Porsche has rewarded itself with a suitable present for the 70th anniversary of the marque’s sports cars: the 911 Speedster Concept, a road-ready study of an open-top sports car.
The model forges a link between the very first Porsche 356 ‘No. 1’ Roadster, which received its operating permit on June 8, 1948, and the Porsche cars of today. It was developed at the Porsche Motorsport Centre, which is the birthplace of the 911 GT2 RS and the GT3 RS.
The characteristics of the 911 Speedster Concept include the shorter window frame with a more inclined windscreen and correspondingly shortened side windows.
The broad body of the concept car has been borrowed from the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, although the wings, front bonnet and rear cover of the concept are made of lightweight carbon-fibre composite material.
The paintwork in the traditional colours of GT Silver and White harks back to Porsche’s early racing cars – as do many of the other details, such as the 50s-style central fuel tank cap positioned in the middle of the front bonnet, the classic Talbot shape of the exterior mirrors or the unique design of the main headlights.
The chassis essentially comes from the 911 GT3. The six-cylinder flat engine in this minimalist concept study delivers over 500 hp and reaches speeds of up to 9,000 rpm.
The concept study offers a glimpse of a potential series-production version, although this model may not be presented until 2019. A decision on whether to move ahead will be made in the coming months.