Porsche (991) 911 Speedster

In many ways, the 991 Speedster marks a milestone in the continuous evolution that began over 70 years prior, when Porsche’s first 356 “No. 1” was officially registered in Austria. Porsche has re-released the Speedster several times since its debut in 1954, and the shortened, steeply raked windshield, folding fabric top and spartan interior have appeared in every era since. For the 991, Porsche took the Speedster’s signature twin streamliners and translated them into the modern age, with a contemporary design constructed from a carbon fibre composite.

Both the front and rear fasciae are made of lightweight polyurethane. As with the Porsche 911 R, the Speedster’s front fenders and hood are fashioned out of carbon fibre composite and the sculpted rear lid is unique to the Speedster. The rear lid is moulded from a single component, increasing its structural rigidity, and it holds the record for the largest body panel Porsche has built out of the lightweight material.

Underneath the skin, the Speedster’s suspension is based on the celebrated setup from the Porsche 911 GT3, with the same active suspension management system with model-specific calibrations for more pleasurable cruising. The suspension is constantly monitored and adjusted by the Porsche Active Suspension Management system, which can electronically adjust the Speedster’s dampers quickly to help ensure an optimal ride on any road surface.

Nimble handling is achieved through the standard rear-axle steering system, also shared with the other cars in Porsche’s 911 GT model line, though the system has been specifically tuned for the Speedster. The standard Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes give the Speedster equal stopping power to the 911 GT3, but for each car specified with a Heritage Design Package, the callipers are all painted high-gloss black with white ‘PORSCHE’ logos.

A special option on the limited-edition Speedster, Heritage Design was an aesthetic package with details evoking highlights from the brand’s motorsport history. The unmistakable livery was designed to echo factory-built competition 356 racers, while the underlying Silver Metallic paint colour harkens back to a time when all cars appeared in that same elemental shade. The classic sans-serif ‘PORSCHE’ graphic spans from wheel to wheel on each side, noticeably curving outward at the rear to accommodate the wide rear wheel arches. The 20-inch satin platinum wheels with black centre locking hubs are also race-inspired and are exclusive to the Heritage Design Speedster, presenting a perfect blend of practicality and style.