Among the numerous sports cars and supercars produced in the automobile industry, very few get the ‘legendary’ tag, and the Porsche 911 is one of them. The first generation of the vehicle was introduced way back in September 1964, and it had a rear-mounted flat-six engine. A few of this icon’s features have been carried on even in the 2023 iteration as it still gets a rear-mounted engine with a rear-wheel-drive system. The design remains iconic, and the silhouette is traced way back to the 1960s in the first-generation model.
For 2023 Porsche has launched a special edition of its most iconic sports car. The 911 Sport Classic is a car that enthusiasts would love as it is equipped with a manual transmission. Something very hard to come by in vehicles these days. The feeling of driving a car with three pedals is unparalleled.
Porsche’s Heritage Design Package
Porsche introduces a design Heritage package for some of their most iconic vehicles. The first car equipped with this package was the Porsche 911 speedster, and this was conducted as an experiment to see the reaction of enthusiasts. Due to the overwhelming and positive response, the carmaker then launched the 911 Targa S with the Heritage pack two years ago. Targa S was all about the 1950s Porsche and all the marvels achieved back then. After the 1950s came the ’60s, ’70s, and so on. The most iconic car for Porsche in the '60s was undoubtedly the 911, and therefore the 2023 Porsche 911 sport classic came into existence. Talking about the design, the most eye-catching aspect happens to be the famous ducktail spoiler which looks very retro and aids in aero efficiency. It is also very wide to accommodate the high-performance tires and to fit them, and the carmaker made use of large fenders upfront and at the back. Even the roof has a depression in the center and the racing stripes, which is a reference to Porsche’s motorsports Heritage. Another classic element happens to be the wheels that are now 21-inches, but unlike a modern car with nuts and bolts, the 911 Sport Classic has a central locking wheel. The special gray paint and the 60 number stickering are also exclusive to this model. Although the vehicle is retro styling, it is equipped with modern-day elements like LED headlamps and tail lamps and sensors for parking and reversing the camera.
The Powerful Manual 911’s Engine
Although the 2023 Porsche 911 sport classic shares its engine with the 911 Turbo, the drivetrain and the transmission happen to be completely different. The 911 Turbo comes with 8-speed automatic transmission and an a-wheel drive system. In contrast, the sport classic, a heritage model, comes with a 7-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. The engine powering this beast happens to be the 3.7-liter twin Turbocharged flat 6. It boasts a power output of 543 HP and 442 lb-ft of torque. Thus, the vehicle is down on power by 29 HP and on torque by 110 lbs compared to the standard 911 Turbo. Naturally, these numbers result in a slower 0 to 60 mph time as the standard 911 Turbo does this in just 2.2 seconds. On the other hand, the Sport Classic is expected to do it in around 3 seconds. The carmaker adds in some gizmos like rear-wheel steering and the active suspension to enhance the performance. The ride height is also dropped by 0.4 inches for a planted feel through the corners.
The Dual-Tone Modern Interior
The most significant change in the interior happens to be the third pedal which is the clutch that comes with the manual gearbox. Apart from this, the cabin's layout is familiar to the 911 Turbo, and it looks very modern. 911 Sport Classic has a two-tone interior finish as standard, but the all-black theme is also provided as an option. Pepita cloth lines the door panels and seat centers, contrasting with the cabin's dark brown wood decor and its black and brown leather trim. The vehicle almost has five gauges in front of the driver, and four of them are digital, with the center display being the analog tachometer. The Sports Chrono stopwatch comes as standard. Overall, the 2023 Porsche 911 sport classic cabin feels modern and up to date with industry standards, but the inclusion of a manual gearbox and the dual-tone paint scheme gives it a retro and old-school vibe.
The Porsche 911 Sport Classic will be a very exclusive car, and as per Porsche, the vehicle is made in a limited production number, with just 1250 units produced. The starting price of the standard 911 Turbo is over $200,000, and the sports classic will be expected to cost much more than this. There will be four color options to choose from, and each one of them will come with contrasting gray color stripes.
Sources: Porsche