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- A 7-speed manual gearbox comes standard in the new Porsche Carrera T.
- Its lightweight design saves 35 kilograms.
- 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 291km/h.
Porsche fans wanting a purer, simplified 911 experience needn't look further than the latest Carrera T, which slots in between the Carrera and Carrera S models. The newest addition to the 911 range has been designed to distil the essence of the iconic sportscar and bring driver involvement to the surface.
In this instance, the letter T has nothing to do with Turbo – although a Biturbo engine is precisely where you'd expect to find it. Instead, 'T' denotes Touring, a history dating back to 1968. The Touring recipe has since been applied to other Porsche models, including the Macan, Cayman and Boxster, but its formula has stayed true throughout the years.
A defining characteristic of the 911 Carrera T is that there are no rear seats, while it comes standard with a 7-speed manual gearbox or an 8-speed PDK gearbox as an option. Less obvious is the slightly lower ride height, by 10mm, which also features PASM sports suspension as standard. A sports exhaust system ticks another popular box, while rear-wheel steering is optional.
Subtle visual accents include contrasting elements such as the top and bottom trim on the exterior mirrors, the new door logos and the rear logos, and the trim strips on the rear lid finished in Agate Grey. Customers can also choose to have seatbelts in Slate Grey or Lizard Green, which can be paired with the floormats and the 911 logo embossed on the headrests.
While it may represent a dialled-back package, it still deploys the same flat-six, 3.0-litre Biturbo engine found in the Carrera. Power is the same with 283kW and 450Nm, but acceleration times for the manual are slightly slower, with 0-100km/h taking 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 291km/h.
The Carrera T commits to a serious diet with lightweight glass, a lightweight battery, less noise insulation and a reduction of superfluous goodies. Overall, Porsche claim it is 35 kilograms leaner. Nevertheless, it's a wonderfully focused place to be with a chunky GT wheel in the hands and four-way electric sports seats perfectly sculpted for hard cornering.
The Porsche 911 Carrera T is expected to be available in South Africa in early 2023 at an indicative pricing of R2 080 000.
