New 2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic
A new 2023 Porsche 911 (992) Sport Classic arriving at and leaving the 2023 San Marino Motor Classic at Lacy Park. Introduced in April 2022, the Sport Classic is based on the 992 Turbo and features a rear-wheel-drive layout and a 7-speed manual transmission. It is powered by the Turbo's 3.7-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine detuned to produce 543 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque to accommodate the manual transmission. Unique styling features include a ducktail rear spoiler and the Turbo's wider bodywork without intakes on the rear fenders. This example, finished in Sport Grey Metallic, is one of 1,250 Sport Classics being built with a starting price (MSRP) of around $273,000.
Let me be honest - I'm trying to convince myself not to love this car, but I'm surprised how difficult it is to do so. Porsche makes way too many 911 variants and special editions, and the brand certainly likes to dig deep into its heritage for ways to milk more money from customers. You're essentially paying a $90,000 premium for a 911 Turbo with less power, less torque, and a less sophisticated transmission and drivetrain. But this car prioritizes a fun, engaging driving experience over power output figures. And to be fair, the detuned engine's power figures still really aren't too shabby. The wheels, rear fenders, and ducktail spoiler all provide just the right amount of retro - a perfect blend of "Sport" and "Classic". I do find it a bit pretentious that any company would brand a new product as "Classic" as if it could control its appeal and value decades down the road. (And let's not forget how Porsche betrayed those who invested in a 911 R by releasing the mass-produced GT3 Touring!) And I won't deny that the Sport Classic is essentially, to put it bluntly, an unoriginal, overpriced parts-bin special with a few unique tweaks to convince customers otherwise. But somehow, it manages to check all the right boxes (except maybe the price tag), and there's just so much to love about it. As long as Porsche chooses to reserve this unique engine-drivetrain-transmission combination exclusively for this model, I have no doubt that this car will in fact be a future classic.
Do you think the Sport Classic is worth its $273,500 price tag? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!