SJ1415

The report has made an attempt to write critically an overall review on the process of framing research proposal which include aims, justification, theoretical position and necessary literature review for M47MC research project as a partial fulfillment of M46MC module. Moreover, this report has endeavored to summarize how shall I manage my project and what will be the strategy to carry it out in time. And the outcome of peer review process also would be reflected how this process support me with my research proposal to change for better, achievable, more specific, precise, and realistic.

I have chosen the full dissertation option out of two as M47MC specialist journalism research project under the following title: British Bangladeshi in Birmingham and the use of diaspora media in the context of complex media environment with a view to seeking the answer of the following questions: a) to what extent Bangladeshi community in Birmingham consume diaspora media in the presence of host-land and globally syndicated medias? b) What roles do diaspora media play in the process of negotiating their ethnic/diaspora identities? c) What is the impact of non-diaspora media in this process?

There has been a rapid increase of migration across the world since 1980s. This mass movement are taking place in all directions. ‘’This migration creates new displacement, new diaspora’’ (Brah, 1996:179). Although historically Bangladeshi diaspora started coming in Britain during the British colonial era but changes in immigration law in 1970s encouraged a significant number of Bangladeshi to come in UK. Estimate suggest that as many as 500,000 British Bangladeshi live in UK (Office of national statistics, 2008), and Birmingham has the largest Bangladeshi diaspora of 70,000 outside London (Birmingham mail, 2014). The presence of Bangladeshi and other blacks in Britain has added a new dimension of discussion about culture and identity. It is argued that Bangladeshi are flickering between two cultures because they can neither absorb British culture nor Bangladeshi culture, and they are referred as ‘’coconut’’ means they pretend like white people with brown complexion- same as the outer side of coconut is brown but inner core white in color . Especially, ‘’the young generation those who growing up here is exposed to two culture, one at home and the other at school consequently, experiences culture clash and identity conflict’’ (Brah, 1996:40). Moreover, the main stream and ‘’globally syndicated media constitute a new cultural geography that offers diaspora a new kind of experience’’ (Mainsha, 2009). So, the potential of more colorful, attractive and technologically advanced contents of non-diaspora media and the predominant mainstream British culture to challenge the extent of diaspora media consumption. Therefore, the main purpose of this research is to investigate the extent to which diaspora media is being consumed and the role of it on the ethnic identity and trans-nationalism of audiences in the face of the circumstances of vibrantly present host-land and globally syndicated media. As Hopkins, 2009 cited in (Budaric, 2014) ‘’studies of diaspora and media must extend beyond their preoccupation with transnational and diaspora media and focus on the role of non-diaspora media among migrant groups’’.

However, few key words like culture, identity, trans-nationalism, diaspora, and diaspora media are the basis of my proposed research need to be revealed first from the argument of different scholars. It is commonly known that cultures are never static rather they evolved through history. That is why, Brah (1996:18) argued ‘’the process of cultural production is, in part, a process of cultural transformation’’. He also articulated culture and identity are inextricably linked concept because identity is constituted in and through culture. Georgiou and Silverstone (2007:34) defined diaspora as ‘’they are communities of people originating in a geographical location (often a nation-state) and setting in another’’. They also termed them as transnational cultural communities. However, Genltes-Peart (2014) articulated about diaspora media as ‘’ethnic or migrant media have been widely assumed and accepted as mass media originating from within diaspora communities with the purpose of addressing the immigrant’s cultural and social needs’’.

