Porsche reveals first-ever convertible 911 GT3 S/C

Porsche’s new CEO Michael Leiters is on a mission to show the corporate’s fortunes round after it reported plummeting income in the direction of the top of final 12 months. Among the modifications, as we’ve already heard, is the jettisoning of a brand new EV platform and extra sources aimed toward ‘much more fascinating’ merchandise, with ‘emotive new derivatives’ within the pipeline. Well, the primary a kind of derivatives is upon us, and it’s referred to as the 911 GT3 S/C.

Nope, it’s not a 911 Speedster, however somewhat a GT3 Cabriolet with a correct automated folding roof. Porsche GT boss Andreas Preuninger claims that Speedster and Spyder patrons have been asking for a drop-top GT3 the place they don’t have to bodily fasten a material roof as soon as the heavens open. He additionally revealed that the GT3 Cabrio thought has been on the desk for the reason that 997, although it took a current hole in its carbon fibre provider’s manufacturing line for it to grow to be a actuality. That, and the truth that Porsche had 911 Cabriolet and GT3 prototypes mendacity round gathering mud, so Preuninger and the gang set about transferring all of the track-focused {hardware} to the drop-top, with the top outcome convincing them to press on with the S/C.

In that regard, the GT3 S/C is a little bit of a elements bin particular. The carbon fibre bonnet and entrance wings have been plucked from the 911 S/T, whereas the deeply sculpted carbon doorways come from the GT3 RS. The again finish, in the meantime, is usually 911 GT3 Touring, together with the small spoiler built-in into the rear panel above the sunshine bar. Naturally, it doesn’t have as a lot downforce because the regular GT3, although apparently it’s not far off Touring’s quantity, and aerodynamically talking, is evenly balanced from entrance to rear. Only the rear arches and folding roof mechanism, which takes simply 12 seconds to open or shut, have been taken from the Carrera Cabriolet, the remaining scooped from the GT3, Touring, RS and S/T spares shelf. 

The identical goes for what’s beneath. Despite lopping the roof off, the suspension has been lifted solely from the GT3 Touring, proper all the way down to the spring charges and geometry. Preuninger admits this was a stroke of serendipity, although it didn’t come as an entire shock given how stable convertibles have to be as of late to move crash checks. Porsche stays tight-lipped about what’s been executed to strengthen the chassis – the cabrio mentioned to solely weigh round 30kg greater than the 991 Speedster – with Preuninger merely calling the S/C’s torsional rigidity “extraordinary”.

A phrase you may simply assign to the engine. It’s the 4.0-litre naturally-aspired flat-six from the 992.2 GT3, with 510hp arriving at 8,500rpm. That’s paired with a six-speed handbook gearbox that’s eight per cent shorter than the ultimate ratio within the outdated 911 Speedster. And in the event you’d favor a PDK? “Buy a GTS”, says Preuninger, bluntly. The handbook is a whopping 28kg lighter than the dual-clutch choice, which was important in nudging the S/C into the identical homologation course of because the GT3. Any heavier and it will have wanted to be reassessed in a better weight class, including additional time and expense that may have very doubtless impacted the value. More on that in a bit.

Additional weight-saving measures embrace customary carbon ceramic brakes and cast magnesium wheels from the 911 S/T, shedding 20kg and 9kg respectively, whereas the rear seats have been rejected for further storage. Having seen the S/C within the steel, it does admittedly look somewhat unusual from some angles as a result of a) it emphasises the clean house between the backs of the rear seats on the rear bulkhead and b) all that is still is an empty void rather than the minuscule rear bench. Fortunately, Porsche has developed a brand new (optionally available) storage field very similar to the cubbies you’d discover on older 911s, solely now with the lids positioned on high somewhat than straight behind the entrance seats. 

Up entrance, Porsche has developed a brand new set of optionally available carbon fibre bucket seats, specifically designed with bigger airbags on the surface bolsters to enhance crash safety. The gear lever, in the meantime, is the shorter unit discovered on the 911 S/T, in any other case it’s customary 992 fare, a lot of which is able to rely upon what number of choices you tick. If you’re feeling particularly flush, Porsche’s providing a brand new ‘Street Style’ pack, which provides graphics down the perimeters and wings, plus an exceptionally jazzy inside with woven leather-based tartan. It’s a brand new method for the corporate, and also you’ll discover it not solely on the seats however within the glove compartment as effectively. Sir Jackie can be proud.

Perhaps the very best half is that Porsche isn’t limiting manufacturing. You’ll virtually definitely have to be on extraordinarily chummy phrases along with your native supplier, but it surely’ll be a silver lining for many who missed out on a Speedster allocation again in 2019. Even in the event you’re not eager on the retractable roof, it’ll most likely be value placing your title down simply to get your arms on the GT3 RS and S/T {hardware}. And at £200,500, it’s a good bit cheaper than the aforementioned specials, if somewhat over £40k greater than a daily GT3. Still, you’ll be forking out one other £60k for this 991.2 Speedster, although in the event you don’t thoughts one thing final century, this 964 Speedster could possibly be yours with £10k again in change. Decisions, selections.