2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic Gets Turbo Power, Manual Transmission

Porsche is reviving the 911 Sport Classic for the 2023 model year and bringing it to the U.S. market for the first time in a limited run.

This is the second model produced from the company’s Heritage Design strategy, following the 2020 Porsche Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition. Through the initiative, Porsche wants to highlight the most popular design choices from its 20th century models and interpret them through the lens of the design language of the 911.

Back in 2009, the German luxury automaker produced a 2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic, the first and only time before this new model. The previous model, based on the 997-era of the 911, sold out the 250 units of its run in the European market.

Powering the rear-wheel drive 2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic is the twin-turbocharged 3.7-liter flat-six engine that’s featured in the 911 Turbo S. This is important because the current 911 Turbo range only comes with a dual-clutch automatic and only with all wheel drive. This layout, with rear-wheel drive and a seven-speed manual transmission, caters to the enthusiast.

The pair delivers 543 horsepower and 442 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque, which the company says makes it the most powerful manually-driven 911 on the market.

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The new 2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic takes its inspiration from the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 of the 1970s while getting design cues from the current 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S.

At the front, a fixed spoiler lip and LED-matrix headlights differentiate the 2023 911 Sport Classic from any other 911.

Those LED-matrix headlights are available as options on the 911, 718, Taycan, Panamara, Macan and Cayenne, though availability is limited. U.S. regulators officially approved their use on U.S. cars in February after Toyota filed a petition in favor of it in 2013.

The hood is built from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic that dips at the center, and the double-bubble roof design is inspired by the company’s motorsports past. Some old race cars needed bubble roofs to fit a helmet and driver.

Along the side, the 2023 911 Sport Classic does away with the air intakes that appear on the 911 Turbo, making for a smoother surface headed towards the back. Porsche says that getting rid of those intakes meant that changes in the engineering had to be made so that air could still flow to the engine.

The new car’s ducktail spoiler was inspired by the 1972 and 1973 911 Carrera RS 2.7.

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Wheels that were specially made for the 911 Sport Classic are billed as a modern reinterpretation of the Fuchs design of Porsche’s past. They can either be had in 20- or 21-inch variants. The first wheels designed by Porsche in collaboration with Otto Fuchs debuted in 1966 on the Porsche 911 Turbo S.

Porsche created Sport Grey Metallic specifically for the Sport Classic, drawing from Fashion Grey. The car is also available in non-metallic Black, Agate Grey Metallic and Gentian Blue Metallic.

Semi-airline leather in black and Cognac Classic lines the interior for the first time since the 918 Spyder, which saw production from 2013 to 2015. In a callback to the 60s and 70s, Pepita cloth upholstery is standard on the seat centers and door panels.

A single-tone black leather interior is optional.

The analog tachometer and the Sport Chrono clock embedded in the dashboard are redone to exude retro styling, with white needles, scale markings and green numbers and accents.

The Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur logo is embossed in the center console lid and an embossed Porsche crest features on the headrests.

Sun visors, steering column and air vent slats are wrapped in leather.

The A-, B-, and C-pillars, as well as the headliner are upholstered with Perforated Race-Tex fabric.

Open-pore, dark Paldao wood trim is also included as a contrast to the Classic Cognac appointments.

High-performance equipment is included as standard, including ceramic composite brakes with black calipers, rear axle steering, the Sport Chrono Package, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, and a sport exhaust system that’s been modified for the 911 Sport Classic.

Porsche Active Suspension Management comes standard, which lowers the ride height by 10 millimeters.

Compared to the all-wheel drive 911 Turbo S, the company says that the 911 Sport Classic’s front axle springs are slightly decreased to accommodate the car’s rear-wheel drive setup. That makes for more downforce at the rear axle, increasing downforce while also heightening ride comfort.

Byers can purchase a limited-edition Chronograph 911 Sport Classic watch that emulates the car and can be customized with a few of the interior colors..

The 911 Sport Classic is a limited production car, with only 1,250 units planned. Pricing details haven’t been released, though it’s expected to reach dealerships in late 2022.

The 2022 Porsche 911 Turbo starts at $174,300 and the 2022 Porsche 911 Turbo S starts at $207,000. The 2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic will go for more than that.

Porsche has more plans for its Heritage Design line, though haven’t announced any details on when other models are coming.