Although a wide range of literature exist on diaspora and media, but evidence based on Bangladeshi diaspora and diaspora media consumption and its effect on their identities is hard to find. However, Brantner and Herczeg (2013) recommended in their article about the importance of research on the complex relationship between culture, ethnicity, migrants and media ‘’the increasing complexity and diversity of modern western societies, especially regarding culture and ethnicity has led to an increase in scientific research on these issues’’. Kama and Malka, (2013) found ‘’Israeli migrants in USA use homeland media for various psychological and social ends: They are means to persevere connectivity with the home they feel they have never really left and thus can help maintain an intact Israeli identity despite the substantial distance’’. Dakroury (2006) articulated about the substantial consumption of ‘’Egyptian channels and Arab Radio and Television channels by the Arab diaspora communities living in Ottawa, Ontario’’. Whereas Budaric (2013) found in his study that unlike others diasporic group, Iranian in Australia ‘’largely rejected the televisual products from the production house in Southern California and the state media of Iran, and have ambivalent feelings towards diasporic media in general’’.    Brantner and Herczeg (2013) mentioned in their findings about the role of ethnic media on the Yugoslavian and Turkeys diaspora in Austria as ‘’Trans-cultural media enable immigrants communities to find entrance into the public sphere, and to communicate with in the various communities of the entire societies. The trans-cultural media products strongly consider immigration and minorities issues and serves as a platform for negotiating values’’. Later, Genltes-Peart (2014) argued about the role of diaspora media in his article on ethnic media and West Indian diaspora as ‘’diaspora media are instrumental to the construction of this space as they are some of the place that provide immigrants use to construct their subjectivities and sensibilities in their new home’’. Reference also can be made to Houssein, (2012), who made a study on the Somalis diaspora in Canada about their media use, and came up with the findings as diasporic media negotiate a double idea: to promote integration of their audiences into the dominant society, whether the integration is civil, political or economic; and to construct and homogenize the community on which they depend. Genltes-Peart (2014) also articulated in his article about the characteristics of the content of diasporic media that ‘’influence and contribute to the formation of identities of diaspora people. Whereas Mainsah (2009) studied the media consumption pattern of Cameroonians diaspora living in Oslo. And in his article, he not only argued about the role of diaspora media but also articulated the role of non-Diaspora media on Cameroonians diaspora as ‘’host-country mass media can serve as a source of social and cultural information. This was portrayed in the way the informants, all of whom were relative newcomers to Norwegian society, reflected on the relationship between the host-country media and the process of adaptation’’. Although  Lay and Thomson (2012) did the mapping of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) in London to know how many titles, channels and stations existed, and to discover the specific BME communities targeted by each but they articulated ‘’it did not cover the media consumed by London’s BME media consumer direct from their countries origins-the diaspora media’’.

The media environment available to Bangladeshi in Birmingham is rich enough, comprising a wide range of print and broadcasting channels from diaspora origin, host-land media and globally syndicated media. So, both the three directional gaze and contra-flow of media theory can be used to analyse the chosen topic. The three directional gaze theory proposed by Serberny (2000) can be employed to analyse how the construction of diaspora identities involved a multi-directional gaze: looking inward to the local context of the host country, backwards to the home country, and all around to the global context, and that the media played a major role in all these process. Simultaneously, the investigation of consumption habit of diasporic media by the Bangladeshi living in Birmingham can also be analysed by the contra-flow theory because this investigation will explore the extent to which they are using diaspora media contents against the dominant flow of media. As Georgiou and Silverstone (2007:33) argued ‘’the mediated communications generated around and by the diaspora group is the key route in to the understanding of the contra-flows of global media’’. Because diaspora and their media have ‘’a key role to play in the development of contra-flows and in the diversification of medias capes outside the (full) control of nation-states and corporate trans-nationalism’’ (Georgiou and Silverstone, 2007:35).

The qualitative research methodology will be used to find the answer of research questions. Therefore the in-depth interview technique will be employed to interview the British Bangladeshi lives in Birmingham in order to gather the relevant data necessary for this research. These interviews will be carried out face-to-face, recorded (with due permission from informants) and transcribed. ‘’In-depth or unstructured interview is one of the main methods of data collection used in qualitative research’’ (Legard, Keegan and Ward, 2003:138). To do so, first I need to manage to access human resources (informants) for interviewing them. In order to generate informants, I will begin by tapping into my own personal contacts those who have been living in Birmingham for last 15-25 years. Then the chain referral process, the ‘’snow ball sampling’’ (Goodman, 1961) method will be used to access the others key-informants. Although I need an audio recorder to record the interviews (subject to the permission), but I can use my smart phone as a recording device instead of recorder from loan shop to avoid borrowing hassle. Moreover, books and literature from the library and from the library online catalog must be needed to engage with theory and for reviewing of literature. Or requisition will be made for required journals and books if it is not available in the library.

I have already submitted my final research proposal with project outline on 29^th May. In between first and 15^th June I will finish the reviewing of relevant literature and submit my critical review, and also hope to start primary data collection. Data collection will be continued up to 30^th of June. However, by this time on 29^th June I will have to submit my initial draft, including abstract, introduction, literature review and methodology. After submitting the initial draft, I shall start analyzing the collected data and write the discussion and result between 29th June and 23^rd July. And I must submit my final draft on 24^th July as it is the dateline. Then I shall do necessary changes of my dissertation according to the feedback given by supervisor and submit it on 15^th August.

