Unfortunately, a bird was harmed in the making of this review of the 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster. Animals that live near exceptional roads often seem to have a prescience when it comes to calculating vehicle speed. They lift their tiny heads up, do some mental math, and skip out of the way just in time. That's why, coming around a sweeping second-gear corner, we didn't give Chirpy a second thought. But the 911 GT3–based Speedster and its 9000-rpm 502-hp flat-six have a way of recalibrating the perceptions of high-order hominids; that flappy potato never had a chance.
Polishing Familiar Parts
Were it executed by almost any other carmaker, the low-volume Speedster, which is the final variant of the 991.2-generation 911, would be a parts-bin special, cobbled together as a quick way to squeeze a little more profit out of an aging chassis. But at about $277,000 per Speedster, Porsche doesn't cobble. While the Speedster starts out with the 991.2 Carrera cabriolet's body-in-white, it is fitted with a two-inch-shorter windshield frame, which required significant retooling at substantial cost. The Speedster then gets a carbon-fiber frunk lid, front fenders, and rear decklid. Out back, a new exhaust system reportedly slashes 22 pounds relative to the GT3's system. Porsche saved a little money by making the GT3's magnificent six-speed manual the only transmission available.
All these incremental changes are highlighted by the new-generation boxer engine. Derived from the GT3's, the 4.0-liter six-cylinder has redesigned air- and fuel-delivery systems. It switches to individual throttle bodies and boasts a 25 percent increase in fuel pressure over the GT3's mill. The result is sharper throttle response, more linear power delivery, and an emboldened wail from 6000 to 9000 rpm. It's a soul-gripping inner-ear enchantment that makes most supercars seem more gelded than gilded. And according to Porsche, the engine is cleaner and offers better fuel economy than previous versions.
Road, Not Track
Raw and ready, the 991.2-generation GT3 is one of our favorite cars, well, ever. The things that make us love it, though—the noise, the fury, the connection to the road—also make it a specialized tool that can be a bear to live with every day. It's a two-coats-of-deodorant-and-pack-a-spare-shirt experience. The Speedster is not. With the exception of the fact that the Speedster is a two-seater, there's little compromise over a normal 911. There's ample frunk storage, the ride is never harsh, and, at a sustained 65-mph cruise, it's a pleasant place for a chat. Until you hit the accelerator.
Don't think for a second that because the manually operated top flops easily onto the rear deck that the Speedster isn't a driver's car. Though it gives up a fraction of the GT3's structural stiffness, it still begs to be driven. At about 3400 pounds, Porsche says its 115 pounds heavier than a GT3, and wearing 245/35ZR-20 tires up front and 305/30ZR-20s in the rear (our test car was fitted with Dunlop Sport Maxx Race 2 rubber), this car redefines the stability and confidence available from a convertible. Don't expect the birds to understand.
Specifications
Specifications
2019 Porsche 911 Speedster
VEHICLE TYPE
rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door convertible
BASE PRICE
$277,050
ENGINE TYPE
DOHC 24-valve flat-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement
244 in3, 3996 cm3
Power
502 hp @ 8400 rpm
Torque
346 lb-ft @ 6250 rpm
TRANSMISSION
6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 96.7 in
Length: 179.6 in
Width: 72.9 in
Height: 49.2 in
Trunk volume: 4 cu ft
Curb weight (C/D est): 3400 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
Zero to 60 mph: 3.5 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 7.6 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 11.7 sec
Top speed: 193 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Combined/city/highway: 16/13/21 mpg
