Not quite as extreme as the track-focused GT3 RS, the 911 S/T stuffs the 518-hp 4.0-liter engine from the RS into the body of a 911 GT3 Touring. Oh, and it's a manual.
- Porsche's newest special-edition 911 is the lightest in the current 992 generation.
- The 2024 911 S/T is a limited edition, using the 518-hp engine from the GT3 RS, the body of a GT3 Touring, and a manual transmission.
- As a celebration of the 60-year anniversary of the 911, production of the limited edition will be capped at 1963 cars. Pricing will start at $291,650.
Porsche is once again trying to prove to the world that it can make each new 911 model feel distinct, and alone in its purpose. And there sure are a lot of 911 models. The brand has now pulled back the sheet on its newest special edition, the 911 S/T.
And this time around, the changes are pretty special. Porsche is targeting a blend of the raw on-track performance of the 911 GT3 RS, and the still impressive, if more livable, nature of the GT3 Touring. The only element of the GT3 RS we know for sure makes it over to the S/T is the horsepower figure, which is cranked up to 518 ponies out of the 4.0-liter flat-six. As the S/T is designed for back roads rather than time attacks, the body of the car comes from the more down-to-earth GT3 Touring.
Forgoing track day visions of grandeur also allows for a few tenths of pure speed to be taken away. Why is that a good thing? you ask. Three pedals is why.
Why Is Slower Better? Three Pedals Is Why
According to Porsche, the engineers working on the car developed a new clutch exclusively for the S/T. Combined with a single-mass flywheel, the new clutch reduces the weight of rotating mass in the car by roughly 23 pounds. Couple the reduced weight with the shortened gear ratio (compared to the standard GT3), and response time is noticeably improved, according to Porsche. According to Porsche, the 911 S/T launches to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and can achieve a top track speed of 186 mph. Slower than a PDK-equipped GT3, sure, but still plenty quick.
The engineers didn't just reduce weight from the clutch. The hood, roof, front fenders, and doors are all made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), as are the rear axle anti-roll bar and shear panel (stiffening element on the rear axle). The car also comes standard with magnesium wheels. Selecting forged magnesium wheels on the 2023 718 Cayman GT4 RS adds $15,640 to your bill. Porsche also fits the anniversary model with the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system, a lithium-ion starter battery, and lightweight glass as standard. Combine that with the savings in the powertrain, and the S/T tips the scales at 3056 pounds, making it 70 pounds lighter than a GT3 Touring equipped with a manual gearbox.
Carbon Buckets
It may be obvious from the noticeably absent rear wing attached to the car, but Porsche designed the aero elements of the S/T to be more at home on back roads than a racetrack. The extending rear spoiler comes equipped with a Gurney flap. CFRP bucket seats are standard fare, but the four-way-adjustable Sports Seat Plus option is available at no extra charge. Size 255/35ZR-20 tires wrap the 20-inch front wheels, while size 315/30ZR-21 tires are fitted to the rears.
As far as styling for the special edition, the optional Heritage Design package, as well as Shore Blue Metallic exterior paint, and the Ceramica wheel color are all exclusive to the S/T. The interior has cloth seat centers in Classic Cognac with black pinstriping. The Porsche logo and the 911 S/T model designation on the rear of the car are finished in a gold color.
As a celebration of the 60-year anniversary of the 911, production of the edition will be capped at 1963 cars. Pricing will start at $291,650, and deliveries are expected to begin in spring 2024 for the U.S.
Jack Fitzgerald
Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
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