The technical foundation of the S/C is the celebrated 4.0-litre naturally aspirated boxer engine. Porsche has updated the cylinder heads and utilised the aggressive camshafts from the 911 GT3 RS to ensure the engine remains responsive at the top of its 9000-rpm limit. Output remains a stout 375 kW and 450 Nm of torque.

In a move that clarifies its position as a “driver’s car,” the GT3 S/C is available exclusively with a short-ratio six-speed manual transmission. This setup allows the S/C to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, reaching a top speed of 313 km/h. By omitting the PDK (dual-clutch) option, Porsche is clearly prioritising mechanical engagement over lap-time optimisation.

Engineering the Lightweight Cabriolet

The primary engineering challenge of an open-top GT car is weight management. Despite the addition of the hydraulic roof motors, Porsche has kept the S/C’s weight down to just 1497 kg.

This aggressive weight saving is achieved through a comprehensive use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the bonnet, wings, doors, anti-roll bars, and rear shear plate. The unsprung mass is further reduced by forged magnesium centre-lock wheels, while the braking system utilises Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) as standard to shave off another 20 kg. Even the electrical system is optimised with a lightweight 40 Ah lithium-ion battery, ensuring the S/C remains agile despite its convertible hardware.

Visually, the S/C is a hybrid of the 911’s most iconic silhouettes. It borrows the distinctive wings and “flyline” of the 911 S/T but adds a black-finished windscreen frame that gives it a lower, sleeker profile when the roof is down. Unlike the manual “fiddly” roof of the 2019 Speedster, the S/C’s magnesium-ribbed top operates fully automatically in 12 seconds at speeds up to 50 km/h.

The interior is a focused, two-seater cockpit. It features lightweight door panels with carbon pull handles, lightweight carpets, and a rotary ignition switch to the left of the steering wheel. For those focused on the track, the “Track Screen” mode strips the digital displays down to the bare essentials: tire pressure, oil temp, and a centred 9,000-rpm tachometer.

For buyers looking to move away from the “stealth” look, Porsche is offering the Street Style Package. This includes Pyro Red decorative graphics, Victory Gold brake calipers, and an intricate four-tone braided leather interior. Owners can even spec a matching 10 kg leather-trimmed storage box for the rear cabin, as the S/C dispenses with rear seats entirely to save weight.

South African Pricing

The 911 GT3 S/C is officially available for order in the South African market from R6,138,000

The goal of the partnership is to create a more sustainable and efficient supply chain for the production of Porsche’s sports cars. Norsk Hydro, which is one of the largest aluminum producers in the world, will work with Porsche to develop new technologies and processes that reduce the carbon footprint of the aluminum production process.

Aluminum is a key material used in the production of Porsche sports cars, and it accounts for a significant portion of the carbon emissions associated with the manufacturing process. By decarbonizing the aluminum production process, Porsche hopes to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of its supply chain and contribute to a more sustainable future.

The partnership will focus on two main areas: the production of low-carbon aluminum and the recycling of aluminum scrap. Norsk Hydro will work with Porsche to develop new technologies that use renewable energy sources, such as hydropower, to power the aluminum production process. The companies will also explore ways to increase the amount of recycled aluminum used in Porsche’s sports cars, reducing the need for virgin aluminum and further reducing the carbon footprint of the supply chain.

This partnership is part of Porsche’s larger sustainability strategy, which includes a commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030. The company has already made significant strides in reducing its carbon footprint, including the development of electric and hybrid sports cars and the implementation of sustainable production processes.

By partnering with Norsk Hydro, Porsche is taking another important step towards a more sustainable future. The two companies share a commitment to innovation and sustainability, and their collaboration has the potential to drive real change in the automotive industry and beyond.

Its worth mentioning that this partnership is an exciting development for anyone who cares about sustainability and the future of the planet. Porsche and Norsk Hydro’s joint efforts to decarbonize the aluminum production process and create a more sustainable supply chain will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the environment, and it’s a step in the right direction towards a more sustainable future for everyone.

The automaker notes that demand for its vehicles rose across all sales regions, but increased demand was particularly strong in the Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle East region. While deliveries have increased for Porsche, the automaker still says the coronavirus situation is dynamic, and it is facing challenges in procuring semiconductors. The most popular model for Porsche is the Cayenne, with deliveries of 62,451 units.

Porsche’s second most popular model was the Macan delivering 61,944 units, working out to a 12 percent increase in deliveries for that model. Its third most popular model may be a surprise to some. The electric Taycan sports car delivered 28,640 units to customers. 2021 is only the second year that model has been available globally, and it’s already surpassed deliveries of the iconic 911. So far, the 911 has delivered 27,972 units in the first three quarters of the year, which represents a 10 percent increase.

