I’m driving on a moist Freeway 128 in California’s wine nation and the cacophony behind me is coming from 4.0 liters of German flat-6 unfettered by issues like sound deadening materials. The 911 GT3 has historically been the light-weight, naturally aspirated selection within the 911 lineup, however the limited-edition 911 S/T appears on the GT3 and says, “You suppose you’re the uncooked, purist’s automotive? Maintain my beer.”

The engine making all that noise comes from the 911 GT3 RS, nevertheless it’s not teamed with that automotive’s huge array of aerodynamic add-ons and quite a few controls for monitor changes. As an alternative, the S/T goals to out-GT3 the 911 GT3 with even lighter weight and an much more participating driving expertise.

Because it revs, the S/T’s engine sounds a racket that’s louder than some other 911. The flat-6’s wail fills the cabin to the detriment of dialog and the delight of automotive fans. It has so little sound deadener that the whir and lash of assorted powertrain components may be heard, together with flywheel rattle. The sound will increase with revs, solely calming down at low rpm. Nonetheless, low revs aren’t as frequent resulting from shorter gearing.

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

Like within the GT3 RS, the engine makes 518 hp and 342 lb-ft of torque, up from 502 hp in the usual GT3. Nonetheless, as a substitute of a dual-clutch automated transmission, right here it’s mated to a 6-speed handbook that’s teamed with a short-throw shifter, a light-weight flywheel, and shorter gear ratios. It’s a components for powertrain engagement not like something within the 911 lineup. It’s all louder, faster, extra intense, and extra visceral.

The S/T’s flywheel weighs 22 kilos lower than the unit within the handbook model of the GT3. The result’s a freer revving model of the 4.0-liter flat-6 that winds readily as much as its 9,000 rpm redline. The gear ratios are 8% shorter than within the handbook GT3, and the shifter is 10 mm shorter than the short-throw shifter within the GT3, which is already 10 mm shorter than the levers in different 911s. Tidy gear shifts are useful as a result of the sunshine clutch drops the revs rather more rapidly between gears (a typical rev-matching function helps as nicely), nevertheless it all encourages railing on the S/T such as you stole it.

The powertrain mods and the S/T’s lighter weight conspire to make it the quickest naturally aspirated 911 within the 0-60 mph dash. It does the deed in simply 3.2 seconds, in accordance with Porsche, 0.2 second faster than the GT3. Energy comes on sturdy from a cease however feels much more strong because it relentlessly builds velocity. A shorter final-drive ratio limits the highest velocity to 186 mph, 12 mph lower than the GT3, however with the best way it revs you’ll be able to wager it could beat the GT3 to 186 mph handily.

Two different cuts to rotating mass contribute to that improved acceleration in addition to to dealing with. The S/T comes commonplace with carbon-ceramic brakes that save 39.9 kilos and magnesium wheels that trim 23.3 kilos.  

Different types of weight financial savings are discovered all through the automotive. A lithium-ion battery saves 6.6 kilos over a lead-acid unit and a light-weight carpet conserves 4.4 kilos. Carbon-fiber strengthened plastic (CFRP) cuts weight for the rear shear panel (4.6 kilos), rear anti-roll bar (4.4 kilos), doorways (4.4 kilos), bucket seats (15.4 kilos) and roof (2.2 kilos). The S/T additionally lacks a rear seat like different GT3s, and reducing the GT3 Touring’s commonplace rear-wheel steering drops one other 14.3 kilos. All advised, the S/T weighs in at 3,056 kilos, 70 kilos lower than the GT3 Touring, making it the lightest 911 within the lineup.

The shortage of rear-wheel steering is one of some dynamic adjustments Porsche employs for the S/T. The engineers slowed the steering ratio from 14.2:1 to fifteen.0:1 to compensate for the dearth of stability rear-wheel steering provides in quick corners. It’s all a part of the back-to-basics method for the automotive, which is punctuated by a scarcity of driving modes, although the damper tuning may be modified on the middle display screen.

