Porsche 911 GT3 Cup races into Paris auto show

[Suarez™]

The new 911 GT3 Cup race car joined the Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid at the Paris auto show on Thursday. Its four-liter flat-six now makes 485 hp, and the whole package tips the scales at just 2,645 pounds.

For efficiency and performance, Porsche says, the naturally aspirated engine gets rigidly mounted rocker arms and a central oil feed for the first time. Additionally, an integrated oil centrifuge keeps oil foaming down while a more rigid crankshaft was also installed.

On the aero front, the GT3 Cup gets a new front apron and rear end. The 72.4-inch rear wing returns, as do the wheel dimensions, which are center-locking 18-inchers with Michelin racing slicks.

As necessary, the Cup comes with a safety cage, molded bucket seats and a new roof rescue hatch that conforms to the latest FIA standard. Hope no one has to use that anytime soon.

Porsche says we’ll see the new GT3 Cup in the 2017 racing season, including but not limited to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland (and North America), and other GT classes after that.

Check out the rest of our Paris motor show coverage here.