Porsche says the 718 Boxster and the 718 Cayman delivered 15,916 units. The four-door Porsche Panamera remains popular, delivering 20,275 units. In the Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, Porsche says it delivered 97,841 vehicles in the first nine months of 2021. Those numbers represent a 12% increase compared to deliveries made during 2020.

Interestingly, the largest single market for Porsche is China, with 69,789 vehicles delivered, representing an 11% gain compared to 2020. In addition, Porsche delivered 56,332 vehicles across Europe.

That’s not bad at all for an SUV, though you’ll need the Sport Chrono package in order to hit that time.

All of this is courtesy of a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, which places its turbochargers in the centre of the “V” for more responsive action and a cut in lag. Torque is up as well as power, with more taking the total to 520 Nm (plus 20 Nm). That kicks in at 1,750 rpm and keeps on going until 5,000 rpm.

Porsche pairs the V6 with its PDK dual-clutch transmission; top speed is 261 km/h. Adaptive air suspension has been included as standard on the Macan GTS, capable of lowing the SUV up to 10 mm. Cast iron brakes – measuring in at 360 x 36 millimeters at the front, and 330 x 22 millimeters at the rear – are standard, their red calipers lurking behind the 20-inch RS Spyder Design wheels which are finished in Satin Black.

However, Porsche is also offering two other brake options. First off, there’s the Porsche Surface Coated Brake (PSCB) with tungsten carbide coating; they measure in at 390 x 38 millimetres at the front and 356 x 28 millimetres at the rear. Even more aggressive should be the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB), at 396 x 38 millimetres at the front and 370 x 30 millimetres at the rear.

The Sport Exhaust system is standard, and Porsche says it has been fettled to suit the Macan GTS. Even if you can’t hear it, you should be able to see something is unusual about the crossover. There’s a Sport Design package as standard – with new front, rear, and side skirt finishes – along with the black trim familiar from other GTS cars. Porsche Dynamic Light System headlamps, along with three-dimension rear lights are also standard. PDLS Plus black headlamps are optional.

Inside, Alcantara appears on the seat centre panels, the centre console armrests, and the door panels. Brushed aluminium is used, too, and there’s a smooth leather rim to the standard-fit sports steering wheel. More of the same appears on the sports seats, which have eight-way adjustment and oversized side bolsters.

Optional is the GTS interior package, with either Carmine Red or Chalk Stitching to the leather, and more Alcantara. Bose Surround Sound can be had, and there’s optional wireless phone charging. Park Assist including Surround View, a heated windshield, and an ionizer for the HVAC system are also available.

Porsche says the 2020 Macan GTS should arrive in Mzansi dealerships come Autumn 2020. Pricing will be announced closer to then.

These devices come at a time perfect to take on the lack of a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 product in the wild, and just after the first iPhone 7 Plus rush.

Starting with the Porsche Design Mate 9, prospective buyers can look forward to a 5.5-inch curved AMOLED screen that displays in 2560 x 1440 resolution. The whole package is powered by a Huawei Kirin 960 octa-core CPU, which is joined by an i6 co-processor. Those CPUs will be working in tandem with a Mali-G71 MP8 GPU.

The Porsche Design Mate 9 is outfitted with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. It has support for both dual-SIM capabilities and NFC, along with a 4,000 mAh battery to power everything. Finally, users can look forward to an 8MP front-facing camera, along wi a rear-shooter capable of 20MP monochrome photos and 12MP RGB photos. This version of the device will cost users around €1,395 (ZAR20 879)

Moving right along to the Leica Mate 9, you’ll be getting a larger 5.9-inch screen that displays in full HD instead of 2K. The processor and GPU remain unchanged in the jump from the Porsche Design model. The battery isn’t changing either, offering 4,000 mAh regardless of the model you choose.

Just as well, both the front-facing and rear-facing cameras are the same ones found in the Porsche Design model. RAM is being downgraded to 4GB in the Lecia Mate 9, while onboard storage goes down to 64GB. It should be noted that the Mate 9 comes with support for SD cards, so if 64GB isn’t enough, you’ll be able to expand it. The standard edition will cost users ZAR10 499 and will be launching first in several Asian and Europe-based markets.

Both devices will be running Android 7.0 out of the box, and both will offer support for Huawei’s SuperCharge tech. While the Leica Mate 9 will be available in six different colors – Space Gray, Moonlight Silver, Champagne Gold, Mocha Brown, Ceramic White, and Black – the Porsche Design Mate 9 will only be available in what Huawei calls “Graphite Black.”

 A SA-based release will take place in the near future, but we do not yet know when. We’ll have more details on the Mate 9 as they’re made available, so stay tuned.