No, it’s not a mixture of a 911 Carrera S and a Carrera T, but a mixture of a 911 GT3 RS and a 911 GT3 Touring. In Porsche’s words, the 911 S/T unites the strengths of both the aforementioned models and delivers a unique combination of agility and driving dynamics. Why this mixture? Well, apparently, it is to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the iconic 911 nameplate, and yes, as you might have guessed, the 911 S/T is limited to 1,963 units. Don’t be surprised if all those units are already allocated to Porsche VIPs.
Porsche is offering two variants of this special model: the 911 S/T and the 911 S/T with Heritage Design Package, and it’s the latter we’re seeing in the photos above. The package paints the exterior of the car in Shoreblue Metallic, complemented with rims in Ceramica. A numbered roundel (pick from 0-99) on the doors is available on request.
But what is this 911 S/T anyway? Well, the story goes back to 1969 when Porsche offered a special, racing version of the 911 S—which was internally called the 911 ST. It had model-specific chassis & body modifications, wheels, and engine mods, resulting in a significantly improved acceleration, braking, traction and cornering grip. The anniversary model combines elements of the 911 GT3 RS with the body of the 911 GT3 with Touring Package and supplements it with lightweight components specially developed for the 911 S/T.
Speaking of which, the bonnet, roof, front wings and doors with their inlets are made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). The roll cage, rear axle anti-roll bar and shear panel (stiffening element on the rear axle) are also made of CFRP. Magnesium wheels (20-inch front and 21-inch rear), the PCCB system, a lithium-ion starter battery and lightweight glass, are all included as standard. Reduced insulation and the omission of rear-axle steering contribute to weight savings.
Let’s talk about the powertrain then, shall we? The 911 S/T packs a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre six-cylinder boxer engine from the 911 GT3 RS with the same output figures of 386 kW (525 metric hp) and 465 Nm (343 lb-ft). However, it is coupled with a 6-speed manual transmission with a shorter gear ratio than in the 911 GT3. Also, Porsche engineers developed a new lightweight clutch exclusively for the 911 S/T. In conjunction with a single-mass flywheel, it is claimed to reduce the weight of the rotating mass by 10.5 kg (23 lbs). Porsche says that this noticeably improves the responsiveness of the naturally aspirated boxer engine, which now builds revs with “especially bracing speed and directness”.
Inside, CFRP full bucket seats come standard, however, 4-way-adjustable Sports Seats Plus is available at no extra charge. The aforementioned Heritage Design Package features cloth seat centers in Classic Cognac with black pinstripes, which are another homage to the heritage model. Two-tone semi-aniline leather trim in Black/Classic Cognac leather with extensive leather surrounds, a roof lining in perforated Dinamica, and other elements from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur round off the package. Porsche Design is offering the buyers a special Chronograph 1 – 911 S/T timepiece with a titanium case.
Last but not least, the 911 S/T is the only 911 of the current generation to combine a double-wishbone front-axle design with a multi-link rear axle without rear-axle steering. The dampers and control systems were tuned accordingly. A lightweight sports exhaust system is also part of the standard equipment list. Thanks to all the weight-saving measures, the 911 S/T achieves a DIN kerb weight of 1,380 kg (3,042 lbs), which is 40 kg (88 lbs) lighter than a manual 911 GT3 Touring. The official 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time is 3.7 seconds and the top speed is 300 km/h (186 mph).
Recommended for you
Leave a Reply
Note: Comments that are unrelated to the post above get automatically filtered into the trash bin.
