A Breath Of Fresh Air: The New Porsche 911 GT3 S/C

If you want to know what makes automotive writers happy, it’s simple: A four litre, naturally aspirated engine and a manual gearbox. Not too much to ask is it?

Like many other manufacturers, the prestige German car maker, Porsche, have had some troubled times recently. Electric vehicles (EV) have not sparked huge interest in driver’s minds (although they are gaining ground lately as buyers get used to the idea), causing some brands to think about offering a mixture of automotive power solutions, which makes absolute sense. Porsche is no different and now this legendary sports car brand are going back to basics and it’s great.

Porsche 911 GT3 S/C

The GT3 is a superb example of sports car technology. In race trim the model supports a whole race series, nationally and globally. The current model Porsche 911 GT3 RS, is a masterpiece of engineering and is a driving sensation as this writer can attest, but it’s quite hardcore. Now this famous marque have introduced a new road-going model that takes driving back to basics: the Porsche 911 GT3 S/C; a convertible that distils the very essence of what this brand is about.

For the first time, Porsche is introducing a 911 GT3 with a fully automatic convertible roof. The 911 GT3 S/C, designed especially, they say, with driving pleasure in mind, combines, importantly, the lightweight design of the 911 S/T variant with the naturally aspirated 4.0 litre boxer engine of the regular 911 GT3, producing 503BHP (375 kW / 510 PS) and 450 Nm of glorious torque. The distinctive wings and doors of the 911 S/T model in combination with the black windscreen surround give the new 911 GT3 S/C an unmistakable look.

In line with its positioning as a driver’s car, this special model is available exclusively with a lightweight short-ratio six-speed manual sports transmission that is perfect for the short-shifters out there. It’s the only open-top variant in the current 911 range that is designed as a pure two-seater, somewhat reminiscent of the brilliant 911 Speedster from 2019. Unlike the Speedster however, the S/C is not a limited-edition model. A new ‘Street Style Package’ is also optionally available for the sports car, which allows the vehicle to be tailored even more precisely to individual tastes.

Prestige Porsche Looks 

911’s don’t really change that much so this model looks like a 911 as ever, but with subtle differences from other models. Matching the black roof, the windscreen frame is finished in black film, giving the 911 GT3 S/C its distinctive look, and the stone-chip protection film on the side panel features a matt-black finish.

The matrix LED headlights combine all front lighting functions,  making it possible to omit the additional light units previously found in the front bumper. This allows for a significantly larger area for the all-important air intake, giving a more clearly structured appearance. For the first time on a 911 with a convertible roof, the retractable rear spoiler is adorned with a Gurney flap, a small tab on the trailing edge of the spoiler that improves its performance by increasing lift and reducing drag. The front spoiler lip and rear diffuser are carried over from the current model 911 GT3.

Premium Porsche Interior

For weight saving all round, the interior features lightweight carpets and lightweight door panels with carbon-fibre pull handles and is built as a pure two-seater, with four-way adjustable Sports Seats Plus fitted as standard. Lightweight sports bucket seats with folding backrests and seat shells made of carbon fibre are optionally available for this car.

The folding bucket seat is equipped with an integrated thorax airbag, electric height adjustment and manual longitudinal adjustment. Three-stage seat heating can also be ordered as an option. The interior is upholstered in black leather as standard – including the sun visors and the A-pillar trim. The GT3 S/C logo is embroidered in the centre of the rear bulkhead trim. The seat centre panels are finished in perforated leather.

The steering wheel is also upholstered in perforated leather. Just like the current fixed-head 911 GT3, the 911 GT3 S/C is started not with the push of a button but with a rotary ignition switch to the left of the steering wheel. The digital instrument cluster supports the driver with a clearly structured display and operating concept. The ‘Track Screen’ display mode reduces the digital displays on the left and right of the rev counter to essential data on tyres, oil, coolant and fuel. Shift lights on the left and right of the rev counter indicate the optimal moment to change gear. If desired, the display can be rotated so that the rev limit of 9,000 rpm is positioned at the 12 o’clock mark. If ever there was an invitation to push this car onwards, a repositioned red line is sure to do it.

Porsche Power

The naturally aspirated four litre engine of the premium new Porsche 911 GT3 S/C is designed to comply with the latest emissions standards and is equipped with two particulate filters and four catalytic converters. Even with this extremely efficient exhaust gas purification system, this Porsche still delivers the requisite engaging soundscape from the flat-six boxer engine, a growl that is significantly intensified when the roof is down.

The cylinder heads have been revised compared to the previous-generation 911 GT3, and the more aggressive camshafts carried over from the aforementioned 911 GT3 RS ensure even more responsive power delivery in the upper rev range. The power-train also features flow-optimised individual throttle bodies and further optimised oil coolers. The six-speed GT manual transmission features a sporty short final-drive ratio through which the car accelerates from 0 to 62MPH (100KMH) in 3.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 194MPH (313KMH).

Just Drive

Anyone who has been behind the wheel of a 911 knows just how well a high-revving naturally aspirated engine, a dynamic chassis setup and thorough lightweight construction combine to create a true driver’s car with or without a roof. Again for the first time on an open top car, the 911 GT3 S/C uses the double wishbone front axle. Combined with the particularly high-grip sports tyres and low weight, the car offers driving pleasure on winding roads that was previously virtually unheard of in a convertible. No EV motors, no turbos, no back-seat driver technology, no lectures. This car is one for the purists.

It is of course, just announced and is available to order now but please remember that MHH International offer a wide selection of new and used vehicles from this prestige manufacturer including the seriously breathtaking Porsche 911 992 GT3 RS Coupe 4.0L, as referred to above. You can see our full current stock on these pages of our brand new and easy to use website; cars which can be exported from the UK to destinations around the world, including New Zealand and Kenya. Please review this website and find out about our leading comprehensive service and VAT-free options.