2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic (type 992) unveiled : In Living Colour

Singapore - Porsche's just dropped its most powerful manual 911 yet, the Type 992 Sport Classic, except it isn't powered by a naturally-aspirated engine (like the 997 Sport Classic), but will instead take its performance cues from the top-shelf 911 Turbo... albeit in rear-wheel drive guise.

In the 992 Sport Classic, the 7spd manual is mated to a twin-turbo 3.7-litre flat6 that produces 550hp, with the Sport Classic's performance sitting between the 911 GTS' 480hp and 911 Turbo's 580hp.

Limited to 1250 units, the 992 Sport Classic is intended to channel the spirit of the original 911 of the 1960s and 1970s and revive the effortlessly cool style of the era.

This seems like a massive increase over the 997's 356-units Speedster and 250-units Sport Classic, but given the world's appetite for 'limited edition restomods' doesn't seem to be abating any time soon, we wouldn't be surprised if all the units end up being snapped up in no time at all, especially since this comes with the provenance of a factory effort.

Unlike the Turbo/Turbo S models, the 992 Sport Classic will not feature the side air-intakes so prominent on the former, but instead draw air from under the CFRP duck-tail rear spoiler.

In addition to the Sport Grey Metallic finish colour (which was also used for the one-off Type 996 911 Classic Club Coupe for the Porsche Club of America), the new 911 Sport Classic is also available in solid Black, Agate Grey Metallic or Gentian Blue Metallic, all with hand-painted stripes.

Like its 997 Sport Classic predecessor, the new 992 Sport Classic will also feature a similar double bubble roof, Fuchs-style alloys (20-/21-inch centrelocks) and gold-coloured 'Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur' badges on the front wings.

If you recall, Porsche intends on rolling-out four low-volume Heritage Design models over an extended period.

The first car of the series was 2020's 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition, which features design elements from the 1950s and 1960s.

"The Heritage Design models represent the particularly emotionally pronounced concepts of Porsche's product strategy," says Mr. Alexander Fabig, Head of Individualisation and Classic.

"In this unusual approach, the 'Style Porsche' design department, together with Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, reinterprets iconic 911 models and equipment from the 1950s to the 1980s and revisits design features."

Rear-wheel-drive. Manual. 911 Turbo performance. Sounds just like what Herr Doktor ordered then!

As with all of Porsche's special models (from under its Exclusive Manufaktur banner), you can rest assured there will be less obvious but no less significant technical highlights beyond the obvious trim and special equipment embellishments... and the 992 Sport Classic is no exception.

"It's not just the look of the 911 Sport Classic that makes it special. Its extensive technical modifications are some of its most striking features. For example, the 3.7-litre, twin-turbo flat-six engine, rear-wheel drive and 7spd manual gearbox combine to form a powertrain that is currently unique in the Porsche portfolio," says Mr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President Model Line 911 and 718.

"The sports suspension with lowered ride height and vehicle-specific tuning deliver excellent lateral dynamics when cornering."

The evocative aesthetic elements continue in the cabin, with a sumptuous black/cognac colour combination for the semi-aniline leather with the evergreen (and much beloved) pepita 'houndstooth' pattern on the door panels and seat-centres.

Porschephiles will recall that the last Sport Classic model from more than a decade ago was created during the type 997 era (to the tune of just 250 units), alongside the 356-unit 911 Speedster model to commemorate Porsche Exclusive's 25th anniversary in 2011 – that special division within Porsche that creates the Special Wishes (or Sonderwunsch) vehicles.

Despite its extensive options list of bespoke trim and equipment, the 997 Sport Classic at its heart was effectively a Carrera S with X51 Powerkit (for 408hp/420Nm) and PASM, but more importantly, featured the wide-body of the Carrera 4 with ducktail spoiler (reminiscent of the 2.7 RS), a distinctive double bubble roof (inspired by the Carrera GT), Fuchs alloy rims and a unique Sport Classic Grey.

Order books for the 992 Sport Classic will open from Apr 28, with European deliveries expected to start from July 2022 onwards.

Based on the indicative German price of €272,714, the 992 Sport Classic will likely cost far more than the 911 Turbo S.

(Update as of end Apr'22: The Singapore price of the 992 Sport Classic starts from S$1,234,488 before COE)