• First-ever convertible GT3 adds weight but gets RS suspension parts and panels.
  • 502-hp boxer engine revs to 9,000 rpm, comes only with manual transmission.
  • Unlike 911 Speedster, it has a fully electric top and is a series production model.

Porsche’s 2027 911 GT3 S/C is the kind of car that’ll split the room instantly. Take a razor-sharp coupe built with racetrack precision in mind and a badge steeped in motorsport history, remove the roof and some structural stiffness, add in a load of weight, and suddenly everyone’s got opinions. But here’s the thing. This might actually be the GT3 you should buy.

Leaving the convertible bit aside for a bit, the recipe looks very much like the one used to create the limited-edition 992.1-generation 911 S/T in 2023. Which is to say you get some of the design, chassis, and powertrain hardware usually reserved for the GT3 RS, but exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, something the laptime-focused RS doesn’t offer.

Related: Porsche’s Most Flipped 911 Is Making A Comeback

Like the S/T, the S/C doesn’t get the RS sawtooth vents in its carbon front fender vents, but the fenders themselves are shaped to flow into the RS-style slash-cut doors, again fashioned from composites. The GT3 RS’s dual-vented carbon hood makes an appearance, as do wide rear arches and a tiny Gurney lip at the base of the GT3 Touring-spec pop-up rear spoiler.

GT3 Power, Identical Performance

Underneath the engine lid is the GT3’s 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six, which Porsche says has RS cams, though it’s rated at the same 502 hp (510 PS) as a regular GT3, rather than the 517 hp (525 PS) of the RS version. It revs to 9,000 rpm and is only available with a six-speed manual transmission.

Surely it’s slower? Not according to the official stats. Zero to 60 mph (97 kmh) takes the same 3.7 seconds Porsche claims for a manual GT3 coupe, and the 194 mph (312 km/h) top speed also matches the Touring’s exactly (the winged GT3 is 1 mph slower).

Those performance figures appear to back up Porsche’s claim that the S/C doesn’t actually weigh much more than a Touring coupe, despite having a proper electric top that closes in 12 seconds, rather than one of those emergency types you traditionally get with a 911 Speedster. Porsche says the S/C comes in at 3,322 lbs (1,507 kg), and a quick look at the brand’s US configurator lists a Touring at 3,239 lbs (1,469 kg).

Carbon-Heavy Equals Light

Okay, so that’s still 83 lbs (38 kg) difference, but it’s way less than the 185 lb (84 kg) penalty you pay for choosing the convertible body option down at the Carrera S level of the 911 lineup. Porsche achieved it by fitting those carbon body parts we mentioned earlier, together with PCCB carbon brakes (a 44 lbs/20 kg saving) and magnesium center-lock wheels (19 lbs/8.6 kg lighter).

Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once

Then there are lightweight parts you can’t see, such as the carbon fiber rear anti-roll bar. Like the other GT3 cars, the S/C also gets a proper front double wishbone suspension setup in place of the cheaper, less sophisticated arrangement used by lesser 911s.

No doubt Porsche’s weight calculations also factor in the optional carbon-fibre bucket seats, which, unlike a GT3’s, are hinged to allow access to the rear of the cabin, where buyers can specify a couple of storage boxes to expand the luggage capacity. Leave the carbon seat option unticked, and you get Porsche’s still grippy, but more daily-friendly sports seats. But whichever way you go, Porsche gives you a perforated leather – and perfectly round – steering wheel and a key starter instead of a button.

Street Style Package

Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once

Porsche limited the old S/T to just 1,963 units, but the S/C is a full production model and could be much more numerous. So any owners obsessed with standing out might want to consider the optional Street Style Package from Porsche’s Exclusive Manufaktur.

Featuring fender graphics and Porsche lettering on the flanks picked out in the same red as the wheels on the GT3 RS, Slate Grey Neo wheels and body panels, and Victory Gold brake calipers, the Street Style’s real party piece is its interior. The red plaid upholstery looks like it’s fashioned from 1970s golf pants, and definitely won’t be to all tastes, but the full leather dashboard looks classy, and the open-pore walnut shift lever is a nice touch.

Watch

Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once

If you’re going for the Street Style Package, you might as well go the whole hog and get the 911 GT3 S/C Porsche Design wristwatch that’s being offered only to S/C buyers. It’s built around a lightweight titanium case that can be optioned with a black titanium carbide coating, has a GT3-themed dial on the face, a winding rotor modelled on the car’s forged wheels, and is finished off with a strap crafted from Porsche seat leather.

Just Bought A Spirit 70? Oh dear…

Porsche hasn’t said how much the watch costs, but we do know that the MY27 S/C lands in US dealers this fall, priced at $275,350 including destination. That’s a big step up from the $238,150 GT3 and GT3 Touring Coupe, but it does undercut the $286,650 Turbo S Cabriolet. And if we’d just handed over $256,650 for the far less interesting 911 Spirit 70 convertible, we’d be gutted to read about the S/C’s debut.

So why did we say this heavier, bendier, more expensive GT3 might be the one you should actually buy? Because most GT3s live their lives on the road, not chasing lap records. The S/C is still going to feel incredible to drive, even if a pro could tell you it’s fractionally less together than a coupe, and most importantly of all, you get to hear even more of that naturally aspirated music. I don’t consider myself a convertible guy, but I can really see the appeal.

What about you? Are you into the S/C, or is it pure sacrilege on Porsche’s part? Drop a comment and let us know.

Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once
Porsche’s New 911 GT3 S/C Is The Best And Worst GT3 All At Once