Driving performance and a strong motorsport spirit is what defines a Porsche. As the 991 generation comes close to it’s final few months, Porsche has decided to celebrate it with a special model in the guise of the 911 speedster. However, this isn’t the typical 911 speedster that Porsche generally builds. It seems as if Porsche seriously wants to pull off a strong motorsport spirt with the final 991 model. While all the past 911 speedsters were based off the 911 Carrera, the 2019 model will be based on the 911 GT3. The GT3 body styling and aerodynamics are clearly visible and only thing missing is the characteristic wing. Although this could mean that the speedster won’t deliver as well as the GT3 does, the central positioned exhaust tips, along with the GT3 body does suggest that the engine will be identical to the GT3’s four litre flat-six engine. Porsche debuted the car with a manual transmission. A super slick manual gearbox with a GT3 engine and wind flowing through your hair, what more could a true enthusiast possibly ask for?  

As dictated by the historic original, the 911 Speedster Concept also features a lightweight tonneau cover instead of a convertible top. This cover protects the car interior from rain when parked, and is attached using eight Tenax fasteners. The lightweight principles of the Speedster philosophy continue through into the interior, where the navigation, radio and air conditioning systems have all been eliminated. The full bucket seats are made of carbon, and the light brown Aniline leather covers in Cognac 356 pick up on features from the car’s classic predecessors. The differentiating factors don't quite end. Infact the level of retro detail on this car, right from the bonnet mounted fuel filler cap and the Talbot rear view mirrors, is mindboggling. It includes a shorter window frame with a more inclined windscreen and correspondingly shortened side windows. These features give the sports car study an even stockier profile with a very low fly line, which is reminiscent of its predecessors such as the Porsche 356 1500 Speedster. A special rear cover made of carbon fibre connects behind the front seats, covering a roll-over protection structure and featuring a ‘double bubble’, a traditional element of this sports car design since the 911 Speedster from 1988. Two contrasting black slats between the ‘humps’ add an aerodynamic touch, and a transparent Plexiglas wind deflector features an engraved ‘70 years of Porsche’ logo. On closer inspection, you can also notice the X that runs across the headlamps, a hark back to the headlamps on the original 356 Speedster.

Now, how many examples will this beast be limited to, we do not know yet. However, it certainly would make one heck of a car when it makes it’s debut, which is likely to be at this year’s Paris Auto Show. It would be quite interesting to see how the 911 speedster, or rather the 911 GT3 speedster would turn out to be considering that Porsche seems to expects this to be nothing but the best version of the 911 from it’s 991 generation. More than track times or 0-100 times, with the level of detail gone into this car, it is a celebration of 70 years of Porsche. A car that you would want only for the purest form of driving pleasure it delivers and something that you would want to pass down generations. Will we see any in India? We are certainly positive!