The 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 is one of the most technologically advanced cars on the road.
Still, nobody’s perfect. Accordingly, Porsche recalled all 785 2014 GT3s due to potential engine fires. Two cars in Europe caught fire, and Porsche told the remaining owners to stop driving their cars immediately.
However, Porsche has found a solution: It will replace each car’s engine.
The company said so in a letter to owners dug up by Autoweek, and it’s certainly one of the most thorough ways to complete a recall ever conceived by a mainstream carmaker.
The 2014 911 GT3 uses a new 3.8-liter flat-six; the first time since the car’s inception that Porsche has designed a new engine for it. The company says it’s traced the fire problem to a loosened piston-rod screw connection, which can damage the crankcase.
Porsche is currently testing a better screw, and when it’s finished, it will begin yanking the engines from customer cars and putting in new ones.
While owners may be annoyed about not being able to drive their expensive new sports cars, it’s hard to argue with a carmaker that will go to that length to correct the problem.
Owners could have even come out ahead if their cars were a little older. A new engine would be a pleasant surprise for a car with a few miles on it, but the handful of 2014 GT3s in customer hands probably haven’t had to time accumulate much mileage.
It’s also best to be cautious when dealing with performance of the GT3’s caliber.
When working properly, that 475 horsepower flat-sic can propel the GT3 to 60 mph from a standstill in 3.3 seconds, and on to a top speed of 195 mph.
