Porsche 911 T: lighter, sharper and manual only

It’s probably the shedding of kilograms that most clearly sets out the T’s stall as the driver’s choice. Reduced sound insulation (all the better to listen to the standard-fit sports exhaust and downshift autoblip), thinner glass and bucket seats all contribute to a kerb weight that has been reduced by 42kg, bringing the total down to 1,478kg in coupé form. That manual-only offering further defines the emphasis on weight saving. 

Like anyone who has been on a diet, the 911 T wants to make the most of it and therefore the chassis engineers have been at work to give the car a set-up that’s bespoke within the 911 range. The PASM adaptive sports suspension has been lowered by 10mm when compared to the Carerra, while the anti-roll bars front and rear have been tuned in line with the T’s aerodynamic balance with neutral handling the goal. The spoiler lip is borrowed from the Carrera GTS.

Rear axle steering is fitted to the T for the first time, and is tuned specifically for the model. As well as improving turn-in, it also promotes greater stability and works in conjunction with a quicker ratio front wheel steering. Sport Chrono remains standard fitment on the T.

Slung out behind those steering rear wheels is the same 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six you’ll find in a Carrera. With 394PS (290kW) and 450Nm (332lb ft) of torque, it will reach 62mph from rest in 4.5 seconds and go on to a top speed of 183mph in coupé form. As a cabriolet, it concedes 0.2 second to 62mph and 1mph of to speed. Power and performance are up on the previous 911 T, so the brakes have been improved to match. The front discs are 350mm in diameter and grasped by six-piston calipers. Up front are 20-inch wheels with 21-inch at the rear.

The 911 T wears its manual gearbox on its sleeve... or rather its rear quarterlight. A sticker depicting the six-speed shift pattern appears on both sides of the car. The shifter itself is celebrated with a open-pore walnut laminated gearknob featuring a ‘MT’ (manual transmission) logo.

It sits atop a shortened lever for a more accurate throw across the gate. Vying for attention is the Sport Chrono stopwatch on top of the dashboard, the latter dominated by the large central touchscreen. Other than that, it’s a sombre black interior.

The 911 T is priced from £111,300 in coupé form with the convertible pitched with a £10,000 premium.