The Porsche GT family welcomes a particularly exciting new member. The 911 GT3 S/C allows fans of the high-revving boxer engine to enjoy its unique naturally aspirated sound even without a fixed roof. It combines a range of ‘driver’s car’ qualities that have already delighted customers of the limited-edition 911 Speedster and 911 S/T models.
For the first time, Porsche is introducing a 911 GT3 with a fully automatic convertible roof. The 911 GT3 S/C, designed especially with driving pleasure in mind, combines the lightweight design of the 911 S/T with the naturally aspirated 4.0-litre boxer engine of the 911 GT3, producing 375 kW (510 PS) and 450 Nm of torque. The distinctive wings and doors of the 911 S/T in combination with the black windscreen surround give the new 911 GT3 S/C an unmistakable look.
In line with its positioning as a driver’s car, this special model is available exclusively with a lightweight short-ratio six-speed manual sports transmission. The 911 GT3 S/C is the only open-top variant in the current 911 range that is designed as a pure two-seater – reminiscent of the 911 Speedster from 2019. Unlike the Speedster, however, the 911 GT3 S/C is not a limited-edition model. The new Street Style Package is also available for the 911 GT3 S/C, which allows the vehicle to be tailored even more precisely to individual tastes.
According to Frank Moser, Head of the 911 and 718 model series, the new 911 GT3 S/C caters to customers’ demand for sports cars that are particularly focused on driving pleasure: “The emotive powertrain of the 911 GT3 comes into its own even more emphatically when driving with the roof down on winding country roads. This is particularly down to managing to keep the weight of the 911 GT3 S/C down to just 1,497 kilograms, despite the fully automatic soft top. That is only about 30 kg more than the 991-generation 911 Speedster.”
Thorough lightweight design for maximum driving pleasure
The combination of particularly lightweight and high-quality materials ensures that the 911 GT3 S/C shines with the characteristic agility of Porsche GT models. The lightweight body components carried over from the 911 S/T are recognisable, even at first glance. The bonnet, wings and doors are made of carbon fibre. The carbon-fibre anti-roll bars and shear plate are also carried over from the fixed-head 911 S/T. The brakes and wheels also follow the S/T lightweight formula: the PCCB braking system, which is more than 20 kg lighter than the cast iron brakes, is fitted as standard. The centre-lock wheels, measuring 20 inches in diameter on the front axle and 21 inches at the rear, also from the 911 S/T, are made of lightweight magnesium. This saves around nine kilograms of rotating mass. Magnesium is also used in the fully automatic cabriolet roof of the 911 GT3 S/C. A lightweight and compact 40 Ah lithium-ion battery further contributes to the car’s impressively low weight, saving about four kg compared to a conventional battery.
Sporty and elegant interior
The interior features lightweight carpets and lightweight door panels with carbon-fibre pull handles – further design features carried over from the 911 S/T. The 911 GT3 S/C is built as a two-seater, with four-way adjustable Sports Seats Plus fitted as standard. Lightweight sports bucket seats with folding backrests and seat shells made of carbon fibre are optionally available for the 911 GT3 S/C. The folding bucket seat is equipped with an integrated thorax airbag, electric height adjustment and manual longitudinal adjustment. Three-stage seat heating can also be ordered as an option. The interior is upholstered in black leather as standard – including the sun visors and the A-pillar trim. The GT3 S/C logo is embroidered in the centre of the rear bulkhead trim. The seat centre panels are finished in perforated leather.
As with the 911 S/T, the steering wheel is also upholstered in perforated leather. Just like the current fixed-head 911 GT3, the 911 GT3 S/C is started not with the push of a button but with a rotary ignition switch to the left of the steering wheel. The digital instrument cluster supports the driver with a clearly structured display and operating concept. The ‘Track Screen’ display mode reduces the digital displays on the left and right of the rev counter to essential data on tyres, oil, coolant and fuel. Shift lights on the left and right of the rev counter indicate the optimal moment to change gear. If desired, the display can be rotated so that the rev limit of 9,000 rpm is positioned at the 12 o’clock mark.
Magnesium ribs in fully automatic cabriolet top
Because the 911 GT3 S/C, unlike its 911 Speedster ancestor, is not adorned with a double-bubble rear cover, the fully automatic lightweight roof from the current 911 model series could be installed instead of a manual soft top. Thanks to the innovative use of magnesium ribs, a coupé-like roofline is achieved when the fabric roof is in its closed position. With almost identical contours, the fabric roof stretches in an elegant arc from windscreen frame to roof stowage compartment lid. No structural elements are visible beneath the fabric, nor are there any sections that interrupt the flowing design of the characteristic 911 flyline. This also brings aerodynamic advantages.
Unmistakable appearance
Matching the black roof, the windscreen frame is finished in black film, giving the 911 GT3 S/C its distinctive look, and the stone-chip protection film on the side panel features a matt-black finish. The matrix LED headlights combine all front lighting functions, making it possible to omit the additional light units previously found in the front bumper. This allows for a significantly larger area for the air intake – and a more clearly structured appearance. For the first time on a 911 with a convertible roof, the retractable rear spoiler is adorned with a Gurney flap, as found on the 911 S/T and the 911 GT3 with Touring Package. The front spoiler lip and rear diffuser are carried over from the current 911 GT3.
Street Style Package for a distinctive visual identity
Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur offers the optional Street Style Package for the new 911 GT3 S/C. The eye-catching decorative graphics on the front wings and the ‘PORSCHE’ lettering on the sides of the vehicle are in the colour Pyro Red.
At the front, the tinted HD-Matrix headlights and body-coloured airblades provide striking accents.
Inside, the Adaptive Sports Seats Plus catch the eye with an embroidered outline of the Porsche crest. The seat centre panels are upholstered in four-tone braided leather in Slate Grey, Guards Red, Magnesium Grey and Kalahari. This intricately produced material is also found in the glove box. In addition, the interior is almost completely upholstered with two-tone leather in Slate Grey and Guards Red. The contrasting decorative stitching, door handle loops, seat handles and seatbelts are also all finished in Guards Red. The steering column trim, the seat console, the inner sill trim and the fuse box cover are trimmed in leather – as are the air vents, including the slats. The floor mats also feature leather edging. The sun visors, interior mirror console and windscreen frame, as well as the convertible roof headliner, are upholstered in perforated Slate Grey Race-Tex.
A special visual and tactile highlight is the darkened gear lever with its open-pore laminated wood gear knob and shift pattern displayed in Pyro Red. The ‘GT3 S/C’ badge beneath the gear lever, the accent strips in the dash panel and the ‘911’ badge fitted on the passenger side are also finished in Pyro Red. In addition, Porsche Design offers accessories that complement the Street Style Package.