Gunther Werks GXR-Evo Debuts With 455 HP, 9,000 RPM and Just 15 Units Worldwide

KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 — California-based performance specialist Gunther Werks has introduced the GXR-Evo, an extreme evolution of its Porsche 911 Type 993-based programme designed to deliver a highly focused analogue driving experience with motorsport-inspired engineering.

Unveiled during Monterey Car Week, the GXR-Evo is described by Gunther Werks as the fastest naturally aspirated car in its history and will be produced in a strictly limited run of just 15 units globally.

The project takes the company’s familiar air-cooled 993 formula and pushes it significantly further towards circuit performance, combining extensive weight reduction, aggressive aerodynamics and a high-revving naturally aspirated engine with a traditional manual gearbox.

At the heart of the GXR-Evo is a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six engine co-developed with air-cooled Porsche specialists Rothsport Racing.

The four-cam engine produces 455 horsepower and is capable of revving to nearly 9,000 rpm, placing an emphasis on immediate throttle response and high-revving character rather than turbocharged output.

A specialised slide-valve throttle-body system replaces conventional butterfly valves, reducing restrictions in the intake path and improving airflow into the engine. Gunther Werks says the system contributes to sharper throttle response and reinforces the engine’s naturally aspirated character.

Power is sent through a heavily re-engineered Getrag G50 six-speed manual transmission, maintaining the mechanical connection that has become one of the defining characteristics of Gunther Werks’ vehicles.

Weight reduction is another major focus of the GXR-Evo.

Gunther Werks says the car is 210 pounds lighter than its Coupe model, resulting in a dry weight of only 2,386 pounds, or approximately 1,082 kilograms.

Its body is constructed entirely from carbon fibre using a 12K 2×2 carbon weave, helping reduce mass while giving engineers greater freedom to reshape the body around aerodynamic requirements.

With 455 hp moving such a lightweight platform, the GXR-Evo is designed around power-to-weight ratio, responsiveness and driver feedback rather than chasing headline horsepower figures alone.

Visually, the GXR-Evo represents one of the most aggressive interpretations of the Porsche 993 silhouette produced by Gunther Werks.

At the front, a large splitter works together with canards and integrated aerodynamic tunnels, directing air through vented front fenders to reduce pressure and generate additional front-end downforce.

The rear receives an enormous high-downforce wing with sculpted carbon-fibre endplates.

Gunther Werks has even removed the conventional rear window, replacing it with an integrated shark-fin stability element, while carbon-fibre quarter windows channel cooling air towards the engine.

The changes give the GXR-Evo a significantly more competition-focused appearance than the company’s existing road-oriented commissions.

The chassis has also received extensive modifications.

A bespoke double-wishbone front suspension is paired with JRZ three-way adjustable remote-reservoir dampers, allowing the car to be configured for different circuit conditions.

Stopping power comes from Brembo Pista racing brakes, supported by motorsport-grade ABS.

Lightweight magnesium centre-lock wheels further reduce unsprung mass, while a competition-level tyre-pressure monitoring system gives the driver detailed information during demanding track sessions.

A straight-pipe exhaust system completes the mechanical package and is intended to give the naturally aspirated flat-six an even more direct character.

Inside, the focus shifts almost entirely towards the driver.

A Racetech carbon-Kevlar racing seat and Schroth six-point harness are mounted inside an eight-point roll cage, reflecting the car’s circuit-focused purpose.

The traditional dashboard instrumentation is replaced by a configurable Motec digital display offering lap timing and race diagnostics.

An all-new quick-release steering wheel further reinforces the motorsport atmosphere.

Additional equipment includes a built-in pneumatic air-jack system, digital rear-view mirror with backup camera, OMP electronic fire-suppression system and even a driver helmet cooling system for extended track use.

The exclusivity of the GXR-Evo goes beyond the car itself.

Each of the 15 owners will also receive a bespoke racing simulator developed with MYSIM and configured to replicate the dynamics of their individual vehicle.

Each simulator is individually numbered, hand-welded from 6061-T6 aluminium and finished with carbon-fibre panels that mirror the construction philosophy of the GXR-Evo.

Its steering wheel also reproduces the F1-inspired design used in the actual car, allowing owners to practise circuit driving in a virtual environment before taking their GXR-Evo onto a track.

Gunther Werks says the car represents the culmination of nine years of engineering development and motorsport-driven experimentation around the Type 993 platform.

Founder and CEO Peter Nam characterised the GXR-Evo as the company’s most uncompromising interpretation of its philosophy, combining race-bred engineering with the mechanical character of an analogue air-cooled 911.

Rather than transforming the 993 into a modern luxury restomod, the GXR-Evo takes a more aggressive direction by stripping away unnecessary weight and prioritising aerodynamic performance, driver interaction and circuit capability.

Gunther Werks will build only 15 GXR-Evo examples worldwide, making it one of the company’s most exclusive commissions.

The company has not disclosed official pricing in its launch announcement, although the combination of limited production, bespoke carbon-fibre construction and specialist engineering positions it firmly at the highest end of the Porsche restomod market.

With its 455-hp naturally aspirated flat-six, near-9,000-rpm redline, six-speed manual gearbox and stripped 2,386-pound body, the GXR-Evo represents a distinctly analogue alternative in an era increasingly dominated by turbocharging, electrification and automated transmissions.

For Gunther Werks, the GXR-Evo is not simply another 993 restoration. It is the company’s most track-focused attempt yet to push the classic air-cooled 911 platform into modern performance territory while preserving the direct connection between driver, engine and road.