This One-Off Asymmetric 911 GT3 RS Is Porsche's Quirky Tribute To Canada - The Autopian (2024)

Every so often, perhaps justly, Canadians get accused of being a little bit less patriotic than Americans. I’m no scientist, but it’s possible this is partly due to us defining our nation as a series of abstract concepts and partly because our wildlife more plausibly consists of geese and moose and other funny-looking but potentially lethal entities, rather than screeching bald eagles and bears that bear arms. However, that doesn’t stop the occasional automaker from going all-in on Canadiana. Simply put, the Hyundai Santa Fe NHL Edition has nothing on the 911 GT3 RS Porsche just unveiled at the Toronto Auto Show.

This year, Porsche is opening one of its ultra-fancy Porsche Experience Centers near-ish to Toronto, complete with a two-kilometer Tilke Engineering-designed track. Some of you will recoil in horror of that statement, while some of you will recall that the Las Vegas Grand Prix was actually excellent. Regardless, to promote this occasion, the marque decided to hand a brand new 911 GT3 RS to its Sonderwunsch division and 1993 Boxster concept designer Grant Larson, and presumably told them to go full Terrance and Phillip.

In case you aren’t familiar with Porsche’s boutique program, Sonderwunsch translates to “special request” in German. Basically, if it isn’t on the options list but is even remotely feasible, you can pay Porsche to make it happen. Special etched trim? Quite possibly. Heritage cloth seat inserts? Sure. Unusual paint-matched components? Most of the time, knock yourself out. However, Larson and the Sonderwunsch program decided to go one step further with an asymmetric paint job.

Two-thirds of the car is painted red, with the remaining third painted white in homage to the Canadian flag. While truck manufacturers are known for contrasting lower bodysides, Porsche drew a line longitudinally up the car and went at it. To get that line just right with full coverage and without any bleed is a difficult task, but throwing money at the problem just makes it seem like another day in the office, adding a duotone maple leaf on the roof as a cherry on top. This is all exceedingly weird, largely because Canada’s flag isn’t asymmetric when mirrored across a vertical axis.

A tricky paint job isn’t the only thing making this 911 GT3 RS unique. Along with the color flip of the paint, virtually all other accents are color-flipped. The white side sports red graphics and wheel accents, while the red side flaunts white graphics and wheel accents.

In case anyone still risks losing this unique 911 in a parking lot, the headrests and wing endplates are emblazoned with “PECTO,” which stands for Porsche Experience Centre Toronto, but sounds rather close to something you’d find on a pizza or something you’d find in a medicine cabinet, or possibly even a pet store if the GT3 RS in question is moving particularly quickly.

While many of these cosmetic alterations aren’t to everyone’s taste, one set seems more subtle than others. Seeing a maple leaf on each wheel centerlock is just nifty, a rather tasteful touch, all things considered. Maybe it’s made more subtle by the awe-inspiring wing, or the nose ducts big enough to swallow entire Cessnas, or *ahem* that paint job.

Unsurprisingly, Porsche will only ever make this one 911 GT3 RS to promote its latest facility, but if you’re so inclined, you will be able to buy 1:43-scale diecast cars sporting this color scheme. Or, here’s another idea: If you do live in the vicinity of the incoming Porsche Experience Centre Toronto, save the money for now and use it while you’re there once doors open. It’s fun and quirky to own a model car commemorating a new venue, but a little voice inside me suggests it’s better to go and experience that venue firsthand.

Anyway, this whole custom 911 GT3 RS is definitely a touch of glorious weirdness in a mildly infuriating, slightly off-kilter, yet oddly hilarious way, but it’s also something we definitely didn’t see in Detroit or Los Angeles. Now, if you’ll excuse me for a second, Richard Hammond is on stage to talk about the Pagani Zonda.

(Photo credits: Thomas Hundal)

Support our mission of championing car culture bybecoming an Official Autopian Member.

• I’m At The Toronto Auto Show And Things Are About To Get Awesome

• Did You Know There’s A Whole Ass Racing Series For Nissan Sentras In Canada?

• Hyundai’s VP Of N Wants To Put The Wild N Vision 74 Into Production

• The Detroit Auto Show Was A Wild Party For Media And It May Never Be That Again And That’s Ok

• The Trackday Special Porsche 911 GT3 RS Is Back With Red Stripes And A DRS-Equipped Wing The Size Of Australia

Got a hot tip? Send it to ushere. Or check out the stories onour homepage.