911 SPEEDSTER WITH GT3 THRILLS
A concept version of the swansong to the 991-series generation is being teased by Porsche
Could this really be the swansong to the current-gen 911? After producing a plethora of 911 Carreras since 2011, Porsche is contemplating a final version of the 991-series family in the guise of the Speedster.
The Speedster is still billed as a concept. Porsche says it will decide in the next few months whether it should be built or not. The earliest the market could see a production-ready model would be in 2019.
Highlights of the latest Speedster include a shorter and more angled front windscreen, the signature doublehump rear design and some cool details like the bonnet clip-ons and chromed side-view mirrors harking back to the old days.
Like in the preceding 997-based Speedster, this particular 911 doesn’t get the regular soft-top mechanism of the Cabriolet model and would adopt a simple clip-on roof.
But the previous Speedster didn’t get its power from the GT3 … That’s right. The preceding Speedster got its power from the GTS back then which was a 408hp 3.8-litre flat-six. This time round, Porsche has given it the 4.0-litre version that could produce “over 500hp”.
The existing GT3 generates 500hp of power and an extra 20hp in RS guise. But like before, the Speedster’s engine can be enjoyed in naturally aspirated form with the ability to rev to 9,000rpm.
The Speedster is being showcased with a manual gearbox, although the PDK automatic might be available should Porsche decide to build it.
And will they?
As mentioned earlier, Porsche has yet to give it the green light. However, some potential customers claim that order books are already open.
History also suggests that the Speedster usually appears when a certain model is about to expire in any respective generation. A total of 356 units of the 997- based Speedster were made in 2011. Each were priced about a third more that the donor model. Such a formula could make the latest 991-based Speedster cost at least 25 million baht on Thai shores. Porsche is also keen to point out that the Speedster
Concept has been shown to celebrate its 70th anniversary. Whatever the case is, enthusiasts wanting to properly hear a flat- six engine roaring to 9,000rpm should starting coaxing the sales people at Porsche.