Mostly, the following two books I should discuss in details because which are very engaged with theoretical position of this study: 1) Media on the Move: Global flow and Contra-flow, edited by Daya Kishan Thussu. 2) Ethnic Minorities and the Media, edited by Simon Cottle. Particularly chapter one: mapping global media and contra-flow by Daya Kishan Thusuu and chapter two: diaspora and contra-flow beyond nation-centrism by Myria Georgiou and Roger Silverstone of the first book deals with the contra-flow of media theory. Whereas chapter eleven, media and diasporic consciousness: an exploration among Iranians in London by Annabelle Sreberny, of the second book postulates the three directional gaze theory.

Finally, I would like to say a great deals of opinion, suggestions and advises from the group peer review process helped me with my research proposal to change for better, more specific, precise, achievable, time constrained and realistic. Basically, the peer review process has taken place through three different fruitful ways like meeting with supervisor, conference and posting of proposal into module forum. At the beginning, when I came up with the idea of research proposal, even I had to struggle with a meaningful title of the proposal. Then I made an appointment with my research supervisor Dr. Fred Mudhai. Initially, the title was ‘’consumption of diaspora media and the cultural identity of British Bangladeshi research, but the title was not fully relevant with the aim and objective of study so, my supervisor advised me to coin a  meaningful and more academic title. His effective feedback also guided me to find the right data collection (in-depth interview) and sampling (snow ball) method for my study. Although primarily I came up with the idea of survey to collect the data by serving the close-ended questioners but Mr. Mudhai warned me about the limitations of survey method. However, then I framed the initial draft of proposal with the following title: British Bangladeshi and the use of diaspora media in the context of complex media environment instead of the previous one, and uploaded into the module link for reviewing. At the next week class, the second step, the conference started in the presence of both automotive and global student. Feedback mainly came from both of the supervisor Mr. Andrew Noakes and Dr. Fred. Students also gave their feedback or suggestions on the initial draft in class room conference. However, both supervisor noticed that the theoretical part was almost untouched and weakness of methodology section also. Then I was briefed properly to develop the methodology section specifically how I shall get access the key-informant and required resources. As Girden (1996:6) suggested ‘’ you focus on participants first, who will be tested, how they will be recruited’’. The theoretical position of the study was the part where I really stuck, and could not able to write it before the conference session. However, then I finalize the draft of my research proposal and posted into the Moodle forum for feedback from the members of group. Basically, I received feedback from Xiao Liang, Nicholas William Graziano, James Brodie and Jan Conesa Sagrera one after another. Xiao suggested me to read a book of Stuart Hall on culture and identity. He also gave me link for online reading but everything there was in Chinese language so, then I went to the library for consulting that book. However, it helped me to develop the rationale section of the proposal further. Nicholas asked me to think about the whole England instead of Birmingham. But I replied him with logic that I would be a high ambitious project if I took into account the whole England as it is a qualitative study. ‘’qualitative researchers have to go into the field to gather data by observation and interaction with people from whom they hope to learn’’ (Iorio 2004:6) James came up with the idea of socio-political theory. Although at the beginning I was only moving around the contra-flow media theory but basically after getting James’s feedback I also used the three directional gaze theory to promote and advance my study. Although I did not use the socio-political theory directly as it concerned with the ”relation between state, society and citizens” (Nash, 2010). But his suggestion fosters my thinking, and helped me to find another theory (three directional gaze) related to social science. Finally Jan suggested me to make my plan and schedule more precise, in response to his suggestion I tried to do my estimated timeline more structured.

