Behold the new 911 GTS 'America' edition
Porsche celebrates 70 years of open-top motoring the best way it knows...
Porsche’s attempts at market-specific special editions aren’t always noteworthy - or even credible - but we’re willing to concede that the limited ‘America’ edition of the 992 GTS pays homage to an interesting footnote in the firm’s extensive history in the States. Back in 1950, Max Hoffman was the first importer of Porsche cars to the country, and as such held a good deal more sway over Stuttgart than most retailers would expect to enjoy. It was thanks to his suggestion (one of many) that the factory produced something called the 356 America Roadster, a barebones sports car that promptly inspired the much more famous 356 Speedster - a model that went on to sold terrifically well on the West Coast.
There were many examples of the latter, but apparently only 16 America Roadsters were built. It is chiefly this car that the limited-edition 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet America harks back to, and while it obviously doesn’t boast quite the same degree of design tweakage (famously the Speedster had a low raked windscreen that could be removed for circuit racing) we rather like the styling alterations that Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur has come up with to differentiate the model from the regular GTS.
As you might expect, the appropriately named Azureblue356 colour is inspired by the 1953 car, and (for now at least) is reserved for the America. The paint is twinned rather splendidly with specially-finished RS Spyder Design wheels, where the inner portion of the spokes are in white, and the outermost flat surfaces in silver. Factor in the Guards Red pinstripe along the edge of the rim, and you’ve got yourself sparkly alloy heaven. We even quite like the white decals. And the GTS badge, also in Guards Red.
Of course, in terms of hardware it’s a standard 480hp GTS you’re actually buying - but Porsche has got the spec right here, too, because the America is exclusively available with the seven-speed manual and rear-wheel drive. It also tips its hat to the 964 America Roadster, the 250-run special the manufacturer introduced 30 years ago (hence the ’1992’ reference on the treadplates. “Passion for driving a Porsche runs deep in the United States. In particular, there is something special about hitting the road in an open-top 911 with a manual transmission that fits perfectly here,” noted North American boss, Kjell Gruner, at the model’s unveiling. “This is also the perfect time to add another ‘America’ model to our story as we look back on 70 years since the 356 America Roadster.” Amen to that, good buddy.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff