Porsche is wishing itself a happy birthday in style.
The brand is celebrating its 70th year Down Under this year, and it’s developed a special-edition to celebrate.
The 911 GT3 70 Years Porsche Australia Edition is the first market-specific special edition based on a Porsche GT car. It’s the first time Porsche has built a special just for Australia, and the first look we’ve had at the 992-generation GT3 Touring.
That’s a lot of firsts, but 70 is a lot of years.
Developed by Porsche Cars Australia, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, and Style Porsche, the 70 Years pays homage to one of the first 356 models imported to Australia in 1951.
“We wanted to base the edition on a car we felt would be pretty popular, and had some meaning in Australia,” said Toni Andreevski, head of sales and motorsport for Porsche Australia.
“We’ve seen the popularity of GT products, certainly over the last few years… We were really pleased they gave us the opportunity to base our market edition on a GT product, on a 911, something that’s quite iconic,” he said.
Power comes from a naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six engine with 375kW of power and a 9000rpm redline, good for a 3.4-second sprint to 100km/h with the seven-speed PDK transmission fitted.
The engine is derived from the unit in the 911 R endurance racer, and is actually used in the 911 Cup car with minimal changes.
The latest GT3 is the first road-going Porsche 911 to feature a double-wishbone front suspension.
The double-wishbone suspension has allowed Porsche to stiffen the front suspension without undermining the car’s ability to soak up bumps.
The Touring tips the scales at 1418kg with the six-speed manual, or 1435kg with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
It’s finished in a special shade of Fish Silver Grey Metallic. The new colour is designed to pull the Fish Silver Grey finish applied to the 356 out of the 1950s and into 2021, and features on the wheel rim edges and throughout the cabin.
Right now it’s reserved for the car you see here, although it will eventually be added to the Porsche Individual palette.
“We think this whole Fish Silver Grey Metallic has a lot of depth, a lot of meaning behind it,” said Grant Larson, Porsche director of special projects.
“I am also a huge 356 fan and I’ve been to several events, and you see this Fish Silver Grey colour – whether it’s an old 356 or this new edition – and it really stands out as being something quite special.”
The Australian flag and a unique 70 Years Porsche Australia Edition badge feature on the B-pillar, and the wheels are finished in darksilver.
Inside, the 70 Years features full bucket seats trimmed in Graphite Blue with chequered Graphite Blue and Crayon grey inserts, a centre console trimmed in Fish Silver Grey Metallic with GT3 70 Years Porsche Australia Edition written in black, a 70 logo on the central storage bin, and unique door sill plates.
“Some of these editions we try to make stand out a bit more with stripe, or graphics and things like that, but we maintained a little bit of subtlety with this because the car speaks for itself,” said Mr Larson.
The steering wheel has its 12-o’clock marker in Crayon, the keys are Fish Silver Grey Metallic, the key pouch is made of black and Graphite Blue leather with Crayon stitching, and owners will receive a special indoor car cover.
The leather is unique in the Porsche GT world. Boris Apenbrink, head of Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur vehicles, says it’s the first time a GT3 has featured a non-black leather interior.
“We wanted to have an interior that matches the Fish Silver Grey colour very nicely, and gives it a very special touch,” Mr Apenbrink said.
“This is the combination of dark blue and black leather colour, combined with the seat centres that have this appearance with cloth material that suits very well both the exterior and the interior colour.”
Just 25 will be built. If you want one, best pick up the phone and start whispering sweet nothings (or threatening unspeakable things) to your local Porsche Centre.
These special editions don’t come around very often. Porsche only does two per year, ranging from the GT3 Touring you see here to cars based on its SUVs for more crossover-oriented markets.
Atop the regular 911 GT3, it gets the following options:
- Chrono Package
- Light Design (additional interior ambient lighting)
- Black exterior trim package
- Black brake calipers
- Lightweight full bucket seats
- Roof lining and sun visors trimmed in Race-Tex
- Speaker trims painted in interior colour
- Cupholders trimmed in leather
- Extended leather trim package with Crayon stitching
- Storage package
- Bose surround sound package
Pricing
- 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring: $369,600
- 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 70 Years Porsche Australia Edition: $494,300
All prices exclude on-road costs.
