2019 Porsche 911 Speedster

The 991.2 911 Speedster made its world premiere to celebrate the marque’s 70th anniversary in 2018 at the ceremony for the “70 Years of Porsche Sports Cars” in Zuffenhausen, and later made public appearances at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Rennsport Reunion VI, and the Paris Motor Show in October. It was designed in the spirit of the previous iterations of the Speedster as a driver-focused, simplified open-top version of the 911 with motorsport capability. It went into production beginning mid-2019 as the last of the 991 platform cars and production was limited to just 1,948 examples worldwide.

In keeping with the tradition of previous Speedster models, lightweight construction was key. The body is based on the Carrera 4 Cabriolet, but the chassis is built off of the GT3 platform and incorporates rear-axle steering and dynamic engine mounts, as well as control systems such as Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV), Porsche Stability Management (PSM) and PASM. The Speedster incorporates the carbon-fiber composite front fenders of the 911R and the front bumper and carbon-fiber trunk lid of the GT3, albeit with a front spoiler that is unique to the model. The rear features the bumper and automatically-raising rear spoiler of the GT3 Touring. The most distinguishing exterior characteristic is the long double-bubble convertible top cover and swept-back windshield frame that has been a hallmark of the Speedster models since the G-body iteration. The cover is made entirely of carbon fiber to keep its weight to an absolute minimum.

The Speedster adopted the GT3’s 4.0-liter engine, but with the addition of individual throttle bodies paired with a new engine management system and higher flow injectors that allow for sharper throttle response across the RPM range. The engine produces 510 horsepower and was designed to rev up to 9,000. A new lightweight exhaust system was developed for the Speedster with integrated particulate filters that meet emission requirements without sacrificing horsepower. The engine was paired to a six-speed manual transmission with a short shifter and an “Auto-Blip” function that synchronizes RPMs on downshifts.

This example was ordered in paint-to-sample Carbon Steel Metallic with extensive custom tailoring options on the interior. The seats were upholstered in Chalk with Alcantara center panels, and the “Speedster” text embroidered in the headrests was specified in black. The upper dashboard and door panels were finished in black leather and Alcantara, and the centers of the door panels were finished in a combination of Alcantara and Chalk leather. Carbon fiber trim throughout the interior adds a subtle contrast to the dark leathers and hints at the car’s construction.

The 991.2 Speedster is destined to be a collectible for its limited production and superb driving characteristics and pays homage to a model that was a staple in Porsche’s early motorsport successes.