Porsche 911 Speedster 2019 reviews: a ‘sublime’ farewell to the 991

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Porsche has opened orders in Britain for its new 911 Speedster, a limited-edition drop-top model that bids farewell to the company’s outgoing 991-generation sports car.

Based on the 991 version of the 911 GT3, instead of the newer 992-generation Carrera, the Speedster is an exclusive convertible that harks back to the company’s 356 Speedster from the late 1950s.

The German carmaker did little to hide its intentions of launching a new Speedster. The company released a concept version of the car last summer, before taking the covers off a near-production spec model at the Paris Motor Show in September.

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The final production model was revealed in a set of images online last month, a few days before the drop-top made its public debut at the New York Auto Show.

Here’s everything you need to know about the old 911’s last hurrah:

Pricing

According to Auto Express, the Speedster will carry a price tag of 211,599, which makes it the most expensive model in Porsche’s range.

Release date

Orders are open now, with deliveries due to get under way by the end of the year.

Those wanting to get their hands on the new car will need to be quick, though. Only 1,948 examples are due to reach production, a number chosen to mark Porsche’s 70th anniversary last year.

Reviews

Lowering yourself into the Porsche 918-derived bucket seats in the Speedster “is a journey back in time”, says Autocar. The cabin is “simple” compared to the tech-laden interior of the new 992-generation 911 and the central tachometer “feels old-school” in today’s age of digital instrument panels.

But the Speedster is a more performance-focused model compared to previous versions, dispensing with luxuries such as an infotainment system in the name of saving weight. There isn’t an electric roof mechanism either, meaning drivers have to get out and manually lower the roof when the sun comes out, the magazine says.

When the roof is tucked away behind the front seats, drivers are treated to the Speedster’s “addictive” soundtrack that’s emitted from its 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six engine, says Auto Express. The motor revs up to 9,000rpm, urging drivers to “hold the gear” and enjoy every moment of the “race-bred” motor.

The “sublime” gearshift and steering also enhance the Speedster’s driving experience, the motoring magazine says. The GT3-derived chassis is “more supple” in drop-top form, allowing drivers to enjoy the car’s “talents” on public roads “at very little cost to outright performance”.

Although the Speedster has not traditionally been the 911 of choice for “those who enjoy driving far more than they enjoy being seen driving”, Evo says the new GT3-based model breaks the mould.

“It’s a driver’s car first and foremost, that so happens to have a distinctive and unique look about it,” the mag adds. “It’s not only the very last 991-generation 911, it’s also one of the very, very best.”

Design

The 911 Speedster is based on the GT3 and adopts track-focused model’s aggressive bumper design, says Auto Express. Meanwhile, the drop-top’s wider rear-wheel arches have been plucked from the Carrera 4 Cabriolet.

The 911 Speedster’s windscreen is also “lower” and “shallower” than the GT3 it’s based on, while the convertible’s signature “double-bubble” deck returns, and sits over the same area that would normally feature the rear seats, the magazine adds.

Underneath the deck sits the car’s roof. Much like the previous model, which launched in 2011, the 911 Speedster’s fabric roof has to be manually fastened, says PistonHeads. This helps save weight, as electronically operated roofs are notoriously heavy.

The weight-saving measures continue on the inside, too, the motoring website adds. For instance, the door handles on the inside have been swapped for a fabric alternative, while the storage bins have been replaced by an elastic net.

Other vintage touches include a fuel-filler cap on the bonnet, which is a throwback to the original Speedster from the late 1950s.

Engine and performance

At the back of the car sits the same 4.0-litre flat-six engine as the current 911 GT3, Evo reports. The motor produces 493bhp, which is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

The 911 Speedster also features the GT3’s rear-wheel steering system, says Autocar, which greatly improves the car’s agility when flying through a twisty set of corners.