Test drive Porsche 911 Carrera T: The last of its kind

Porsche is re-launching a manually shifted 911 Carrera T. Apart from the better performance, there is another reason for collectors to seize this opportunity.

True luxury consists of focusing on the essentials. Expensive high-end audio systems do without any sound controls, five-star chefs create gourmet menus with few ingredients, and in Japanese temples, guests stay in spartan rooms on hard futons for the price of a luxury hotel.

Even buyers of a Porsche 911 can practice abstinence. By choosing a Carrera T, they accept having to shift gears manually, sitting on thinner padded seats, and enduring louder road and wind noises.

But that's exactly what many fans of the brand want. The new T, now also available as a convertible, is lighter, more purist, and more emotional than the regular Carrera, refined to the core values of the sports brand. The designation stands for "Touring" and refers to the Monte Carlo winner of 1968.

40 kilos less

Thanks to lightweight glazing, manual transmission, less insulation material, and lighter bucket seats, the T weighs just under 1,500 kilos. That's about 40 kilos less than the Carrera, with which it shares the 394 hp twin-turbo six-cylinder. The biggest weight saving comes from the manual transmission, which weighs about 38 kilos less than the otherwise fitted dual-clutch transmission. An additional five kilos are saved by the storage compartment that the T has instead of the two rear emergency seats. However, those who do not want to forgo the two seats can have them delivered for free upon request.

The whole package comes at a price: The 911 T costs €141,700 (approx. 148.969 USD) as a coupe (€155,800 (163.792 USD) as a convertible), which is €13,000 (approx. 13.667 USD) more than the Carrera. However, this additional cost becomes relative upon closer inspection. Apart from several visual gimmicks, such as contrasting stitching, a gear lever made of walnut wood, or the striking model designation on the doors, the T differs from the regular Carrera primarily through its specially tuned chassis. For the first time, the 2025 model features rear-wheel steering, which adds a few kilos to the weight balance, but is intended to make the car more agile and more stable during quick lane changes. Additionally, the adaptive sport suspension received modified springs and was lowered by ten millimeters. Thanks to the spoiler lip adopted from the GTS, engineers were also able to tune the suspension to be more neutral than in the Carrera.

The manual transmission was taken from the predecessor, but without the gears of the seventh gear, which was designed to be very long to save fuel. The braking system is also designed to be more durable. 350-millimeter (approx. 13,78 inches) discs with six-piston brake calipers are meant to match the performance.

Gallery

Gallery with 5 images

Surprisingly practical

Sounds like extreme sport, but feels surprisingly practical. The steering wheel and sports seats can be adjusted electrically, and the upholstery is firm but not hard. Even the omission of 3.5 kilos of insulation material has no impact on onboard comfort. On the contrary: The hotter roar of the six-cylinder engine is now always present without being annoying.

Thus, like all 911s, the T manages the balance between race track capability and comfort for daily drives. You can race it around the track, explore its limits, and show practically all other road users your taillights at 295 km/h (approx. 183,3 mph). Or you can cruise relaxed in city traffic just above idle speed without the six-cylinder stuttering. Despite the sport suspension and extremely flat 20-inch wheels, road damage can be smoothed out almost unnoticed. Very few sports cars can do that.

Jerk-free power transmission on the track

Indeed, the reverse gear of the rock-hard transmission requires firm engagement. However, the gear lever, which is one centimeter lower compared to its predecessor, is positioned exactly where you would intuitively expect it. With the rev-matching function activated, rpm differences between the engine and transmission are automatically balanced when downshifting. In city traffic, the brief throttle blip sounds a bit extroverted, but when the 911 is driven hard as it deserves, it allows for a smooth power connection.

With the new Carrera T, Porsche has put together an all-round happy package for the hardcore fans of the series, for whom the GTS is out of reach. And, of course, the T could also be further enhanced with numerous gimmicks. However, electrically adjustable seats in all directions, leather, or a sound system from Burmester would essentially only dilute the puristic concept.

Additionally, the Carrera T will go down in history as the last manually shifted Porsche and is likely to quickly become a sought-after collector's item. Because Euro 7 is not achievable with this engine-transmission combination without electric support.