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

I can really feel the free-revving powertrain on these roads, however judging many of the dealing with enhancements should look forward to a hotter, drier day than at the moment’s 45 levels and rain. The steering nonetheless has a number of really feel and a pleasant heft, and I don’t discover slower turn-in because of the adjusted steering ratio. Whereas the 255/35R20 entrance and 315/30R21 rear Pirelli P Zero Corsa summer time tires are doing a yeoman’s job of gripping the slick floor, pushing it too onerous will ship the S/T careening right into a winery or redwood tree.

That’s OK, as a result of we already know even base variations of the 911 are unflappable on a canyon highway or racetrack, with a flat perspective by corners, agile strikes, prodigious grip, and a stability that belies its rear-engine design. Take weight out of the powertrain, physique, and wheels and it solely will get higher.

I get a number of miles in a 911 GT3 Touring throughout the drive and the distinction in experience high quality turns into evident. Whereas the S/T feels extra uncooked than the GT3 Touring in virtually each approach, it rides higher. It has particular, softer tuning for the dampers, in addition to its personal settings for the steadiness management and differential locking values. A Porsche engineer advised me that the dampers have been tuned to be simply as agency at full compression however to be freer on rebound to higher comply with the highway floor. Consequently, the automotive can nonetheless pound over sharp ruts, nevertheless it’s extra forgiving on lesser highway imperfections.

Regardless of its lighter weight, the S/T just isn’t a competitor for the 911 GT3 RS and received’t beat that automotive on a racetrack. Along with its many chassis changes, the GT3 RS has quite a few aerodynamic add-ons to create 1,895 kilos of downforce at 177 mph. The S/T has the less complicated GT3 Touring’s physique with an lively rear spoiler that deploys at 80 mph. A regular Gurney flap provides some downforce, however Porsche doesn’t hassle to say how a lot, because the model views the S/T as the final word road automotive somewhat than a monitor automotive. Meaning the GT3 RS will have the ability to carry extra velocity by quick corners because the downforce helps the automotive persist with the pavement.

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

I’m taking all of it in from a cabin that mixes minimalism with connectivity and some particular touches. It has solely two seats, they usually’re virtually skeletal, with CFRP shells and solely four-way changes. Nonetheless, they’re nicely fashioned to create a perfect efficiency driving seating place, they usually’re broad sufficient for larger backsides. The instrument cluster has Phosphorous Inexperienced graphics, and so does the digital clock on the sprint.

Porsche is releasing the 911 S/T as a part of a Sixtieth-anniversary celebration for the 911, and is limiting the automotive to 1,963 world-wide gross sales in honor of the 12 months of the 911’s launch. The S/T is impressed by a monitor package deal Porsche provided for the 911 S starting in 1969, which was recognized internally because the ST.

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

2024 Porsche 911 S/T

All of this comes at a hefty value. Within the U.S., every ST will run $291,650, or $105,000 greater than the GT3 Touring. In the event you’re going to spend that a lot, spring for the additional $20,360 for the Heritage Design Bundle that provides door gumballs with any quantity from 0-99, an out there Shore Blue Metallic paint (pictured on the no. 63 vehicles within the images), classic-style Porsche crests inside and outside, two-tone black/Basic Cognac semi-aniline leather-based with fabric seat inserts, and gold S/T and 911 badges on the rear.

As a limited-edition automotive, patrons who get an allocation will probably be tempted to purchase it and flip it. To fight this, clients will probably be required to lease the automotive for the primary 12 months, which may also encourage them to drive it. After that, they are going to have the chance to purchase it.

And clients will wish to drive it when deliveries start subsequent spring. The way in which the 911 S/T revs so willingly, the best way the engine screams “let’s go,” the best way the sunshine flywheel encourages velocity shifting, and an improve on the usual 911’s dealing with all beg homeowners to drive this automotive and drive it onerous. The 911 S/T is a uncooked nerve of a automotive, with a sound which will get on passengers’ nerves however will probably be music to the ears of Porsche followers.

Porsche paid for journey and lodging for Motor Authority to convey you this firsthand report.