Porsche 911 Carrera T headed Down Under in 2023

The already-expansive Porsche 911 range is about to get even bigger with the addition of the lightweight 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T – a lightened and hardened Carrera variant designed to be a more affordable sibling for the higher-end GTS.

Priced from $280,600 plus on-road costs and available to order now ahead of first deliveries in mid-2023, the Carrera T is the lightest of all the mainstream 911 variants – thanks mostly to the availability of a manual transmission – and slots in between the entry-level Carrera and the more potent Carrera S on both price and performance.

Lurking above the rear axle is the standard Carrera’s twin-turbo 3.0-litre flat six developing an unchanged 283kW/450Nm and powering the rear wheels via a seven-speed manual transmission – an eight-speed dual-clutch PDK automatic is available as a no-cost option.

That makes the Carrera T the cheapest 911 manual available in Australia, and the only one apart from the 353kW 3.0-litre GTS ($334,900 plus ORCs) and the 375kW 4.0-litre GT3 ($388,600).

The drivetrain pairs with the 1470kg kerb weight to launch the standard Carrera T manual from standstill to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds, while the top speed is 291km/h.

For reference, the cheapest 911 Carrera ($259,100 plus ORCs) is fitted exclusively with the eight-speed PDK auto, weighs 1505kg (unladen DIN) and hits 100km/h in 4.2sec (4.0sec with Sport Chrono package) and a 293km/h top speed.

The only lighter 911s are the rear-drive auto GT3 (1465kg) and 386kW GT3 RS (1450kg), which hits 100km/h in just 3.2sec on its way to a 296km/h top speed, while both the standard GT3 and GTS are claimed to hit 100km/h in 3.4sec.

Standard equipment for the new Carrera T includes Sport Chrono, 10mm lower adaptive sports suspension, limited-slip rear differential and active torque vectoring.

The reduced kerb weight comes courtesy of a lightweight battery, lightweight glass and a drastically reduced amount of sound insulation, which brings the added bonus of more engine noise – something made even better by the standard sports exhaust system.

Yet more weight can be shed from the package via the rear seat delete option, while agility can be enhanced further through the fitment of the optional rear wheel steering system pinched from the Porsche 911 GT3.

With so many variants now offered in Australia, it can be hard for the uninitiated to tell the mainstream 911s apart from one another.

To help mark the Carrera T apart from its lesser stablemate and the pricier Carrera S above it, the newcomer flaunts dark grey exterior trim including the wing mirrors, badging, bespoke logos and grille mesh, along with a black exhaust outlets and s top-tinted windscreen.

The darkened highlights are continued within the cabin via matte-black trim accents and gloss black inlays.

Befitting of its sportier demeanour, the Carrera T also comes with power adjustable Sport Plus seats and a GT-spec steering wheel, and the whole package rolls on staggered 20-inch front and 21-inch rear alloy wheels.

As usual, Australian vehicles will come loaded with features, some of which are missing in other markets. Standard equipment highlights include matrix LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus, auto-dimming mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, metallic paint, ParkAssist, 360-degree camera, lane change assist, heated seats and steering wheel, comfort access, Bose surround sound system and digital radio.

“Porsche is adding to the 911 family with the lightweight sports car, the 911 Carrera T,” said Porsche Cars Australia.

“The letter ‘T’ stands for touring and describes models that offer a purist driving experience with exceptionally sporty equipment… the new 911 Carrera T is the epitome of purism and exhilarating driving pleasure.”

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