The Porsche 911 Carrera T

Often, when it comes to Porsche’s sportiest models, less is more. Within the realm of the GT3, the 911R, and even the last gen Boxster Spyder, Porsche is definitely willing to offer fewer creature comforts for the sake of delivering a lighter, more driver-focused experience. While many Porsche buyers may want every bell, whistle, and available luxury, there is a proven market for leaner, simplified cars that push sport over plush. Enter the new 911 Carrera T, a lightweight blend of the base Carrera with a few choice additions from the more powerful Carrera S.

Based on the current 991.2 model 911, the new Carrera T (T is for Touring) is a fairly basic creation for those who want a modern, sporty 911, and little else. The Carrera T retains the entry-spec 370 horsepower 3.0-liter twin turbo six-cylinder engine from the Carrera, along with rear-wheel drive, and a seven-speed manual transmission with specially shortened ratios (a PDK dual-clutch automatic can be optioned for an additional $4,250). By replacing the door handles with pull straps, optioning thinner rear glass panels, less sound insulation, and no rear seats, Porsche has brought the curb weight of the Carrera T down to a respectable 3,142 pounds, making it the lightest in the standard Carrera lineup.

This diet should make for a better performing car, and Porsche is listing a 0-100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds (or 4.2 with the PDK transmission). Also changed over the base Carrera are the inclusion of Porsche’s PASM sport suspension, a mechanically locking rear differential (crucial for performance driving in a rear-wheel drive sports car), and the more raucous and entertaining sports exhaust. Some of these additions are not available on a base Carrera and come as options on the more expensive Carrera S (including rear-wheel steering, which is also an option for the Carrera T).

 Even at its base 370 horsepower, the 911 is plenty fast for most roads or a fun day at the track.

Many of the usual options are available for the Carrera T, but given its base price of $116,500, even just a couple options will quickly see your T exceeding the base price of the Carrera S, which has some additional goodies and 50 more horsepower. That said, if you’re able to keep the options to a minimum, the Carrera T looks to be a solid step up from a standard Carrera (which retails from $104,000). Cosmetics, paint, and wheels aside, the additional options alone would add several thousand dollars to the base price of a Carrera S. If you don’t see the need for the extra power, you will see the appeal of the T.

As a nod to the 911T of the late sixties, this new Carrera T looks to be a perfect blend of the ample power available in the Carrera but with just enough added to increase the sportiness. Fitted with standard Carrera S wheels in Titan Grey and wearing 911 Carrera T badging and Agate Grey accents (see the mirrors?), the Carrera T looks fantastic in yellow.  The interior is also nicely matched with Sport-Tex fabric seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, and exclusive red accents on the Carrera T-specific shortened manual gear lever.

While it’s easy to glance at the numbers and assume the Carrera T is too close in price to the more powerful Carrera S, doing so is missing the point. Even at its base 370 horsepower, the 911 is plenty fast for most roads or a fun day at the track. The Carrera T builds on that solid base with just enough to ensure the sportiest expression of the form, and little else. With 22 current distinct models, there has never been a better time to want a specific flavour of 911, and the Carrera T is the low-fat option with just the right spices to turn up the heat.

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