Paris show stars

Our team picks out highlights from the stands in France

Porsche 911 Speedster

THE most notable thing about this year’s Paris Motor Show is the number of manufacturers not represented in the French capital. Nissan, Ford and VW, the list goes on. But despite the absence of many of the world’s biggest car brands, there is still a bumper crop of new metal on display and Auto Express has been on the ground to round up the highlights.

The 911 Speedster concept isn’t the most groundbreaking car on show in Paris, but it reveals some old-school intent amid a sea of electric SUVS. We’ve seen Porsche use the Speedster body style plenty of times in the past, most recently with the previous Boxster, and it’s usually employed to signal the changing of the guard.

This new 911 Speedster is a concept in name, but 99 per cent the finished article that will make its way into production next year. Only 1,948 of the wealthiest Porsche owners will get their hands on one.

The car is also Porsche’s 70th birthday present to itself, unashamedly flexing its heritage muscles before the next 911 goes hybrid.

Under the skin, the newcomer is based on the 911 GT3, so a 4.0-litre, naturally aspirated flat-six producing 493bhp with a 9,000rpm red line sits at the rear. The only gearbox option is a six-speed manual.

Styling cues are taken from the original 356 Speedster from 1948, brought up to date with modern materials. The wide body shape is derived from the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, albeit with a chopped roof featuring a lower, shallower windscreen. It doesn’t have a proper folding roof; instead, all cars get a lightweight Tonneau cover.

The ‘double bubble’ hump at the rear is made of carbon fibre and covers the rollover protection. The front wings and bonnet are finished in the same material.