What's the news?
Porsche fans, rejoice - the German sports car company has revealed that it is going to put its glorious 911 Speedster into (limited) production in the first half of next year.
Porsche took the opportunity of the Paris Motor Show to confirm that 1,948 units of the open-top two-seater will be built. There's a reason for that particular number, of course; in 1948, on June 8, the Porsche 356 'Number 1' received its operating licence and, on the occasion of its 70th birthday of making cars - or, more specifically, June 8, 2018 - Porsche revealed the Speedster Concept in Zuffenhausen as a 'Heritage' model.
But now we know a lucky few enthusiasts will get a hugely desirable, cast-iron future collector's piece... albeit not the car you're looking at here. This Paris debutant is a 'second Speedster Concept' that evolved from the first seen in June and it now wears Guards Red paint, in homage to the 1988 G-model-generation 911 Speedster, while there's a set of 21-inch cross-spoke centre-lock alloy wheels - such as you might find on a 911 RSR or GT3-R competition machine. Inside, a black perforated-leather interior with red highlights is said to create a 'tasteful and sporty' appearance.
Mechanically and structurally, little else has changed in the transformation from Speedster Concept 1 to Speedster Concept 2. It still employs a chopped-down 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet (991.2) body with shortened window frames and lowered cowl-top panels, small side windows and a carbon-fibre rear bonnet with the 'double-bubble' cover behind the seats. It also keeps the 'Talbot' door mirrors and centrally-positioned fuel tank cap, all finished in black-chrome and platinum, while the red-tinted daytime running lights are inspired by motorsport. As ever with a 911 Speedster, there's no convertible soft-top, instead a lightweight tonneau cover providing the interior's only respite from the elements when the car is parked. The front wings and the front bonnet panel, like the one covering the engine, are also made of carbon fibre, while the underpinnings are pure 991.2 GT3.
That gloriously means that the production version of the 911 Speedster will not only provide the final hurrah for the 991-generation of Porsche's legendary sports coupe, but will probably also be the swansong of that mesmeric 4.0-litre normally aspirated flat-six engine, which can rev out to a giddy 9,000rpm. As before, Porsche simply says the Speedster has 'more than 500hp', so that likely means the motor is in 991.2 GT3 RS, where it develops 520hp, and it's equipped with a (praise the lord!) six-speed manual gearbox. Oh, and a titanium-tipped sports exhaust system, courtesy of its GT development.
Anything else?
The 911 Speedster Concept was developed at the Porsche Motorsport centre in Weissach, in cooperation with Style Porsche and Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur. The 911 Speedster will be the first car from Porsche to be offered with the new Heritage Design Packages, said to offer an even higher degree of personalisation for the 911.