Yahoo Autos The 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T Is the Goldilocks of the 992 Generation
The Porsche 911 has never really been cheap as a new car, and now, in its current 992 generation, it’s downright prohibitively expensive. The base Carrera starts at $107,550, and while that car is super competent, it doesn’t give you the ability to option things like a manual transmission. Stepping up to the Carrera S costs almost $20,000 more, and that’s before adding any of the good stuff from Porsche’s notorious a la carte options list.
That’s where the Carrera T, a.k.a. the Goldilocks 911, comes in. It was the most affordable trim of the 911 way back in the early long-hood era of the model, and it was re-introduced in 2017 with the 991.2 generation as the lightweight driver’s spec, for people who didn’t see a need for the extra horsepower of the Carrera S. Now it’s back, and friends, it’s better than ever.
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2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T: What’s New
For 2023, the 992 Carrera T follows the same formula as the previous version but takes everything up a notch into 911 nirvana. The recipe starts with the base Carrera drivetrain, which offers a very respectable 379 hp and 371 lb-ft of torque. The Carrera T can be had with either a seven-speed manual or an eight-speed PDK and exclusively sends power through a mechanical limited-slip differential to the rear wheels. (Porsche Torque Vectoring is standard too.) For the manual, the shifter is 10mm shorter than the standard Carrera S gear lever and rev-matching can be enabled in all drive modes. This is a good thing because, thanks to the standard Sports Exhaust system, everyone will notice if you bungle a heel-toe.
2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T: Chassis and Suspension
The drivetrain features alone would be enough to classify the Carrera T as rad, but Porsche didn’t stop there. The chassis is stellar, too, thanks to the inclusion of adaptive suspension and Porsche Active Stability Management Sport, which is normally a no-go on the base Carrera and which lowers the ride height by 10 mm. This allows the T to be reasonably civilized in town and then, with a twist of the drive-mode dial, a total animal in the canyons. Other notable exterior features include the 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels from the Carrera S, shod in Pirelli summer tires. Steel brakes are your only option, and this is totally fine. A carbon-fiber roof is optional.
2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T: Interior and Weight Savings
The Porsche carbon bucket seats won’t be available on the Carrera T at launch, but Porsche promises they’re coming soon.
Inside, things are great, too. Basic sport seats are standard, but the 18-way power units or even the carbon buckets can be fitted, and every Carrera T comes with the rear-seat-delete package included. There are some unique materials inside the T, but overall the interior is basic 992, which is to say very nice, apart from Porsche’s utterly stupid decision to put the driver’s drink just below the shifter. It makes the driver’s cupholder useless on manual-transmission cars. Give us back the 997's cupholders. They were perfect.
The Carrera T will be the lightest 911 you can buy in 2023 at 3,254 lbs – that’s 100 lbs lighter than a Carrera S, so we’re not talking chump change. For further comparison, my 2003 996 Carrera 2 weighs 3,020 lbs and has significantly fewer comfort and safety features. It also makes around 59 fewer hp.
