Ducktails, turbochargers, and manual gearboxes are all expected.
Porsche's past is littered with legendary performance variants of its iconic 911, and the manufacturer, to its credit, handles nostalgia right. And it's about to blow your head by combining some of the most evocative, iconic 911 concepts with the best current gear available. Do you have a seat? Porsche is developing a 911 Sport Classic with rear-wheel drive, a manual transmission, and Turbo S performance. The Porsche 911 ST will be essentially a new version of the 911 R that was available on the previous generation 911. In addition, a 50th Anniversary 911 RS will commemorate the legendary Carrera RS 2.7.
Let's start with the Porsche 911 Sport Classic, which is a reimagining of a special limited-edition vehicle that was offered little over a decade ago. The approximately 2010 Sport Classic was restricted to only 250 units and featured a distinctive double-bubble top, wider rear track and bodywork, and a ducktail spoiler inspired by the famous '73 Carrera RS. The 3.8-liter flat-six produced 23 more horsepower, for a total of 408, and was only available with a manual transmission. The kit was completed with one-of-a-kind stylistic touches and unique wheels.
As previously stated, the contemporary Sport Classic will include RWD, a manual transmission, and Turbo S power. People have been pleading for this combo since Porsche discontinued it on the 991. (Because today's Turbo versions are completely all-wheel drive, having that power and just rear-drive is significant—almost like a somewhat detuned GT2 RS with a manual.) That is enormous. And we hope Porsche will be brave enough to increase the output of the incredibly swift 911 Turbo S from 620 to 650 horsepower, increasing the output of the astonishingly rapid 911 Turbo S by a little but noticeable amount, although the actual figure is anyone's estimate at this moment.
The Porsche 911 ST is up next. This was a competition-oriented 911 with significantly enlarged fenders to take advantage of racing rules that allowed for extra rubber back in the early 1970s. An original ST is a startlingly uncommon beast, far less well-known than the RS with its oft-imitated ducktail spoiler. If the original ST's fenders were broad, we have every reason to expect the new 911 ST's fenders will be much wider. It'll also have a 500-hp-plus, rev-happy powertrain from the GT3, but with an extra 50 or so ponies. Consider the 2016 911 R's core formula (more power, freer revving, no sound deadening, less weight) wrapped in the mantle of a historic car that deserves to be respected again.
The greatest is saved for last. Remember how the subtle, gorgeous 50th Anniversary 911 practically polished every contour and curve on the 991? The lovely inside seat fabric options—houndstooth or tartan? It was vintage without being a parody, and it also included 30 more ponies, which was usual. The secret sauce was abundantly applied.
So, if you do the arithmetic, is there any classic model that will be 50 years old in 2023? If the first thing that comes to mind when you think about 1973 is a ducktail-wearing homologation special, you'd be correct. As you may expect, a 50th Anniversary Porsche 911 RS should be stunning. That spoiler appears to be a need, as does the kind of quality and attention to detail that the 50th Anniversary 911 received a few years ago. There will also be extensive light-weighting. Our hypothesis is that power will come from the Carrera GTS's twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter engine, which gains 30 horsepower and 30 lb-ft over lower 911s with the same engine.It should be an indulgent enthusiast driving experience with less weight and perhaps in the region of the GTS's 472 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque.
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