Reference

Brah, A (1996) cartographies of diaspora: contesting identities. Routledge. London

Brantner, C and Herczeg, P (2013) ‘the life of new generation: contents, values and mainstream media perception of transcultural ethnic media- An Austrian case’ journal of communication 38(2), 211-235

Budaric, J (2013) ‘Localised Audiences and Transnational Media: Media use by Iranian-Australians’. Media international Australia Aug2013, Issue 148, p70-78

Budaric, J (2014) ‘Media and the limits of transnational solidarity: Unanswered questions in the relationship between diaspora, communication and community’ journal of media and communication 10(2) 139–153

Dakroury (2006) ‘The Arab-Canadian consumption of diasporic media’. Journal of international communication 12(2), 35-51

Thussu, Daya Kishan (2007) Media on the Move: Glibal flow and contra-flow. London: Routledge

Gentles-peart, k (2014) ‘Fiwi TV: Ethnic media and West Indian Diaspora’ International journal of cultural study 17(6) 603-617

Georgiou, M and Silverstone, R (2007) ‘Diaspora and contra-flows beyond nation-centrism’ in Media on the Move: global flow and contra-flow. ed . by Thussu, Daya Kishan.  London: Routledge, 33-48

Girden, Ellen R (1996) Evaluating research articles: From start to finish. London: Sage publication

Goodman, L.A (1961) ‘snowball sampling’ Annals of mathematical statistics 32(1), 148-170

Houssein, C (2012) ‘Diaspora, Memory and Ethnic media: Media use by Somalis living in Canada’. An international journal of Somali studies 12, 87-105

Iorio, Sharon Hartin (2004) Qualitative Method Journalism in Qualitative Research in Journalism ed. By Iorio, Sharon Hartin. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, 3-20

Kama, A and malka, v (2013) Identity prosthesis: Role of homeland media in sustaining native identity’. Howard journal of communication 24(4), 370-388

Lay, S and Thomas, L (2012) ‘Ethnic Minorities media in London: transition and transformation’ journal of media culture & society 34(3), 369-380

Legard, R; Keegan, J and Ward, K (2003) In-depth interviews in Qualitative research practice: A Guide for Social Science Students and Researchers. Ed. By Ritchi, J and Lewis, J. London: sage Publication, 138-169

Mainsha, H (2009) ‘Cameroonians in Oslo, diaspora and use of the media’. Nordicom review 30(1), 83-94

Nash, k (2010) Contemporary Political Sociology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell

Serberny, A (2000) ‘Media and diasporic consciousness: An exploration among Iranians in London’ in Ethnic Minorities and Media ed. By Cottle, Simon. Buckingham, Philadelphia: Open University Press 179-196

The best success stories always have beginnings set in less glamorous circumstances. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were college dropouts. The original Volkswagen Beetle was rejected by the Allied command which seized control of the Fallersleben factory it was built in. And the original Les Paul standard, a guitar that has almost developed sliced bread levels of respect, was a commercial flop during its three years in production from 1958.

“I’ve had about 20 Les Pauls in the past, ranging from ones built in the 1950’s to the 1990’s,” says Phil Brodie, a man who has spent much of his life as the front man and lead guitarist for some of the UK’s most popular touring bands from the sixties right through to the early nineties. With literally decades of experience both playing and collecting guitars, he certainly knows a thing or two about Gibson’s poster boy. His love for the Les is untainted.

“Vintage guitars, I see as an artform as well as an instrument, because the iconic shapes have never been bettered. From Fender and Gibson in the 50’s, they’ve been copied, but the shapes have never been bettered,” Phil remarks when I ask him to explain his passion. “Each guitar is tied to the sound. So a fender guitar is very clangy, pipey. Gibsons are meaty and thick.” It was the meaty thickness Phil describes Gibsons with which inevitably led me to ask about the Les Paul, and specifically what the late fifties legend means to a collector.

“The Les Pauls? From 1958 to 1960 they made approximately 1700-1750. Not all of them are fully documented, and are very rare, worth a fortune. The most sought after guitars in the world.” This is no understatement. Do a quick eBay search for vintage Les Pauls, and you’ll be stunned. They can be found, but at eye watering prices. As I write, a 1960 Les Paul Standard is for sale in the United States, with a buy it now price of £134,000. The less sought after Custom? A bargain at £100k. As for Phil, his pride and joy comes in the form of a 1959 Les Paul flame top. “I brought it back from the States, cost a lot of money, bought it as an investment, played it for 20 years and it’s been a great guitar. It’s on the Les Paul website, and it’s one of the very few in the UK.”

