Porsche Celebrates Le Mans With a France-Only 911

While Porsche didn’t come away from the 100th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with an overall victory, the brand is still looking to celebrate the anniversary event. A select number of enthusiasts in France will get a chance to enjoy the spoils, as the automaker just unveiled the French-market 2023 Porsche 911 GTS Le Mans Centenaire Edition.

As the name suggests, this latest special edition 911 model is based on the GTS trim level. That means you’ll find a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six under the rear deck, which provides 473 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Those figures represent gains of 30 hp and 30 lb-ft over a lowly Carrera S. Other GTS highlights include uniquely tuned adaptive dampers and Porsche’s Sport Suspension setup, as well as rotors ripped off of the Turbo. The Le Mans Centenaire Edition doesn’t pick up any performance enhancements over a standard car, but there are a number of styling adjustments tied directly to Porsche’s history in France.

Porsche spent three years developing the styling adjustments for this car, working alongside Le Mans organizers and Special Project executives within the company. The team set out to honor two specific Le Mans entrants from Porsche: The 1951 356 SL and the GT1 racer that won Le Mans overall in 1998. In order to tie elements of those cars together with the GTS, Porsche also brought in collector Cameron Healy and master Porsche customizer Rod Emory for assistance. There are 25 unique touches around the car, starting with the bespoke Le Mans Silver paint. The racing roundels are back on yet another special 911, this time in a nod to the #46 worn by the 356 SL. Other highlights include tinted headlights, black door sills, and a rear diffuser finished in that Le Mans Silver hue. The GT1 nods come by way of the colored wheels, louvered rear windows, and red belts inside.

Speaking of the interior, the Le Mans detailing continues throughout. Every example will feature Graphite Blue leather surfaces, complete with chalk accent stitching. Le Mans logos are embossed into the seats in felt, while the track map is integrated into the armrests. Buyers will also receive a special key case, a photo collection of the car’s production process, and a unique car cover.

Porsche only intends to offer 72 units of the 911 GTS Le Mans Centenaire Edition, representing one car for every year the automaker has consecutively participated in the race. The cars are all destined for the French market as well, carrying an MSRP of $259,292. While that’s a ton of money for what’s essentially a mid-level 911 offering, special edition Porsches don’t seem to struggle to find buyers.

You Might Also Like

• You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox

• Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners

• The Man Who Signs Every Car