Since Porsche is the type of automaker that generally brings in customers looking for an enjoyable driving experience, we shouldn’t be at all surprised by just how many derivatives there currently are when it comes to their most iconic nameplate, the 911.
There are 24 (!) total Porsche 911 versions currently available, from the entry-level Carrera, all the way to the hardcore 700 PS GT2 RS, easily one of the fastest supercars in the world.
By the way, the name ‘Carrera’ comes from the legendary border-to-border Carrera Panamericana race from the 1950s, which used to take place in Mexico. As a concept, the event was very similar to Italy’s Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio.
As for why its called the 911, well, you can “blame” Peugeot for that, as the latter objected to Porsche using the moniker 901 for the 356’s successor, and when they were forced to change the name, going from 901 to 911 was the most practical solution.
Today, you can buy into the 911 range starting off with the $91,100 Carrera, of which there are 8 different flavors: Carrera, Carrera S, Carrera Cabriolet, Carrera S Cabriolet, Carrera 4, Carrera 4S, Carrera 4 Cabriolet and Carrera 4S Cabriolet. Based on the way in which Porsche has structured its line-up, models like the Carrera T sit separately from the rest of the Carrera range, as do the Targa 4 and Targa 4S.
Then you arrive at your GTS derivatives, which are the base-spec GTS, GTS Cabriolet, 4 GTS, 4 GTS Cabriolet and the Targa 4 GTS. You can then follow those up with the 911 Turbo, Turbo S, Turbo Cabriolet, Turbo S Cabriolet, GT3, GT3 RS and the GT2 RS. The only model missing is the 911 Speedster, but that one won’t go into production until next year.
If you’d like to know a little bit more about what makes all of them different from each other, the following 5 minute-long video presentation is definitely worth watching.