{"id":1019,"date":"2019-06-01T05:07:08","date_gmt":"2019-06-01T09:07:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/?p=1019"},"modified":"2025-03-06T16:20:57","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T21:20:57","slug":"new-911-speedster-pays-tribute-to-porsches-storied-motorsport-past","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/new-911-speedster-pays-tribute-to-porsches-storied-motorsport-past\/","title":{"rendered":"New 911 Speedster pays tribute to Porsche\u2019s storied motorsport past"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"2019
The new 911 Speedster has a very unique look from up front. (Photo: Porsche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last year, Porsche celebrated its 70th anniversary by producing the one-off 911 Speedster Concept, a beautiful modernization of its first-ever model, the 356 \u2018No. 1\u2019 Roadster from 1948. This sent the motoring press and many fans of the brand into an uproar about future production, resulting in the 2019 911 Speedster seen here.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Speedster is now available to order from you local Porsche retailer for just $312,500, a mere $149,200 more than the 911 GT3 Coupe that it\u2019s based on. And yes, that means the all-new Speedster rides on outgoing 991 hardware, not the upcoming 2020 911 (992) that\u2019s been top of the news headlines lately.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019re guessing the exclusive club of 1,948 buyers receiving their limited edition Speedsters toward the end of 2019 won\u2019t care one whit about which chassis it rides on, chiefly because the Speedster is gorgeous and 991 underpinnings have been arguably Porsche\u2019s best yet, at least when uprated to GT3 or GT2 guise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"2019
The 911 Speedster’s rear design is even more distinct, the model shown here with its special Heritage Package. (Photo: Porsche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Also notable, the renewed GT3 Coupe won\u2019t arrive in 992 form for quite some time, and therefore the only way you\u2019re going to get your hands on a 500-plus horsepower 4.0-litre flat-six crammed aft of the rear axle, capable of a screaming 9,000-rpm redline and generous 346 lb-ft of torque, is to opt for a current GT3 or choose the instantly collectable 911 Speedster, the newer model in fact good for a minor increase to 502 horsepower thanks to throttle bodies added from the GT3 R race car.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The results of all this go-fast tech is a 4.0-second run from zero to 100km\/h, which is just 0.1 seconds off the GT3\u2019s pace, while its terminal velocity is 310 km\/h, a mere 10 km\/h slower than the GT3, despite not having its massive rear wing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, when you factor in that the Speedster only provides Porsche\u2019s GT Sport six-speed manual transmission, which is also pulled from the GT3 and shaves four kilos from the seven-speed manual used for the regular 911, that standstill sprint to 100km\/h score is even more amazing, because Porsche\u2019s paddle shift-actuated dual-clutch PDK automated transmission is always quicker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"2019
The Speedster includes a six-speed manual gearbox from the GT3. (Photo: Porsche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Together with the GT3 powertrain, which comes with dynamic engine mounts from the GT3 by the way, the Speedster utilizes the supercar-beating model\u2019s uprated chassis that incorporates a uniquely calibrated rear axle steering system, although this is where similarities between the two Porsche models end, because body mods are so significant that it\u2019s hard to tell whether the two cars have much of anything in common. These include lower cut front and side windows, twin \u201cstreamliners\u201d shaped from carbon fibre on the rear deck, these completely consuming the rear seating area, carbon fibre composite front fenders and hood, front and rear fascias formed from polyurethane, plus a lightweight manual fabric top.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was smart for Porsche to upgrade the roof for easier day-to-day usability, as the concept only featured a button-down tonneau cover that would\u2019ve caused nothing but aggravation to its potential owners, while the automaker also deleted the \u201cX\u201d markings on the headlamp lenses that stylistically reminded history buffs about the tape once used to make sure broken glass didn\u2019t end up on the racetrack to puncture tires; the removal of the 1950s-type aluminum fuel filler cap on the concept\u2019s hood for fast refueling of the gas tank below; plus replacement of the Talbot mirror housings that were popular back when the 356 was around, to stock side mirrors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fans of that now highly collectible classic 356 will no doubt be happy that Porsche left the gold-coloured \u201cSpeedster\u201d lettering on the thick B-pillars and rear engine cover unmolested, but this said you\u2019ll need to add a special upgrade package (see below) to get them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"2019
The regular Speedster gets a modern look… (Photo: Porsche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All the carbon fibre mentioned earlier should make it clear that Porsche wanted its Speedster to be as light as possible, with the premium brand even going so far as to delete the stereo and air conditioning in base trim (they\u2019re optional), but with a focus on performance they added a standard set of beefed up, lighter weight carbon ceramic brakes, boasting bright yellow six-piston aluminum monobloc fixed calipers in the front and four-piston aluminium monobloc fixed calipers at back, these slicing a whopping 50 percent of weight from the regular 911\u2019s cast iron rotors. Ringing those brakes are centre-lock Satin Black-painted 20-inch alloy wheels on Ultra High Performance (UHP) tires, aiding grip even further.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking inside, the Speedster includes lighter weight door panels with storage nets and door pulls, plus the standard black leather can be improved with red stitching on the instrument panel and headrests with embroidered \u201cSpeedster\u201d lettering. The door pulls come in red with the upgrade, while Porsche adds a unique GT Sport steering wheel infused with a red centre marker at the 12 o\u2019clock marker. The Speedster interior also features a beautiful carbon fibre shift knob, and carbon fibre doorsill kick plates with \u201cSpeedster\u201d monikers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"2019
While the Heritage Package more classic touches. (Photo: Porsche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Those attracted to the new 911 Speedster for its classic proportions and design can opt for a special Heritage Design Package that comes much closer to last year\u2019s concept and \u201850s-era 356 Speedsters. The upgrade adds white front bumper and fender \u201carrows\u201d on top of GT Silver Metallic paint, while this is how you get the aforementioned gold Speedster lettering too, plus classic Porsche crests. Also, the door-mounted racing-style number stickers can be removed if you don\u2019t like them, but then again if you choose to keep them you can also include your own personal number. Lastly, the upgraded Heritage interior gets two-tone leather with classic Porsche crests sewn onto the headrests, plus body-colour trim gets added to the dash and seatbacks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If the new 911 Speedster sounds like your kind of car, be sure to call your local Porsche dealer quickly, and while you\u2019re waiting for delivery of this ultimate drop-top, enjoy a couple of videos below:
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\nThe new Porsche 911 Speedster: First Driving Footage (1:13):
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=RwxnP35isnM
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\nThe new Porsche 911 Speedster: Highlight Film (2:10):
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tTO-x-pTrg0<\/p>\n

Story credits: Trevor Hofmann \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Photo credits: Porsche<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last year, Porsche celebrated its 70th anniversary by producing the one-off 911 Speedster Concept, a beautiful modernization of its first-ever model, the 356 \u2018No. 1\u2019 Roadster from 1948. This sent the motoring press and many fans of the brand into an uproar about future production, resulting in the 2019 911 Speedster seen here.\u00a0 The Speedster […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1020,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-container-style":"default","site-container-layout":"default","site-sidebar-layout":"default","disable-article-header":"default","disable-site-header":"default","disable-site-footer":"default","disable-content-area-spacing":"default","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[31,120,53,46,52,196,84],"class_list":["post-1019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-carcostcanada","tag-31","tag-120","tag-convertible","tag-porsche","tag-roadster","tag-speedster","tag-supercar"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1019"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1019\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1029,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1019\/revisions\/1029"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}