2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T

New Blood in a Long Lineage

Porsche currently has 24 variants of the 911 in its line-up. At this point, it surely becomes a daunting task for the Stuttgart-based company to add more 911s with enough differentiating factor, to an already multifaceted and star-studded team.

But they do it anyway; and with the release of the new 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T they continue managing this to great effect, finding yet another way to garner new appeal for the old establishment.

Porsche 911 Carrera T

To the untrained eye, the Carrera T may appear to be a bare-bones and sparingly equipped 911 at first glance. With a brief history lesson – and by taking a closer, more discerning look – it becomes clear that this really is not the case. The 911 has always been a car built to be greater than the sum of its parts, and the Carrera T is no different.

The purpose of the T (which stands for Touring) is to create a driver-focused 911, equipped with only the necessities required to appeal to those of a purist’s ilk. To achieve this goal, the Carrera T does not possess any truly unique features – such as its own engine, chassis or transmission – but is rather a thoughtful amalgamation of features taken from various 911s in the current line-up.

Features and Highlights

Engine

The Carrera T employs the same power plant used in the current base Carrera – a twin-turbocharged 3.0L flat-six with 370 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque.

A 7-speed manual transmission comes standard with the T, along with a shorter final-drive ratio and the limited-slip differential which are not included in the base Carrera’s offerings. Porsche Sport Exhaust (PSE) is also standard.

While these numbers appear mild on their own, the Carrera T is still able to achieve a top speed of 293 km/h and 0-60 mph in a very respectable 4.3 seconds, or 4.0 seconds with the optional PDK transmission.

Chassis

PASM sport suspension comes standard in the T, which lowers the chassis by 0.4 inches relative to the base Carrera and allows for two modes of dampening. Dynamic engine mounts are also standard fare.

Rear-axle steering (not offered on the base model) and Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) are available options for those who view the conventional arsenal as being spartan.

Overall, the standard-equipped T is the lightest 911 in the line-up weighing in at just 3,153 lbs – a stone lighter than some of its rear-wheel drive counterparts and more than 100 lbs lighter than some of the all-wheel drive variants.

Exterior

The Carrera T is equipped with 20-inch Carrera S wheels, SportDesign mirrors and some distinctive exterior features such as a redesigned front lip and engine hatch louvers.

In Porsche’s effort to shave the pounds, thinner rear and side windows (shared with the GT2RS) are installed, while some sound deadening pieces are removed.

Interior

Four-way adjustable Sport Seats Plus with trim-specific cloth inserts and a GT Sport Steering Wheel come standard in the T.

Buyers who desire the works in weight reduction can also opt for carbon-fiber bucket seats (which also delete the rear seats) at an additional cost.

Verdict

Automotive journalists – such as Car and Driver and Autocar UK – got to take the Carrera T for its first public test at Col de Turini in France. Commonly referred to as simply ‘Turini’, the location is a winding gauntlet of a mountain pass, with sharp turns, intense elevation changes, and rough road surfaces, demanding the most out of both car and driver.

Despite being fitted with Pirelli Sotto Zero winter tires to suit the weather conditions during the test, the car still negotiated the countryside tarmac with real fluency and compliance. The T was also noted as being smooth, balanced and an absolute blast to drive, even in tenuous terrain.

The T is not the fastest or most luxurious of the available 911 variants; nor is it the cheapest, costing around $11,000 more than the base Carrera. So, what does it really offer that would make someone want it over a plethora of other available choices?

Suffice to say, the Porsche 911 Carrera T is the perfect car – for somebody who knows exactly what they want and wants nothing more than that. If all the right boxes are checked off, the Carrera T should be the best value for money for those who fall into this purist niche. The Carrera T is also a manifestation of how passionate Porsche is about understanding and catering to its customer base, whether big or small.

Specifications and Performance Summary

Pricing and Model Info

Make	Porsche
Model	911 Carrera
Generation	2018 – Present
Sub-Model	Touring (T)
Car type	Coupe
Category	Series Production Car
Built At	Stuttgart, Germany
Introduced	2018
Base Price (US)	$102,100

Chassis and Powertrain

Curb Weight	3,142 lbs
Layout	Rear-engine
Driven wheels	Rear-wheel drive
Suspension	MacPherson strut suspension with anti-roll bar (front), LSA multi-link suspension with anti-roll bar (rear)
Brakes	330mm internally vented brake rotors front and rear, with 4-piston aluminum monobloc fixed calipers front and rear.
Engine	Flat 6 Boxer
Aspiration	Twin-turbocharged
Valves	2 Intake / 2 Exhaust
Lubrication	Integrated dry-sump
Cooling	Water-cooled
Displacement	3.0 Litres
Transmission	7-Speed manual, optional 7-speed PDK