The United States is the ancestral homeland of not just the Les Paul, but many of the iconic electric guitars which have become sought after collectors items. Their impact on the UK music scene in the 1960’s was huge. “Pre war, there were no guitars exported by Gibson, or Fender, into the UK. So you can imagine, the mid sixties there was this total explosion of sound,” Phil recalls. Despite their popularity, the American invasion wasn’t cheap for the British player. I’m told that a US imported Fender Stratocaster was the same price as a new mini back in the day. But whereas the Stratocaster can still be found easily, the original vintage Les Pauls remain an elusive artifact for those of us this side of the pond.

Off the success of the Ferrari 458 comes the new 488 GTB (Gran Tourismo Berlinetta). The 488 GTB is an updated design from the 458 and  carries on Ferrari’s 40 year history of successful rear-engine V8 cars. However, different from the 458, the 488 will have two turbo charges added on to its V8 engine, creating an output of 670-hp and a torque curve of 760Nm.

“People in the market will be overwhelmed by our new engine, Ferrari CEO, Amedeo Felisa said.

Felisa was very passionate when speaking about the new engine and the amount of detail that went into making it. As with many turbo charged engine, there is always a problem with turbo lag. With the new twin-turbo V8 in the 488, a lot of engineering went into making sure that was not going to be a major issue. The turbo lag was significantly reduced with an immediate response of 0.8sec.

Along with the power the motor creates, Felisa hyped its sound track, stating that is has a very specific traditional Ferrari sound, which will intensify the faster you go.

The 488 has 100 more horsepower and a 50 percent increase in downforce, another aspect of the car which a lot of engineering went into. In making the car more aerodynamic, attention to detail was not spared at either end of the car. There are double spoilers at the front and a patented blown spoiler at the rear. There are also aspects derived from F1, including aero pillars and active aerodynamics. Along with wisely placed vents and sculpted lines, the 488 has an impressive downforce to drag force coefficient.

The amount of technology that has gone into to creating this new Ferrari doesn’t stop there, either. Race shifting technology, active dampers, an E-differential and numerous other innovations look to make the 488 GTB another highly praise Ferrari; a standard the company lives by.

“We have to have the best and most beautiful car on the market,” Felisa said.

Surprise Bentley EXP10 concept shows new interior style in a strangely familiar body.

Bentley caused a stir at Geneva by introducing its latest concept, codenamed: EXP10 “Speed 6.” Our first sight of the new car was of those distinctive ringed-lights as the two-seater emerged from the darkness. Company boss, Wolfgang Dürheimer introduced the concept as “the ultimate expression of our vision for Bentley’s future.”

As the low coupé slunk into view, to approving nods from the crowd, the idea of a more focused, light-weight sports car, invoking the Speed 6 name of Bentley’s early days, makes a lot of sense – especially as the company approaches its centenary. At last, Bentley has a car that could take on Aston Martin on level terms.

Just how level those terms are, became clear when the demonstrator came to a stop on stage.  Behind the questionable Bentley face, reminiscent of the Bentley Hunaudieres Concept, the side profile is carbon-copy Aston Martin. As elegant as it is, the credibility of EXP10 as a bold vision for Bentley crumbled slightly when Dürheimer opened the swan-door – almost an Aston Martin trade-mark.

So the Speed 6, is essentially Bentley’s version of the Aston Martin Vanquish. With that in mind, we can then begin to look at the details and see just how Bentley does it. The mesh grille design is carried into the headlights with an intricate lattice effect which shows how much time and attention has been lavished on this show car. From some angles a faint number six is visible on the grille – a nod to the Le Mans racers of bygone days.  At the back end, Bentley’s oval brake lights take on a projector-style design, mirroring the exhaust pipes, and creating an elegant back end which is identifiably (if not unmistakably) Bentley.

Inside, however, the Speed 6 is in a class of its own. The materials are, as you’d expect, the finest available, and the wood design on the door inserts, alone, demonstrates Bentley is showing geniune creativity. In many ways the spectacular interior is far more “Bentley” than the exterior and will, more likely, be the lasting legacy of the Speed 6 show-car. Bentley haven’t revealed any performance figures, or prices, but mumblings at the Geneva show hint that it could form the basis of an entry level two-seater Bentley.

