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The last member of the outgoing Porsche 911 generation is apparently ready to meet its adoring public. An inside tip reveals that the production version of the Porsche 911 Speedster concept is set to make its formal debut at—or very close to—the New York International Show next week.
According to CarBuzz, an anonymous tipster passed along a copy of an invitation to a cocktail party on April 18th, immediately after the NYIAS press days. (Given Porsche’s predilection for releasing images and details in advance of their auto show reveals in order to keep from being lost in the deluge of new product surrounding an auto show, though, don’t be surprised to see the press release hit the web not long after the next episode of This Week in Gear lands on Saturday morning.)
Porsche teased the car at the company’s 70th anniversary celebration for its iconic sports cars last June, before going on to announce in October that the car would enter production in 2019. Speedster models traditionally come at the end of a Porsche 911 generation’s run, so the new model will be based on the outgoing 991.2 version of the fabled sports car, not the new 992 generation revealed late last year. Luckily for enthusiasts, however, that means that instead of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six and eight-speed dual-clutch transmission found in the all-new 911 Carrera 4S we recently drove in Spain, the new 911 Speedster will use the 500-horsepower naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter boxer-six found in the outgoing 911 GT3 that can scream all the way up to 9,000 rpm, connected to a six-speed manual gearbox.
While the powertrain and chassis come from the GT3, the body is sourced from the Carrera 4 Cabriolet, albeit with carbon fiber body panels for the trunk, hood, and fenders to lighten the load. The concept version seen here boasted retro-style black-chrome-and-titanium side view mirrors, which seem like the sort of concept-car frippery that could fall victim to the beancounter’s axe (or safety regulations). Nevertheless, expect the final version to be extremely similar to the crimson car in these pictures.
Less exciting for enthusiasts: A mere 1,948 examples of this topless Teuton will be built, one for every year from the start of the Gregorian calendar to the start of the Porsche 356. Even less exciting: If past Speedsters are any indication, each of those will cost a pretty penny. The previous 997-generation version, made in 2010, went for a manufacturer suggested retail price of $204,000 in the US.
And even less exciting than that: Wealthy Porschephiles have reportedly already called dibs on all 1,948 copies. If you want one, you’re just gonna wait for one to show up on Bring a Trailer.
