The Porsche 911 Carrera T is coming, and it looks like it’s going to be a treat for enthusiasts of old-fashioned driving for driving’s sake. Sporting a lighter-weight body at the expense of a little sound dampening, a six-speed short-shift manual transmission as standard, and weight-alleviated glass for the rear windows and rear windshield, the 2018 T takes top slot as the lightest model variant in the 911 Carrera lineup. Even the interior door openers are modified to lighten the T’s ride.
The variant is based on the Coupe, but features a more aerodynamic lip, PASM sport suspension, and a shorter constant transaxle ratio. The 3.0L bi-turbo flat-six produces 370 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque; matched with the T’s curb heft of 3,142 pounds, the power-to-weight ratio is excellent.
The model uses the 1968 911 Carrera T as a historical reference, making it a 50th anniversary revival of sorts, although Porsche wisely doesn’t appear to be capitalizing on that. And, though the model does evoke the original that spawned it, the lines appear to condense the history of the 911 into a driver-oriented statement.
The T stands for touring, so this is indeed a car designed for longer trips, albeit trips wherein arrival may be only a hiatus of the escape. The car’s cabin follows, with sport or full bucket seats in front, no seats at all in back, a sport steering wheel, a short gearshift, and trim and instruments that eschew flash for the fundamental. We’d nearly expect a no power-steering option, but Porsche didn’t go quite that far.
They are offering a PDK gearbox, though, for those who prefer more assistance to less in the experience. As an automatic, the T hits sixty from a standstill in 4.0 seconds; manual, 4.3. Top speed is 182 MPH with the manual transmission.
The 911 Carrera T is now available to order; deliveries are expected in March of next year. Pricing begins at $103K.