• Surfing: Cox’s Bazar is an incredible place for surf discovery. You can learn surfing there only in expense of £4 per hour. For beginner the conditions are ideal. The water is warm; the wave are constant and not too rough. March – December is suitable for short-board surfing while Jan – Feb is good for using long-board.
• Horse riding: more than 100 horse riders working daily in the Cox’s Bazar sea beach. Spending £1 per hour you can ride the horse along the longest beach of the world.
• Jet Ski: although a bit expensive, £20 for 10 minutes. But totally worth it.
• Island hopping: hopping to Sonadia, Maheskhali, CheraDwip and Saint-Martin Island.
• Shopping: in Burmese market for range of products such as pearls, different kinds of knives, shells, coral, traditional costume Lungi and so on.
• Aggameda Khyang: a large Buddhist monastery, designed to sit on a series of large timber column. The monastery holds a big collections of manuscripts, prayer chamber, bronze Buddha images of Burmese origin and an assembly hall.
• Ramu: Buddhist village, 11 miles away from cox’s bazar. Monasteries, khyangas and pagodas with images of Buddha in gold, bronze and other metals inlaid with precious stones is the main feature of village. Temple on the Baghkhali rivers houses relics along with a 13 feet high bronze statue of Buddha rested on a six feet high pedestal.
• Mermaid café: sprawling, shaded, Goa-style beach shack serve tasty foods in cool surroundings.
• Sea-stone café: this chilled beach side café knows exactly what western tourists want from a beach side café.
• Tarango: famous for BBQ and a wide variety of Mughal Kebab.

English Premier League 2014/15 season, the first 29 of a focus on war started competing at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal 3-0 home win over West Ham, Giroux and Ramsay mass shooting meritorious deeds. League while Arsenal won five straight home league eight-game winning streak. Gunmen continue to sit tight in the first three.

Arsenal 12 wins, two draws in 14 games after the two sides clash in the past nine games unbeaten. Arsenal West Ham last customer wins or eight years ago. Both the Premiership clash 37 games, Arsenal 24 wins, seven draws and six losses prevail, including home 13 wins and one draw and four losses. History warring sides 130 games, Arsenal 59 wins, 33 losses dominate 38 levels. Arsenal nearly 12 times London derbies keep unbeaten at home. Giroux, Ramsey, Walcott, Chambers and Ospina are into the starting rotation.

Only five minutes after beginning, Giroux lightweight heel pass, Walcott small edge of the area falls under the defense of Corinth, the referee has not been fined. Chambers right pass, Sanchez header from 12 yards was saved by Adrian. West Ham put metal matrix threat appeared at 22 minutes, Jarvis left under the bottom return, Nolan first time volley shot the edge of the area was saved by Ospina. Giroux left the restricted area small-angle shot hit the side net again. Chambers right pass, hit the shot before the restricted area was Adrian Antoine Ramsey small beam.

Arsenal miss a good chance at the 33-minute, Ramsey pass, Walcott restricted the right side angle shot from 12 yards is too positive, Adrian ball denied. Two minutes later, Sanchez left the restricted area 15 yards volley near corner has been saved by Adrian. 43 minutes, Arsenal waste the opportunity, Giroux pass, Ozil 15 yards shot was saved by Adrian, Walcott small edge tip wide. Arsenal half stoppage time to break the deadlock, the right side of the penalty area Ramsey collusion Ozil pass, Giroux volley hit the inside of the far corner uprights 15 yards to follow up the net. His nearly five league game against West Ham scored five goals, nearly 11 times Premier League debut into the 9 ball.

Arsenal expand the score at 81 minutes, Ramsey straight pass the ball, a small restricted area before Giroux selfless return, Ramsey 10 yards shot the  net. This is his seventh goal this season. Ozil was replaced Flamini. At 84 minutes Arsenal seal the victory, Cazorla after kicking the wall with the same as Giroux left the restricted area pass, restricted the right of small Flamini easily into the empty goal, 3-0. It is almost this year his first goal. Stoppage time, Welbeck 11 yards at the header was saved by Adrian.

“Worth the wait.” That might truly be an understatement when looking over the 991 GT3RS. It’s everything we wanted, only ‘less.’ Following the RennSport ideology to a whim, Porsche has given us the ultimate naturally aspirated, road going variant of the 911, since the 1974 Carrera RS 3.0. With a 500hp 4.0 litre flat six, aluminum body from the Turbo, and borrowed aerodynamic tricks from the RSR, Weissach may have outdone itself this time. Set to deliver the purest of driving thrills, Porsche’s new GT3RS blankets the line between road car and racecar.

