Last year, Porsche celebrated its 70th anniversary in America. Although Porsche was founded in 1931 and the 356 was built in 1948, Porsche didn't start selling cars in the US until 1950. This year also marks the 70th anniversary of Porsche in Australia, one of the German automaker's oldest markets. To celebrate, Porsche has unveiled a limited-edition 911 GT3 dubbed the 911 GT3 70 Years Porsche Australia Edition.

Based on the wingless 911 GT3 Touring, this is the first time a market-specific model has been based on a Touring model. It's also the first time Porsche has built a special-edition model specifically for the Australian market.

Designed in collaboration with the Style Porsche design team, the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur customization department, and Porsche Cars Australia, the 911 GT3 70 Years Porsche Australia Edition is painted in a new bespoke Fish Silver Grey Metallic color developed by Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur. According to Porsche, the swish new finish is a modern take on the Fish Silver Grey color used on one of the first two Porsche 356 cars imported into Australia back in 1951.

Porsche says the special-edition GT3 Touring also "boasts various unique exterior and interior design features to celebrate this year's significant milestone," but doesn't provide any further details. In the photos, a '70 Years Porsche Edition' badge can be seen on the rear window and side sill plates. Commemorative '70' lettering is also applied to the armrest.

The 911 GT3 70 Years Porsche Australia Edition will be built in limited numbers. Limiting production to 70 units would seem logical, but Porsche hasn't given an exact number. Pricing information is also not available. Being based on the 911 GT3 Touring, the special-edition Porsche is powered by a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine developing 502 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of torque.

During the reveal event, the commemorative Porsche debuted alongside the Taycan, Macan, and numerous classic cars representing Porsche's seven decades in Australia from the 356 to the 928 to the current 911. As you've probably guessed by now, the 911 GT3 70 Years Porsche Australia Edition will not be sold in the US.

Porsche AG congratulates Porsche Design on its golden jubilee. Two very special cars are the highlights of the anniversary year: the exclusive Porsche 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design and a historical 911 S 2.4 Targa from Porsche Design's founding year of 1972, which has been faithfully restored by Porsche Classic. What unites them is the colour scheme, which, in recalling the legendary Chronograph I designed by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in 1972, sees both the exterior and the interior dominated by the colour black. Alongside them, Porsche Design is also presenting the Chronograph 1 - 1972 Limited Edition. The Porsche Museum will be celebrating the anniversary with its own special exhibition, opening on 19 January 2022.

"When you rethink the function of something, the form sometimes emerges as if by itself" - this was how F.A. Porsche described what still drives the engineers and designers at Porsche Design today. In 1972, he founded Porsche Design with his brother Hans-Peter. The designer of the Porsche 911 envisaged a company that would carry the principles and spirit of Porsche beyond the boundaries of the automobile. Porsche Design has long since become an internationally renowned premium lifestyle brand, known for functional and durable products with a purist aesthetic.

Exclusive special edition: a modern take on a design classic

The 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design is a limited run of 750 cars with numerous features inspired by the iconic designs of F.A. Porsche. In addition to the all-black exterior, the nods to the past include the classic checked Sport-Tex seat centre panels and the red second hand of the Porsche Design Subsecond clock in the Sport Chrono Package, which comes as standard.

The special edition is based on the 911 Targa 4 GTS and can be ordered now from 185,606 euros. The anniversary model will arrive with European sales partners from April 2022. Buyers can also purchase a special version of the new edition of the legendary Chronograph I. Features such as the edition number and wheel-shaped winding rotor underline the connection to the Porsche 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design.

Totally unique: a 911 S 2.4 Targa signed by F.A. Porsche

Porsche Classic has been working on a unique project to celebrate 50 years of Porsche Design. A Porsche 911 S 2.4 Targa from 1972, the year Porsche Design was founded, has been restored for the anniversary. "The vision was to produce a historical counterpart to the new 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design," explains Ulrike Lutz, Head of Porsche Classic. "With the aid of the new Sonderwunsch (special wishes) programme, we were able to implement the idea of a unique pair of vehicles. The job of the designers and works restorers was to carefully transfer the specifications of the new car to the classic."

