The Porsche Speedster is back - in limited-edition form - for the first time in 18 years.
Porsche is bringing back the classic 911 Speedster, a legendary car often associated with the sports car elite, like Steve McQueen, for a limited run next year.
Only the third version of the Speedster ever offered, the retro chop-top design will help mark the end of the current 911 – known to Porsche aficionados as the 997. Only 356 Porsche Speedsters will be built, a subtle historical reference to the 356 Speedster originally introduced in 1953.
The new version, which will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show later this month, will be easy to spot.
Among those known for favoring the Porsche Speedster was Steve McQueen. The actor's car is shown here.
The windshield, for one thing, is much more steeply raked than the typical 911 and has been shortened by 2.4 inches. There’s a double-bubble roof that recalls the original Speedster. But the new version gets the widened rear end of the current Porsche 911 4S Cabriolet.
Other visual changes include a front spoiler mounted below the front bumper, blackened headlight surrounds, wider sills and vertical air ducts behind the back air ducts.
Some special design features, inside and out, to distinguish the 356 Porsche Speedsters.
The Porsche Speedster’s running gear is shared with the new 911 GTS. The engine, meanwhile, is an up-rated version of the 3.8-liter Carrera 4 flat-six mated to a seven-speed double-clutch PDK. It delivers 402 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. It’s expected to hit 60 in about 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 189 mph.
While Porsche says it will begin taking orders next month deliveries won’t begin until early next year.