$560K pricetag for Porsche GT2 RS

PORSCHE has announced an astonishing $560,000 pricetag (plus on-road costs) for its new 911 GT2 RS, all seven Australia-bound examples of which have been sold before it makes its world debut at the Moscow motor show on August 25 and arrives here in October.

Easily making it the most expensive new Porsche ever sold in Australia, the $560K price is some $112,500 upstream of the previous-generation GT2 RS ($447,500), and a cool $136,700 more than the model upon which it is based, the 911 Turbo S Coupe ($423,300), which temporarily tops the 911 range here this month.

Of course, with a stonking 426kW (620hp in the old money) on tap, the new GT2 RS is also by far the most powerful 911 ever, as well as the most exclusive GT2 made available here. Production of the previous GT2 ended in December 2008 after a production run of 700 vehicles – 40 of which arrived here. This time just 500 will be built.

The stratospheric GT2 RS price was contained in a new Porsche Cars Australia pricelist released this week. From August 1, prices for the Boxster, Cayman and 911 (but not the all-new Cayenne) increased by an average of one per cent, with the prices of all three Panamera models rising by about 3.5 per cent to reflect upgrades for the 2011 model year.



However, Porsche isn’t the only luxury brand to lift prices since July, when the luxury car tax threshold increased slightly to $57,466 and the fuel-efficient vehicle exemption limit rose slightly to $75,375.

From July 1, Mercedes-Benz raised the prices of all models except the new E-class Cabriolet and Estate, the new SLS supercar and the Vito van by at least one per cent.

At the bottom end, for example, the increases make the cheapest Mercedes model, the B180 hatchback, $510 more expensive at $37,500, while at the top end the E63 AMG sedan is now $3160 pricier at $238,060 and the SL65 AMG roadster is $6500 more expensive at $508,500.

Meantime, Jaguar has discontinued both petrol and diesel versions of its long-standing entry-level model, the X-Type sedan, while all Jaguar XF sedans except the V6 Luxury have increased in price by between $3000 and $3500.

Finally, from April production, the BMW X6 M will cost $183,900 (up $4000).