Porsche isn’t just celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, it’s also celebrating the 60th anniversary of the 911. And to honor its most famous sports car, it will produce a limited edition variant that will basically be catnip for Porsche fans.
The model, dubbed the 911 S/T, combines the 4.0-liter, naturally-aspirated 518 hp (386 kW/525 PS) flat-six engine from the GT3 RS with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission and more road-focused chassis tuning. In addition, it will also get a raft of specially engineered lightweight parts to make it the lightest 992-generation Porsche 911 on sale.
The 911 S/T will mark the first time that Porsche has fitted a manual transmission to the 911 GT3 RS’ engine. To ensure that the gearbox matches the motor’s incredible performance, it has been designed with an exclusive lightweight clutch. In conjunction with the single-mass flywheel, the powertrain’s rotating mass is reduced by 23 lbs (10.4 kg).
In addition, the hood, roof, front fenders, the doors, the rear axle, and the shear panel are all made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. It also gets magnesium wheels, ceramic composite brakes, a lithium-ion starter battery, and lightweight glass to help it stay trim.
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All of those modifications, in addition to reduced insulation and the deletion of rear-wheel steering, mean that the 911 S/T weighs just 3,056 lbs (1,386 kg), or 70 lbs (32 kg) less than the 911 GT3 Touring.
In combination with the engine, those weight savings mean that the 911 S/T will be able to accelerate from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in just 3.5 seconds, and on to a top track speed of 186 mph (299 km/h). The limited edition model isn’t really designed for the racetrack, though. Porsche says that it is, instead, designed to carve canyons and tackle your favorite country roads – though I’m sure no one in Stuttgart will mind if you take it to a track day event.
That road-focused character and its inspiration are why the car doesn’t have the same wings and aggressive aero as the 911 GT3 RS. A tribute to the 911 ST of the late ’60s and early ’70s, the classic racer featured chassis, wheel, engine, and body modifications, but did not have aggressive aerodynamic aids.
Like its ancestor, the new 911 S/T will bear the original Porsche crest, and will be offered with a special historic livery. The “Heritage Design Package” will give buyers exclusive access to the Shore Blue Metallic color and Ceramica color wheels. In addition, it will get a roundel on the door, in which drivers can place any number from 0 to 99.
The interior of the 911 S/T plays on the same themes of history and lightness as the exterior. To keep things light, the model comes as standard with carbon fiber bucket seats, though adjustable seats a no-price option. To keep things historical, the seat centers are finished in cloth,and feature old-school pin striping. Moreover, all of the “911 S/T” badges inside are finished in gold.
As a final nod to the history of the 911, Porsche is only making 1,963 examples of the car, in honor of the legendary sports car’s first year of production. And to really make the lucky few who get their hands on one feel special, Porsche Design is also offering them an exclusive watch, dubbed the Chronograph 1 – 911 S/T. It has an aluminum case and is also designed to be as light as possible.
Given the limited nature of the car, its appeals to history, and the engineering that has gone into it, you won’t be surprised to hear that this will all cost a lot. The watch alone is $13,500, while the car has an MSRP of $290,000.
The 2024 Porsche 911 S/T will make its public debut at Rennsport Reunion 7, which runs from September 28 to October 1, and the automaker says that U.S. deliveries are expected to begin in the spring of 2024.
