The Porsche 911 Carrera T returns with familiar recipe of weight-saving, driver appeal and choice standard equipment

This is the new Porsche 911 Carrera T, a returning version of Porsche’s flagship sports car that fills out the entry-level Carrera range with a dash of extra driver appeal. Priced at £98,500, the new car commands a high-four-figure premium over the entry-level 911, sitting below the Carrera S in the range but offering lower suspension, weight-reducing touches throughout and a manual gearbox as standard. Order books are open now, with deliveries expected for the spring of 2023.

A focus on lightweighting measures sees the 911 T lose its rear seats and some of its sound deadening; lightweight glass is also fitted along with a lighter battery and a sports exhaust system. The 911 T gets Porsche’s Sport Chrono pack as standard, alongside PASM sports suspension to drop ride height by 10mm. Porsche notes that these options were previously unavailable in conjunction with the standard 911’s 380bhp engine, and are optional on the more powerful Carrera S.

The Carrera T options list includes rear-axle steering and a PDK dual-clutch gearbox; it’s worth noting that the standard 911 Carrera is now only available with this gearbox, with the new Carrera T taking up the role of entry-level three-pedal 911. A 35kg weight saving is claimed for the manual Carrera T versus the PDK-fitted Carrera.

Inside, the Carrera T gets standard four-way adjustable Sports Plus bucket seats as standard, along with a no-frills interior trim package. This racy, more focused approach is reflected in the exterior finish, which incorporates grey mirrors, door graphics and rear-deck trim to contrast with the range of four standard colours (Deep Black, Gentian Blue, Ice Grey and GT SIlver) or five special colours (Chalk, Ruby Star Neo, Carmine Red, Shark Blue and Python Green). Porsche Paint to Sample is available for more bespoke exterior colour options. Carrera S wheels are standard fit, measuring 20in and 21in front and rear respectively, finished in Titanium Grey.

Purists will be happy to know that the ‘T’ part of its moniker has been around since the original 911 T of 1968, a homologation model for a corresponding touring car. The name was then revived in 2017 with the 991-generation Carrera T. Just as with its predecessor, the newest iteration can be seen as a savvy packaging of commonly selected options, combining the best bits of Carrera and Carrera S with a focus on driving thrills.

The new 911 Carrera T joins ‘T’ models from the 718 Cayman and Boxster ranges, as well as the Porsche Macan T SUV.