[suhaas307]

The 'Speedster' moniker is famed for being used on Porsche's swansong Nine-Elevens for several generations, and Porsche has wasted no time in commemorating their 70th Year by giving the 991 (.1 and .2) 911 a fitting farewell!



Harking back to the 356 Speedster, Porsche has applied the Speedster profile to several generations of the 911, including the 964, the 993 and the 997.

The general public scoffed at the heavy-arsed 964 and the 997, but hardcore Porschephiles swear by them even to this day. The 991 though, is a different story. It's fair to assume that it looks far more proportioned than Speedsters of yore, and is an actually stunning thing!

Highlights:

• The Speedster derives its chassis and its drive-train (4.0 Naturally Aspirated Flat-Six that revs up to 9000 RPM!) from the 991.2 GT3, and the convertible wide-body from the Carrera 4S Cabriolet. For all intents and purposes, the Speedster is nothing but a GT3 Cabriolet. (It's worthy to mention that previous Speedsters were based on the regular Carreras and were merely design exercises by Porsche, making this new Speedster particularly special!)

• The car's design and styling is typically Speedster, with the signature double-bubble humps / buttresses fashioned out of carbon-fibre composite, along with a wind-deflector / slats between the humps in the middle and an illuminated Porsche nameplate. The speedster-humps are installed in place of the rear-seats, effectively turning the 2+2 911 Cabrio into a strict 2-seater. The front and rear bumpers are derived from the 991.2 GT3.

• Other styling touches include the trademark chopped and steeply-raked windscreen, paired with shorter side windows, and the iconic Porsche racing livery / paintwork - a mix of GT Silver and Carrera White that harks back to track-spec Speedsters.

The Finer Details:

• Retro '50s style fuel filler cap relocated to the top of the trunk-lid up-front.

• Classic Talbot style exterior mirrors, nicked straight off the original 356-B Speedster.

• Massive 21" Fuchs-like center-lock alloy wheels, similar in design to the ones found on the erstwhile 911-50th Anniversary Edition

• Unique headlights with transparent and opaque surfaces with a cross-like effect - a nod to a practice prevalent in Porsche’s early years in motorsport. (original headlights were taped before races to protect them against stone chipping and to prevent the glass from shattering.

• Wide B-pillars and the rear are decorated with milled, gold-plated Speedster lettering.

• Wind-deflector with an illuminated and engraved Porsche Plaque, celebrating 70 years of being in the business.

• A lightweight tonneau cover instead of a powered convertible top, similar to the 987 Boxster Spyder and the Jaguar F-Type Project-7 - The top is secured using eight Tenax fasteners.

• Light brown Aniline leather in Cognac drape the Carbon bucket seats and a few other parts of the interior.

• Weight-reduction being the theme, navigation, radio and air conditioning systems have all been deleted.

Let's talk Production

Porsche will most certainly put this car into production, but some of the details are still a bit sketchy. What we are pretty sure about, are:

• The chopped windshield may not make it to production, since it does not meet safety regulations in most markets. It will retain its rake, but it will not be chopped.

• The central fuel filler cap will be relocated to the original place, i.e. the front fender. Sad.

• The funky retro mirrors will definitely not make it to production. Expect the regular Sport Design mirrors to sit on the doors.

• The lightweight tonneau cover for the roof will make way for a more practical, partially motorized, manually operated fabric roof, similar to what you get on the 981 Boxster Spyder and the old 997.2 Speedster.

• 21" alloys may be a bit too large, and Porsche may stick to 20" in the same style.

• Rennlist and other Porsche Forum discussions seem to suggest that the car's production will be limited to 356 numbers, just like the previous Speedster. However, some say that production numbers may be limited to 1948, to signify 70 years of the marque's presence in motorsport and the passenger car space.

• We are quite certain that all production Speedsters are already spoken for. Speculations suggest that the car will cost about $300,000, not including dealer mark-ups. Preference for allotment of cars has been given to 918 owners, those part of the VIP Program.

• Expect the production version to be unveiled later this year, with deliveries in 2019 only!

Source:https://rennlist.com/articles/porsch...tely-stunning/

Photographs:

[suhaas307]

Spy shots of the Speedster undergoing testing on the streets of Stuttgart may be found below:

Source: https://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/...dster-way.html

[suhaas307]

New photographs of a 911 Speedster test-mule have surfaced, and the mule looks nearly production ready.

Highlights:

1) The semi-motorized mechanically foldable soft top has revealed itself, and it looks less like the traditional Speedster canvas tops from erstwhile 911 Speedsters and more like the canvas roof on the 981 and the upcoming 718 Boxster Spyders, i.e. the double-bubble panel is exposed and the rear portion of the canvas top no longer sits over it like a clamshell. As a result, the Speedster seems to have lost its traditional swoopy silhouette. This will disappoint purists.