The base vehicle, a 911 T 2.4 Targa from 1972, was in a poor condition and was missing some parts. While this would normally be a tricky start to a restoration project, on this occasion it wasn't important for the planned modifications. The Porsche Classic experts completely upgraded the engine and chassis to the spec of the S version. The top-of-the-range model in its day, it had a displacement of 2,341 cc, which generated 190 PS at 6,500 rpm, and was equipped with mechanical fuel injection.

In tribute to Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, this one-of-a-kind vehicle features the same colours as the legendary Chronograph I watch that he designed in 1972, with black dominating both the exterior and interior. Classic side stripes with a Platinum satin finish and integrated Porsche Design lettering adorn the flanks. As a special highlight, the Targa roll bar has also been lasered in a Platinum satin finish - a new interpretation of the brushed stainless steel of the original classic model. The Targa lettering is finished in matt black. Like the special edition model, the grille on the rear engine cover features a 'Porsche Design 50th Anniversary' badge with a reproduction of F.A. Porsche's signature.

It's hard to believe we're already approaching the mid-cycle refresh for the 992 generation of the Porsche 911. Our first prototype glimpse was back in December with a 911 Turbo, but we don't think these latest spy photos catch a turbo in any sense of the word.

It's obvious the 911 featured isn't a Turbo trim. There's no evidence of fender vents or a spoiler, and the rear fascia is a completely different design. That's where we focus our attention, as it's a very different design with a pair of exhaust outlets down low in the middle. They're certainly closer than what you'll find on a 911 Carrera or 911 Turbo, but they aren't side-by-side as you get in a 911 GT3. If anything, there's a vague resemblance to what you'd find on a Cayman GT4.

That has us questioning exactly what's under that rear engine cover. All new 911s pack a twin-turbocharged flat-six, save for the high-strung GT3 which is the only naturally aspirated holdout in the 911 family. We know there are many 911 fans who prefer the purity of an engine without boost, and we also know the Cayman gets just such an engine in higher-spec models. The 4.0-liter mill makes 394 horsepower in the GTS, and even more in GT4 and GT4 RS trim. Could we be looking at a new 911 Carrera packing a turbo-free 4.0-liter engine

It's a tantalizing thought, but we don't simply have photos on which to base this theory. Our source on these spy photos claims an informer said yes, a naturally aspirated 911 with the 4.0-liter engine is coming. It almost certainly won't have GT3 levels of power, but something in the low 400-hp range slotting between the base Carrera and Carrera S doesn't seem crazy. Of course, Porsche isn't talking so we'll have to wait and see.

That could be a long wait, too. We've only begun to see facelifted 992 cars out and about, so a debut might not happen until late this year or early in 2023.

Porsche does a lot of things well, but one area where the company does better than just about anyone else is this: special and commemorative editions of cars. Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for the company’s latest offering, the 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet America Edition. That name may be a mouthful, but the only words you need to know are the last two: America Edition.

That’s right, this is our own star-spangled variant of the 992-generation Porsche 911. It’s built to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Porsche 356 America Roadster that debuted back in 1952 — and, by extension, the 30th anniversary of the 964 America Roadster, itself built to celebrate the 40th anniversary of that original 356.

The America Edition comes in just one color: Azure Blue 356, a modern take on the original blue of the first 356 America. Those with a keen eye will notice the white stripe along the sides of the car with an even smaller red stripe in the middle of that. Basically, they painted a Porsche red, white and blue. Fittingly.

At first, the wheels appear to be a simple white. Look closer: they actually have three different finishes on them, meant to make them pop and harken back to the silver wheels of the 356. Neato.

On top of that, the windshield surround is painted black to give this Cabrio a sleeker look — tricking the eye into thinking the structure is thin and dainty, like on the 356.

Inside, the star-spangled motif continues. The interior has a black base color, but is adorned with all sorts of red, white and blue accents. Well, technically it isn’t white. The company told us the color is actually Pebble Grey, because white would stick out too much. It’s all about subtlety, something the U.S. is known for.

