has been unleashed at the ongoing Geneva Motor Show.

The 911 R is the result of a time-honoured formula from Porsche. It features a 500bhp, 4-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six engine driving the rear wheels, a six-speed manual gearbox and a lightweight body. Interestingly, this new model is also limited to just 991 examples worldwide.

With an overall weight of 1,370kg, the 911 R undercuts the 911 GT3 RS by 50kg. The hood and front wheel-arches are made of carbon fibre and the roof is magnesium, which reduces the centre of gravity. Also helping in reducing the weight is the rear windscreen and rear side windows that are made of lightweight plastic.

In the rear of the 911 R lies the familiar flat-six 'boxer' engine, from the 911 GT3 RS. The race-bred engine delivers 500bhp at 8,250rpm and generates 460Nm of torque at 6,250 rpm. Thanks to this, 0-100kmph sprint takes just 3.7 seconds. In keeping with the pure character of the 911 R, Porsche is only offering a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Limited to 991 units worldwide, first deliveries for the 911 R are scheduled to begin from June. The 911 R unarguably is among the ultimate road-focused 911s in the 53 year history of the model. It is bound to be appreciated by hard-core Porsche enthusiasts and in particular those that prefer an old-school manual gearbox over a high-tech automatic.