New Porsche 911 Carrera T 23 | 10 | 2017
PORSCHE HAS ADDED a new lightweight model to its 911 range. The Carrera T, which costs £85,576, is based on the entry-level rear-wheel-drive 911 Carrera and comes with a seven-speed manual gearbox as standard. The ‘T’ stands for Touring, and it carries a £8600 premium of over the ‘basic’ Carrera. (Related: New £5m Porsche Centre for Scotland)
Conceived as a back-to-basics model, the 911 Carrera T revives the puristic approach brought to earlier 911 models, including its 1968 namesake the 911 T. That means a stripped out interior, plus the adoption of a series of performance enhancing features not usually made available on the 911 Carrera.
Porsche has shaved 20kgs from the car by using a thinner glass rear window, pull loops for door handles, and removing the rear seats. Ride height has been lowered by 10mm, and the Carrera T gets Porsche’s Sport Chrono Package as standard. (Related: 2018 Porsche Cayenne — First details)
Power comes from the Carrera’s 365bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six engine, which delivers 450Nm of torque. With the reduction in weight, the car’s power-to-weight ratio has improved to 260bhp per tonne.
As you would expect, there are improvements too on the stopwatch, with the newcomer covering 0-62mph in 4.5secs, a tenth quicker than the Carrera. That time improves further, to 4.2s, with the optional seven-speed PDK dual-clutch. Top speed with either gearbox is ‘in excess’ of 180mph.
Worth highlighting the manual ‘box comes with shorter ratios than the unit used by the 911 Carrera, plus a mechanical locking differential to the rear wheels.
The lightweight model also gets ‘911 Carrera T’ decals along the side skirts — separating it from the standard range — plus 20in titanium grey alloys from the Carrera S. Buyers can also option the new car with rear-wheel steering.
Inside the cabin, there’s black leather interior with distinctive yellow stitching and ‘911’ logos etched onto the headrest, a leather bound GT sports steering wheel, and lightweight four-way electronically adjustable seats with so-called Sport-Tex fabric upholstery. Opt for the manual ‘box, and you also get a shortened gear lever.
Available to order now at Scottish Porsche Centres, buyers can choose between nine different exterior colours, including Black, Lava Orange, Guards Red, Racing Yellow, White and Miami Blue, as well as metallic Carrara White, Jet Black and GT Silver. First deliveries are expected in January.
Buyers can also take advantage of a bespoke driving experience at the brand’s Experience Centre in Silverstone.
Related: Porsche celebrates Brits' Le Mans wins
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Jim McGill