Think a Porsche 911 GT3 RS with a Manthey kit is about as serious as a 911 gets? Well, Gunther Werks thinks otherwise. Its latest creation, the GXR-Evo, takes the humble 993-generation 911 and turns it into something that looks like it escaped from a GT racing paddock.
Unveiled at Monterey Car Week, the GXR-Evo is Gunther Werks’ most extreme creation yet, and also its fastest naturally aspirated car. It is a 993 like you’ve never seen before, with enough aero hardware to make a modern GT3 RS look almost restrained. Just look at it. There’s an enormous rear wing with intricate endplates, a massive diffuser, rear wheel covers, a shark fin where the rear window should be, louvres cut into the front wheel arches and a giant front splitter that looks capable of clearing traffic from the road ahead. The nose is also peppered with huge air intakes, all in the name of generating serious downforce. Gunther Werks hasn’t quoted a downforce figure yet, but says the aero package creates a ‘significant’ front-end downforce and describes the rear wing as a ‘high-downforce’ unit. And mind you, this is a street legal car!
On the chassis front, this car gets double-wishbone suspension upfront layout, similar in principle to the set-up used by the modern 911 GT3, while JRZ three-way adjustable remote-reservoir dampers sit at all four corners. Race-spec Brembo brakes handle stopping duties, while magnesium centre-lock wheels help shave even more weight. And weight is something Gunther Werks has taken very seriously. The GXR-Evo weighs just 1082 kg dry, which is around 95 kg lighter than the company’s other 993-based creations. Much of that weight saving comes from its carbon fibre body, but Gunther Werks has also gone through practically every component looking for unnecessary grams to remove.
Then there’s the engine. Forget turbochargers or electric assistance; this is a properly old-school, naturally aspirated flat-six. It is a 4-litre air-cooled unit developed with Rothsport Racing, producing 455 bhp and revving all the way to 9000 rpm. It gets a slide-valve throttle-body system instead of conventional butterfly throttles, which improves airflow and sharpens throttle response. And with a straight-pipe exhaust, this thing should sound every bit as wild as it looks. The GXR-Evo uses an extensively upgraded version of the Getrag G50 six-speed manual. So, yes, you get to row your own gears in a 1082 kg, 455 bhp, 9000 rpm air-cooled 911.
Inside, the racing theme continues. There’s a quick-release steering wheel, a Motec digital display, six-point harnesses, carbon fibre bucket seats and even air conditioning. Optional air jacks can also be fitted to the car. Proper race car stuff, this.
Gunther Werks is making just 15 examples of the GXR-Evo, making it super rare even by the standards of high-end Porsche restomods. Price? There’s no figure yet, but if you’re even thinking about getting your hands on one, we suspect money isn’t much of a concern.