Out back, the badges also have a bit of color to them. “911 Carrera” is written in white and “GTS” is written in Guards Red.

Little details can be found throughout the interior – a white tachometer and red shift pattern and deviated stitching are just a few. Porsche says it wants buyers of the America Edition to keep noticing new design aspects as they own and enjoy the car. Curiously, there’s no numbered badge denoting where your example sits in the limited-edition run. However, the word “America” is spelled out on the center console in traditional Porsche lettering

The doorsills also have the years 1952, 1992 and 2022 written on them to commemorate 70 years of America Roadsters. And the ignition key is color-matched to the car’s exterior.

At its core, the America Edition is a 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet, with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat six making 473 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, same as the non-America version.

That power is routed through a mandatory seven-speed manual transmission. You read that correctly: You cannot get the America Edition with a PDK dual-clutch automatic. Porsche says that decision was made based on the enthusiastic preference for manual transmissions among American 911 buyers.

PASM also comes as standard equipment. So does a sport exhaust and the Sport Chrono Pack. Porsche being Porsche, there are still options. You’ll have to pay up for rear-axle steering and carbon ceramic brakes.

You’ll also have to pay up for the “extended interior package.” According to the folks over in Stuttgart, that package gives you all the niceties in the interior you see. That includes things like the 12 o’clock marking in Guards Red on the steering wheel and Guards Red cross stitching on the inside edge of the wheel. It also adds the two-tone stitching to the shift boot and adds a gear pattern on the manual lever in Guards Red.

Additionally, vehicles speced with the extended interior package Sport Seats Plus with double stitching in Guards Red and Pebble Grey with “911” stitching on the headrests in Guards Red and the leather backrest release loops in the same color. The floor mats also get the same two-tone stitching in Guards Red and Pebble Grey. Finally, the vehicle key is painted in Azure Blue 356 to match the car, and a leather key pouch with two-tone stitching and “America” embossment completes the package.

So, if you really want to make your America Edition special, you best go for the extended interior package. It’ll cost you, but hey, what’s money when you’re buying a limited edition Porsche?

On the subject of cost, the MSRP of the America Edition is $186,370 (including $1,450 for destination). That means the America Edition commands about a $36,000 premium over the base GTS Cabriolet.
You can expect dealers to get the vehicles in late 2022, and while they aren’t spoken for quite yet, Porsche expects them to sell out rather quickly. All in all, 115 examples will be produced — 100 for the U.S. and 15 for Canada.

The facelifted Porsche 911 is starting to reveal its secrets as spy photographers have snapped pictures of the model inside and out.

Starting in the cabin, the 2024 911 is instantly recognizable as key components carryover untouched. However, there’s an update hiding in plain sight as the model now sports a fully digital instrument cluster. That’s a small but significant change as the current 911 has an analog tachometer, which is flanked by two digital displays.

The modest updates continue outside as the facelifted coupe and convertible have a new front bumper that features active shutter intakes with vertical slats that open and close as needed. They’re joined by horizontal accents and updated daytime running lights that are hidden beneath black tape.

The rear end is sporting more disguise, but we can see a new bumper with a higher license plate recess and a dual exhaust system with tips that are now located closer together. There’s also camouflage on the engine vents and this suggests they could be updated as well.

Porsche has been tight-lipped about the model, but we can expect an assortment of familiar engines with possible improvements to increase performance. While that remains to be seen, the current 911 Carrera has a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine developing 379 hp (283 kW / 384 PS) and 331 lb-ft (448 Nm) of torque. The 911 Carrera S increases those figures to 443 hp (330 kW / 449 PS) and 390 lb-ft (528 Nm) of torque, while the GTS packs 473 hp (353 kW / 480 PS) and 420 lb-ft (569 Nm).

However, there have been rumors about a 4.0-liter flat-six and spy photographers have already caught the upcoming hybrid variant on multiple occasions. Little is known about the latter, but engineers are trying to keep the weight gain to a minimum and the model is expected to be focused on performance instead of efficiency.