Porsche has announced another new limited-edition 911, and it looks fantastic in a new color. It’s called the GT3 Bergsport, but unfortunately, this won’t be a Californian canyon carver. Instead, it’s an Alpine assault weapon, limited to 100 units and exclusive to customers in Austria, France, Italy, and Switzerland. You know, Alpine countries. Still, nerding out over a new GT3 variant is always fun, and this one may be one of the best. While it debuts a new Paint to Sample Plus color called Valleygreenmetallic (Stuttgart has no time for spacebars), the GT3 Bergsport gets more than just a lick of paint, adding the Lightweight Package. It also comes exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox, and the Exclusive Manufaktur department completes the offering with leather goods and a scale model. Let’s take a look, albeit a wistful one.
Porsche GT3 Bergsport: Light But Resilient
As the lack of a wing indicates, the elegant GT3 Bergsport is based on the 911 GT3 with the slightly more comfort-oriented but no less enthralling Touring Package, and its subtle but rich paintwork elevates the level of luxury, masterfully blending greens and earthy tones as a nod to the landscapes that inspired it. In sunlight, its complexity becomes clearer, with gold metallic flakes adding sparkling depth to the finish. This, Porsche says, references the glittering appearance of fresh Alpine snow. The self-assured look is enhanced through the orange brake calipers and forged aluminum wheels, the latter finished in satin White Gold and Ceramica, inspired by the sun rising or setting behind Alpine peaks. Although the car features the Lightweight Package, Porsche decided against fitting the usual magnesium wheels because aluminum will hold up to bumps and road rash better, encouraging regular use on often-imperfect Alpine passes.
Other details include tinted headlights, a chequered flag motif on the frunk lid (inspired by the intriguing 909 Bergspyder hillclimb car), GT3 Bergsport badges on the B-pillars that match the wheels, and on the engine cover, a circular Alpine emblem with four peaks (a reference to the Alpine countries it’ll be offered in), much like you’d find on a 911 S/T, a GT3 S/C, or a Sport Classic. Inside, the car looks just as good.
Porsche GT3 Bergsport Interior Is Understated Class
The Valleygreen paint finish has been mimicked as a bespoke leather color inside, contrasted by orange stitching and GT3 headrest embroidery on the folding carbon buckets included in the ‘Leichtbau’ pack. Again, the Bergsport encourages more regular use with the inclusion of rear seats, though these are uninhabitable for anyone but children. Orange reappears on the steering wheel’s noon marker, the shift pattern on the manual gear lever, and the start switch (while all other 911s have a start button these days, GT3 variants still come with the nostalgic, engaging turning switch). You’ll also find orange on the clock in the middle of the dash, part of the Sport Chrono Package, but the dash itself is stitched with alternating black and white threads, referencing the mountain peaks. Elsewhere, the GT3 Bergsport includes a Light Design Package with additional ambient lighting, a Bose Surround Sound System, and an embossed center console lid repeating the design seen on the engine cover’s badge, but people can’t see those details unless you’re parked right outside the coffee shop, so the key, leather pouch, and documentation wallet are trimmed in the same colors.
With special-edition Porsches, there are often other “lifestyle” accessories available to buyers. On this occasion, however, you don’t need a GT3 Bergsport to spend, with Porsche Lifestyle creating 1:43- and 1:18-scale models, hats, travel mugs, key rings, and hoodies inspired by the car. Even skis are available, and a run of 1,000 copies of a special-edition issue of Curves Magazine will be released. I guess this is what Porsche meant when it said it wanted to build fewer cars and make more money, and with the future of the unassisted, naturally aspirated engine being in doubt, you can’t blame Porsche for taking advantage while it still can.
