Worst kept secret?

The 911 R has been long rumoured, and massively anticipated. Indeed, ever since Porsche added a PDK paddle-shift transmission to the GT3, Porsche's most hardcore fans have been asking for a manual gearbox. The 911 R answers that, cherry-picking the best bits from the GT department's parts list and adding it to a non-track biased model to create a car that appeals to customers turned off by ultimate lap-time ability and instead crave some old-school interaction.

Sounds mega...

Doesn't it? We've had a natter with Porsche's GT head, Andreas Preuninger, and he reckons that the 911 R will be bought by those people who are hoovering up classic cars in the pursuit of old-school driving thrills. Sadly, Porsche is limiting the production run to just 991 units, which means, if you're not already a regular Porsche buyer, you can forget getting your feet on those three pedals.

Damn.

Exactly. The 911 R is essentially a GT3 RS with a bespoke (GT department developed) six-speed manual transmission, a unique chassis set up and none of the racetrack refugee homologation wings - for a degree of understatement. All of which makes us wonder why Porsche has stuck some massive red stripes on the lightweight bonnet and over that magnesium, channelled roof, down past the lightweight plastic rear window. Still, you can option it without the stickers, though we'd leave the classy Porsche script down the flanks that are evocative of the original 911 R that won various races back in the late 1960s - like the Tour de France in the hands of Gerard Larrousse.

Tell us more...

Frankly the numbers are irrelevant, though for the record it's 500hp from the 4.0 GT3 RS's naturally-aspirated flat-six engine, allowing the 911 R to reach 62mph in 3.8 seconds. The loss of that rear wing means the top speed's up, too, the 911 R managing over 200mph. Standard supercar fare, then, but the promise from Preuninger is that the 911 R is all about agility and feel. He suggests specifying it with the single-mass flywheel clutch option for the fastest, most enjoyable shift, while the standard specification includes rear-wheel steer, PCCB carbon ceramic brakes and a downshift blipping function. You can switch it off using the Sport button though, if you prefer your downshifts eased by your own foot rolling off the brake and onto the accelerator.

Okay, we want one a lot.

You and everyone else. This car represents something of a paradigm shift, the best combination of modern performance with some old school interaction. There's nothing really out there from Porsche's direct competition to rival it. All of Preuninger's comments focus on how it feels, the accuracy and speed of the manual shift, the steering, mechanical rather than aero grip and the loss of mass; the 911 R is actually the lightest 911 the company makes - by around 50kg.

You're not helping.

No, stop reading, go lie down and wonder how the hell you're going to get on the list. You'll need to rob a bank and pay the inevitable premium - think many multiples of its as yet unknown price. We reckon it could be worth it.