This GT3 RS found its color outside the range of standard options.
Born as a race-bred brand with historical roots in motorsports, Porsche has built its world-renowned reputation and a community of passionate owners and enthusiasts behind its idea of crafting the ultimate sports car. And while performance has and will always remain the focus of its DNA, it goes without saying that Porsche also prides itself on taking a creative and personalized approach to designing its cars. Porsche’s Paint-to-Sample Program has allowed customers to configure their 911s using extensive color palettes since the early 1990s, birthing iconic shades like Speed Yellow, Mexico Blue, Irish Green, Ruby Star, and so many others. Highlighting how far Porsche and its PTS program have come, the team at The Porsche Exchange recently showcased this brand-new Porsche 911 GT3 RS in Ipanema Blue.
Where colors play a pivotal role in Porsche’s history, most come attached with a story or reasoning behind the choice of name. For Ipanema Blue, the rare turquoise metallic finish is named after the crystal clear waters of Rio de Janeiro beach. More commonly seen in 997.2 generation 911s like the Turbo S and Carrera 4 GTS, this 992 GT3 RS is the perfect example of how these influential colors continue to resurface on newer models while cementing themselves in the PTS archives. The vibrant blue finish contrasts beautifully with all the exposed gloss carbon fiber that makes the 911 GT3 RS ultra-lightweight and agile. Inside, the cabin takes a more subtle and stealthy approach with a black leather interior paired with even more exposed carbon.
The 992 Porsche 911 GT3 RS is all about precision and performance, starting with its naturally aspirated 4.0L flat-six engine that screams all the way up to 9,000 rpm. It delivers 518 horsepower and 343 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels, paired with a 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. The result is a 0–60 mph time of just 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 184 mph. View all Porsche Exchange inventory for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below.
In the modern Bugatti lineage, the Mistral is a model of great significance. As the French marque moves on to a naturally aspirated V16 in the Tourbillon, the iconic W16 that defined the record-breaking Veyron and subsequently the Chiron, represents the swan song for the mighty engine envisioned by none other than the late Ferdinand Pïech.
So with a two-decade-long legacy to uphold, Bugatti has left nothing to chance with the quad-turbo unit’s final act, the Mistral. The W16 Mistral is Bugatti’s first roadster in over a decade, with its predecessor being the mighty Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. The Mistral packs an 8.0-liter W16 engine that produces 1,600 horsepower.
But building the ultimate open-top Hypercar also means pushing every boundary, both emotional and mechanical, to the absolute limit. Before signing off, every single Mistral must earn its badge through a brutal 400-kilometer (248-mile) real-world quality assessment road test, across the Alsatian countryside in France, home turf for Bugatti.
Our evaluation protocol isn’t just about validating functionality, but a confirmation that each W16 Mistral is imbued with the pure essence of quality, precision, and craftsmanship that makes a Bugatti truly extraordinary. – Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles
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According to Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles, this evaluation process goes beyond the normal fit & finish assessment and is one that has been evolving for the past 20 years, since the days of the Veyron, refined for the Chiron, and now perfected for the Mistral.
The test route features everything from narrow-cobblestone streets in medieval European villages that test the ride quality and chassis irregularities to sweeping technical mountain passes that put the powertrain under varying elevation and atmospheric conditions. Fast sections on the autoroutes (highways) help evaluate stability under sustained loads. Transmission performance is also thoroughly analyzed during acceleration, deceleration, and varied load scenarios, ensuring every gear change feels instinctive
Each test car is assigned to one of only three Bugatti-qualified personnel, who have been trained over the years to sense and detect even the most minute irregularities, if any. Test drivers rely on acoustics to detect unwanted resonance or drivetrain inconsistencies. All the data is recorded and logged through a dictaphone for further evaluation and analysis, and if needed, the car is partially or even completely disassembled to fix issues.
Close to 90 percent of the test relies upon human touch, sight, and sound. The remaining 10 percent is a precise digital affair that relies upon proprietary telemetry and data loggers for performance tracking, down to the millisecond. Bugatti also subjects the Mistral to comprehensive noise testing, analyzing the acoustics of the exhaust, road, and wind, with and without the roof in place.
The removable roof is not only rigorously tested for fit and function, but also to ensure that it holds firm at 300 km/h (186 mph) on Colmar airfield’s 1,600-meter (1 mile) test strip. As part of Bugatti’s track session, the automaker maintains an exclusive partnership with the facility where braking systems, ESP, and ABS are tested from 300 km/h (186 mph).
After fixing any issues (if found), each car returns for a final evaluation, often on a 50 km (31 mile), re-run, and this continues until Bugatti themselves is satisfied and every detail is perfected, all before a Mistral ever sees a showroom floor. In conclusion, before any Mistral ever reaches its new owner, it must prove its worth on real roads and under real scrutiny of Bugatti’s stringent and unforgiving standards.
