Exactly one year after the debut of the gorgeous 993 Speedster, Gunther Werks returned to Monterey to show their new and even more extreme offering: the Project Tornado. The model that was showcased at The Quail is a heavily “remastered” Porsche 993 Turbo with an ultra-wide carbon-fiber body, a bespoke interior, and a tuned twin-turbo engine producing up to 700 hp.
Starting with the exterior, every single body panel of the Project Tornado with the exception of the doors is made of carbon fiber. This makes the body 500 pounds (227 kg) lighter than the original, resulting in a low overall weight of 2,700 pounds (1,225 kg). Besides weight-saving, the redesigned bodywork vastly improves cooling while increasing downforce.
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Styling-wise, the Project Tornado looks like a modernized version of a 993 Turbo, with elements from Porsche GT cars and racecars. The new front bumper has larger intakes and a splitter, leading the air to the vented bonnet. The wide front fenders have integrated openings, with the new side sills leading to the even wider rear fenders with large intakes. The lightweight wheels have a diameter of 18 inches and combine carbon fiber barrels with magnesium centers.
The double-bubble roof is another motorsport-derived touch, but the most striking view is definitely the rear end. The highlight is the massive whale-tail rear wing with functional cooling vents, but there are also a new rear bumper with huge openings, a large diffuser, and high-mounted dual exhaust pipes 3d-printed from Inconel or titanium, reminiscent of the Carrera GT. Of course, Gunther Werks added the bespoke LED taillights which are also used in their 993 Speedster and Coupe models.
Inside, everything is covered in carbon fiber or Alcantara, with contrasting body-colored accents. The brand-new carbon fiber bucket seats offer maximum support with the cushions being tailored to the owner’s body shape. The steering wheel is also made of carbon fiber while the center console has a magnetic tablet mount offering wireless charging.
The rear-mounted air-cooled twin-turbo 4.0-liter flat-six engine was built by Rothsport Racing, with a motorsports-derived flat fan (like in Le Mans racecars), liquid charged cooling, and a Motec engine management system. This increases power output to a healthy 600 hp (447 kW / 608 PS) in standard form, or up to 700 hp (522 kW / 710 PS) in track mode, while the torque is more than 560 lb-ft (759 Nm).
The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission sending power to the rear axle, with Gunther Werks promising huge amounts of mechanical grip. The chassis is tuned with modern standards, using a sophisticated active suspension system and Brembo CCMR brakes. Overall, the model is expected to be quite fast in Laguna Seca where it will be tested soon, most likely challenging the lap times set by the Porsche 918 Spyder and the McLaren P1.
Besides the pictured example, the company will also offer a touring package for those who intend on using the Project Tornado on the road instead of the track. This one will feature a smaller ducktail rear spoiler, more comfortable carbon-fiber seats, a more practical carbon fiber trunk, and a different engine tune.
Gunther Werks didn’t specify the number of units it will produce, nor the pricing for the Project Tornado, but is already taking orders from prospective clients, with each example tailored to the owner’s wishes. Below you can watch a video by YouTuber Mr. JWW who visited the company’s headquarters in Huntington Beach, US, to check out the Project Tornado from up close.
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Images from Gunther Werks’ Facebook Page
