Porsche 911 Carrera T (2019 - )

Mention Porsche 911 and its normally met with a sharp intake of breath and a sense of anticipation. After all, the 911 is a performance car through and through.

But now there is an addition to the 911 family with the introduction of a lightweight 911 Carrera T. If you’re wondering, the T stands for Touring and relates to models that offer a purist driving performance.

The weight loss has been accomplished by removing the rear seats, reducing insulation, fitting lightweight glass along with a lighter battery.

The vehicle features a seven-speed manual gearbox although the customer can specify a preference for an eight-speed PDK manual transmission.

With so many 911 models in the Porsche line-up it’s still exciting when a newcomer breaks cover, but be warned, prices start in excess of £100k.

The 911 Carrera T is most definitely a creature of utter beauty thanks to its dynamically-styled streamlining which is matched only by the sound that emits from the straight-six engine.

There are LED headlights with four-point LED spotlights (upgraded to LED Matrix lights), PORSCHE lettering integrated into the taillight strip, retractable door handles, 20 and 21-inch Titanium Grey wheels, an auto-deploying rear spoiler and Racing Yellow paintwork on our car.

To help the model stand out Porsche designers have added a number of Dark Grey detailing features, along with new logos. The windscreen also boasts a grey top tint and the tailpipes are finished in high-gloss black.

The interior is compact, snug but deceptively comfortable with seats that comprise a cloth, leather combination and are part power-adjustable. The steering wheel also has manual adjustment so it’s easy to find the perfect driving position.

The 10.9-inch display screen offers access to the likes of the sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, digital radio, and an upgraded BOSE sound system. There are quick access keys to make life simpler and all the vital driving data can be clearly viewed in the five circular dials behind the steering wheel.

All controls and readouts are simple to operate on the fly in this exceptionally driver-focused cockpit and the heated seats are always a blessing, especially in the colder wintery months.

Similarly to the standard Carrera, the T model is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre, six-cylinder rear engine delivering 385hp and 450Nm of torque. That translates into some impressive performance figures with a 0-62mph dash completed in just 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 182mph.

With rear-wheel drive for added enjoyment and a seven-speed manual gearbox, this is a Porsche that completely lives up to its badge reputation with blistering pace and outstanding grip through corners.

The engine delivers a roar that perfectly matches the performance and it gets even better. Switch on the Enhanced Exhaust note and it’s more like you’re sitting in an aircraft hangar as a fighter jet fires up. 

Drive modes called Normal, Sport, Sport Plus, Wet and Individual alter all aspects of the car’s dynamics and it’s so good to drive a car with a manual gearbox. Yes, many automatics have paddle shift options, but it’s not the same as a ‘proper’ gear stick for a ‘proper’ sports car.

The acceleration and power are relentless especially in the Sport setting (which will be the default choice for most owners), but the control is exceptional with perfectly weighted steering, strong brakes and well-managed suspension.

It’s a car that will cruise with ease on a motorway, but after a few minutes you will be looking for the first junction to exit and find more demanding, yet rewarding country lanes. The journey may take longer, but it’s certainly time well spent.

All-round visibility is okay, but somewhat restricted due to relatively small windows. But with the ParkAssist set-up, the Carrera T is easy enough to park in busier town centres.

The Porsche 911 is a two-door, two-seat sports car that’s very big on style and surprisingly practical in its own way too.

It is a vehicle that will bring out the green-eyed monster in most onlookers and very few drivers will let you out in front of them – it’s just the way of the world! It stretches 4,530mm in length, is 2,024mm across, including mirrors and just 1,293mm tall. That means you will need a certain degree of agility to get in and out of the car with any degree of respect or dignity.

The wheelbase of 2,450mm results in a relatively spacious cabin for its size with bundles of room for a couple of six footers to sit comfortably. With no rear seats, there’s no need to harp on about the lack of leg room in the back, but there is room behind the seats to store coats and bags etc.

Thanks to its rear engine layout, the main storage area is located beneath the bonnet and this can hold 132 litres of luggage. That may not sound particularly spacious but it can easily accommodate some smaller cases.

Elsewhere, convenient storage compartments include a relatively large glovebox, central cubby with a tray for a phone and two USB ports, a cup holder between the two occupants, along with a second that pops out the dash near the passenger’s window and that’s about it.

Okay, down to the nitty gritty then and the pricing. The Carrera T costs £105,700, but as is the premium sports car trend, a host of options can be factored in to fully personalise the vehicle.

And that was the case with our test car which also featured high-gloss black side window trims (£383), rear-axle steering (£1,830), LED Matrix main headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System (£2,361), electric folding mirrors (£276), a fire extinguisher (£155), ParkAssist including Surround View (£1,374), a Light design package (£407) and BOSE surround sound system (£1,152). The final cost at the check-out desk climbed to £113,638.

As far as the day-to-day running costs go the Carrera T can deliver a combined 27.4mpg under WLTP testing with carbon emissions of 233 to 247g/km. 

That CO2 emissions figure means owners will face a first-year Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) charge of £2,220. This will drop down to the standard fee of £180 after 12 months but there are further costs to be factored in. As the 911 Carrera T is more than £40,000 it is subject to a government premium car tax which will add an extra £355 to the owner’s bill for five years starting after 12 months. 

The Porsche 911 stable is full of choice these days from the entry-level Carrera priced from £97k to the mighty 911 S/T that will set you back £231,600. So, fair to say, not cheap then. But a whole lot of fun for that outlay whichever model is chosen.

The arrival of the new lightweight Carrera T is likely to prove another resounding success for Porsche thanks to its performance and handling that will put a smile on any driving purist’s face.