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Porsche Honors 100 Years of Le Mans with a Special-Edition 911

porsche 911 carrera gts le mans centenaire edition
Porsche Honors Le Mans Centenary with Special 911Porsche
  • Porsche has unveiled the 911 Carrera GTS Le Mans Centenaire Edition, celebrating 100 years since the first running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

  • The silver paint and number 46 racing number reference the 1951 356 SL, while the gold wheels and red seatbelts are callbacks to the 1998 911 GT1.

  • The Centenaire Edition is only being offered in France, and Porsche didn't specify how many copies of the special 911 will be built.

This year, 2023, marked 100 years since the first running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The centenary edition of the iconic race drew a record-setting crowd and displayed dramatic racing among the new Hypercar class and the GTE cars. To celebrate the anniversary, Porsche has revealed the 911 Carrera GTS Le Mans Centenaire Edition, a limited production model that takes cues from two Le Mans–winning race cars, the 356 SL and the 911 GT1. Unfortunately, this slick-looking special edition is destined only for the French market.

porsche 911 carrera gts le mans centenaire edition
Porsche

The Centenaire Edition starts off with a GTS-spec 911, packing a rear-mounted twin-turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that produces a healthy 473 horsepower. Both a seven-speed manual and the eight-speed PDK automatic transmission are offered. Based on the lack of a "4" in the name, we presume the special edition will not be available with all-wheel drive, so all 420 pound-feet of torque are sent to the rear wheels.

The color scheme draws heavily on the 1951 class-winning 356 SL, painted Le Mans Silver Metallic and featuring a roundel on the door with the number 46. Inside, the bucket seats are upholstered in Graphite Blue leather and corduroy, emulating the 356 SL's cabin. The same blue leather adorns the steering wheel, with a 12-o'clock marker in Cayon matching the accents on the dials, SportChrono clock, and stitching.