Porsche listens to enthusiasts' pleas, restores 911 GT3's manual transmission

By Stephen Edelstein Published March 9, 2017

When it unveiled the last 911 GT3 about four years ago, Porsche ditched the manual transmission option amid howls of protests from car enthusiasts. For the past few years, this-driver focused, high-performance version of the 911 has been available only with a PDK dual-clutch transmission. But that’s about to change.

Unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 regains a manual transmission, indicating that even Porsche is no match for the collective will of angry car fans. The GT3 also adds plenty of other upgrades that should make it even more ferocious than before, while keeping the fans happy.

Recommended Videos

That long-awaited manual transmission is a six-speed unit, and Porsche will continue to offer a seven-speed PDK as well. The engine those transmissions are bolted to is a new 4.0-liter flat-six, one of the last engines in the 911 lineup that isn’t turbocharged. It produces 500 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, up 25 hp and 15 lb-ft over the previous 3.8-liter flat-six.

Despite making the car slightly heavier, Porsche says the PDK also makes the GT3 slightly quicker. It quotes a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.2 seconds for the PDK, and 3.8 seconds for the manual. Top speed is 197 mph with the PDK, and 198 mph with the manual. Beyond the powertrain upgrades, the GT3 is largely unchanged, keeping the aerodynamic enhancements and trick mechanical features of its predecessor.

The GT3 retains a locking differential, active engine mounts, and rear-wheel steering. The rear wheels are capable of turning in the opposite direction as the fronts at low speeds to increase maneuverability, and in the same direction as the fronts at higher speeds to maintain stability. The Porsche Track Precision App is another new addition, allowing drivers to record driving data and send it to a connected smartphone. The app is bundled with an infotainment system that also includes navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

The 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 will arrive in United States showrooms this fall. Pricing will start at $144,650, including the mandatory destination fee.

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Cars

Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

Cars

Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.