2) Since the Speedster will not feature the GT3 / GT3 RS style wing, it will have to make do with the regular electrically operate pop-up spoiler. However, in order to compensate for the lack of a large spoiler, Porsche has extensively recalibrated the wing to deploy at a greater angle of attack than on a regular 911 Carrera.

3) It's unclear from the photographs if Porsche has retained the chopped windshield, and it's likely that it will not make it to the production version due to regulations. However, expect the windscreen to retain its sharper rake and angle.

4) Certain reports seem to suggest that the exhaust note is not the same as the GT3's. It will be interesting to see (and hear ) how things pan out.

5) Expect the Concept Speedster (or even the production version) to make an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this month.

[rohitoasis]

Henry Catchpole spends some time at the Goodwood FOS with the Speedster with the head of GT division at Porsche Andreas Preuninger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vJHlNGRz5Q

The video is not as detailed as other Henry videos, but the lovely soundtrack of the car compensates for it.

[suhaas307]

Porsche has revealed the production version of the 911 (991.2) Speedster Concept that was unveiled in June earlier this year.

Highlights:

• Surprisingly, the production version seems to carry forward several design cues from the Concept version, which I assumed would be left out at the assembly line - The Talbot mirrors and the fuel-filler cap on the trunk-lid up front.

• The stone-guard ahead of the rear wheel-arch makes a comeback! Its last appearance was on the 911 Sport Classic from the 997 generation

• Porsche has retained the chopped windshield, for that true Speedster look!

• The four-point day-time running lights now glow in a red. Strange!

• Porsche will make 1948 Speedsters to commemorate the birth-year and launch of the original 356 Speedster.

• Production will begin in 2019 and delivers can be expected immediately thereafter.

Opinion:

• Although the specification of this production Speedster (as per the attached photographs) is great, I am of the opinion that a car such as the Speedster should have been revealed in a classic / retro colour like Oslo Blau or even the silver / white livery on the concept car. The lovely tan leather also ought to have been retained.

• Porsche should have retained the period Fuchs wheels on the Speedster to really complete the look, considering that it's a nod to the classic Speedster.

Picture Source: https://www.evo.co.uk/porsche/911-gt...roduction-form

[Porcupine]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

Porsche has revealed the production version of the 911 (991.2) Speedster Concept that was unveiled in June earlier this year.

This is technically still a "Concept" and not the actual production version as per Porsche. I kind of like the retro meets modern applications of this second concept. It's done mainly to highlight the added customisation options that Porsche is going to offer for the Speedster called the 'Heritage Design Package' which will allow buyers to go for a more retro look like the first concept, should they choose - knowing Porsche at some ridiculous prices.

Also the Guards Red colour is a nod to the 1988 911 Speedster which was launched in Guards Red.


1988 Porsche 911 Speedster: Guards Red

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by Porcupine

This is technically still a "Concept" and not the actual production version as per Porsche. I kind of like the retro meets modern applications of this second concept. It's done mainly to highlight the added customisation options that Porsche is going to offer for the Speedster called the 'Heritage Design Package' which will allow buyers to go for a more retro look like the first concept, should they choose - knowing Porsche at some ridiculous prices.

Also the Guards Red colour is a nod to the 1988 911 Speedster which was launched in Guards Red.

Attachment 1803986
1988 Porsche 911 Speedster: Guards Red

Thank you for clarifying that, Porcupine.

Could you quote the source of your information? So far, I have only found photographs of the car. But what you have suggested in your post seems to be consistent with Porsche's strategies.

[Porcupine]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

Thank you for clarifying that, Porcupine.

Could you quote the source of your information? So far, I have only found photographs of the car. But what you have suggested in your post seems to be consistent with Porsche's strategies.

Sure

Though the car on Porsche’s stand in Paris is still officially a “Concept Study”, there’s no doubt in our minds this is pretty much how the production version is going to look. Painted in Guards Red, just like the G-Model 911 Speedsters from the late Eighties, the Paris Speedster has new 21-inch centre-lock wheels, red-tinted daytime running lights and a black leather interior with red highlights.

Source: Top Gear

This Speedster isn't quite the roadgoing version, though. Instead this Guards Red 911 is described as the "second Speedster Concept study", now adding 21-inch cross-spoke wheels like an RSR racer and a black leather cabin for a "tasteful and sporty appearance."

With nothing changed mechanically from Festival of Speed to Paris - this is to all intents and purposes a GT3 manual sans roof - Porsche has now divulged further spec details. It's said that the Speedster will be the first Porsche offered with new 'Heritage Design Packages'; offered under the Porsche Exclusive banner, the accessory packages will "allow for an even higher degree of personalisation for the 911."

Source: PistonHeads

[naveen.raju]

Porsche confirm that the new 911 Speedster is going into production! They will be building a total run of 1,948 units, in tribute to the company being started back in 1948. After showing a first concept earlier this year, the car here more accurately represents the production car, which we can explore on their stand ahead of deliveries next year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmVcd9JA_JA

Source - YouTube