A heavily reworked version of the standard GT3’s 3.8, this new 4.0-litre flat-six sees a swell in displacement from 3,799cc to 3,996cc, and a jump in power by 28bhp and 15lb ft of torque. All this is achieved via a new crank made from the same material used on the 919’s engine. New pistons and connecting rods are also present as well as new camshafts and valve springs. The dry-sump oiling system has also received major updates to cope with the added stress. The latest variant of Porsche Motorsport DFI engine keeps the same 12:9.1 compression ratio and same 123bhp/litre as the 3.8, but maximum RPM decreases 200rpm to 8800rpm. Alas, those eager for a third pedal resurrection will be left wanting, as the RS retains the seven-speed PDK, albeit with some significant modification and a new final drive of 4.19 over 3.97. The 493bhp is available on tap, with 340lb ft of torque delivered at 6250rpm.

So, what does all this mean once behind the wheel? The direct injected 4-litre flat six propels the car to a drag limited 192mph, with a 0-60 time of just 3.3-seconds. Most astoundingly is that Porsche claims a Nürburgring lap time of 7min 20secs, 4 seconds faster than the 997 GT2RS, and 7 seconds faster than the Carrera GT. This car is indeed something special.

Blurring the lines even further, the new aero kit draped around the aluminum body shell of the wider 911 Turbo, the GT3RS takes it RennSport ancestry even further. Hitting the tarmac with twice as much as down-force as the standard GT3, the RS makes nearly as much down-force as the 991 GT3 CUP while maintaining the same drag co-efficient as the standard GT3. Part of this wizardry taking form comes from decades of lessons learned in Motorsport. The large louvers on the front fenders use a gimmick found more commonly on the RSR. The vent allows down-force at the front to be doubled by releasing pressure, thus, allowing balance from the higher rear wing. The new front fenders also scrap the aluminum construction of the GT3 in favor of new carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) saving 2.5 kilos over the aluminum counterpart.

The spoiler, bonnet, and rear lid are all made from CFRP, while the roof is made from magnesium, and the rear-fascia is formed via Polyurethane Reaction Injection Molding. The revisions to the body save an approximate 25 kilos, and in true RS fashion, the iconic Porsche sticker adorns the front once again. A 30cm recess extends over the CFRP bonnet and magnesium roof, a stylistic reference to highlight the two largest lightweight components and homage to the luggage compartment recess found on classic 911’s. The body uses the vents from the turbo shell to cool the intercoolers. Air then exits out the rear fascia. Ducts from the side vents go directly to a racing bred filter allowing for more induction noise to be heard. Additionally, a ram air effect hits the side vents for increased airflow.

An electronically controlled rear differential, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus), and variable torque split are all slated to carry over from the standard GT3. The largest wheel and tire package ever fitted to a GT3, 20 by 9.5-inch at the front, and 21 by 12.5 inches in the rear with centre-lock wheels all around, harnesses massive grip. Up front, the RS’s widened front fenders grow 50mm and 30mm in the back.

Electric-assist power steering, and a more potent rear-wheel steering system, carries over from the standard GT3, with an updated variant of Porsche Stability Management (PSM). Six piston aluminium monobloc fixed-calliper brakes in the front, and four pistons at the rear, clamp down on 380 mm compound brake discs at all four corners.

Inside, the ounce shaving continues. The famous fabric loop interior door handles make their return with manual-adjust CFRP bucket seats, and lightweight door panels. As expected, other weight reduction means have been applied. Similar to past hard-core 911 models, the rear and side windows will be made from polycarbonate to further reduce the weight.

An optional “Clubsport Package” carries a rear roll cage with a six-point harness designed to work with a HANS system. A fire extinguisher and battery disconnect switch are also available. One noteworthy new feature is the inclusion of a “PIT SPEED” button similar to those found on racecars, should the driver feel the need to monitor speed in the pit lane at a racing circuit.

As Andreas Preuninger put it: “We are in a completely new ball game!” with lateral acceleration in combination with mechanical and aerodynamic grip. The GT3RS Weissach. One can only hope that the three-pedal-dance will once again return to the GT3. At least a stick and third pedal are available on the Cayman GT4. The new GT3RS is slated to hit show rooms in May 2015. Expect a premium over the £131,296 price tag, as demand will surely topple supply.