There’s an intimate story behind the Porsche 911 Carrerra GTS Cabriolet America Edition. Seventy-two years in the past, Austrian-born importer Max Hoffman had a tête-à-tête with Ferry Porsche on the Paris Auto Show. The two males had been discussing the gross sales potential of Porsche autos in America.
Hoffman based the Hoffman Motor Company in New York in 1947 after emigrating to the USA from France in 1941 to flee the Nazi regime. After the battle, his firm started importing fascinating European unique vehicles just like the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider. Hoffman was additionally the primary to import Volkswagens and BMWs by 1953.
The first three models of the Porsche 356 arrived on U.S. shores in 1950, and Hoffman turned the primary to import Porsche autos to Uncle Sam. By 1954, Hoffman was promoting greater than 11 Porsche 356 fashions per week, far exceeding Ferry Porsche’s expectations of promoting solely 5 vehicles per yr. It was a formidable feat, given the Porsche 356 began at about $4,000 at a time when a complicated Cadillac sedan was promoting for a similar quantity.
“There Is Something Special”
Hoffman was so profitable he kick-started Porsche’s lengthy and illustrious historical past in North America. Still, he had one other concept: Convince Ferry Porsche into constructing a smaller and extra reasonably priced rendition of the 356, a back-to-basics, stripped-down sports activities automotive priced at $3,000. Porsche responded within the autumn of 1954 with the 356 America Roadster.
Equipped with a 1.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine with 70 horsepower, the America Roadster had 30 extra horses than an everyday 356. Porsche solely constructed 16 examples of the 356 America Roadster, making it among the many rarest 356 variants within the German automaker’s historical past. It additionally turned the blueprint for the long-lasting 356 Speedster and is without end often known as a passionate image of efficiency within the sports activities automotive area.
The subsequent Porsche 911 to put on the “America Roadster” badge arrived in 1992 as a Carrera 2 cabriolet with a widebody equipment, bespoke suspension, and 17-inch Porsche Cup wheels from the 964-generation Porsche 911 Turbo. Forty years on, Porsche is introducing the 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet America Edition as a 2023 mannequin to have fun its industrial and racing success.
“This is the perfect time to add another ‘America’ model to our story as we look back on 70 years since the 356 America Roadster and 30 years since the 964 America Roadster,” mentioned Kjell Gruner, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America Inc. “Passion for driving 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.”
Twin-Turbo Boxer Engine
True to type, the Porsche 911 GTS America Edition shares most of its go-fast elements with a regular 911. It has a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six engine with 473 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque, about 30 extra horses, and 30 extra lb-ft. of torque than in a 911 Carrera S. And like the unique Porsche 356, the most recent America Edition is simply accessible as a cabriolet with a regular rear-wheel drivetrain and a seven-speed guide gearbox.
Other goodies embrace a PASM Sport suspension with a ten mm decrease trip top and helper springs for the rear axle, whereas the Sport Exhaust and Porsche’s Sport Chrono Package are commonplace fare. Meanwhile, the anchors are 16-inch cast-iron rotors with six-piston aluminum calipers within the entrance and 14.9-inch rotors with four-piston calipers within the again.
American Colors
The Porsche 911 America’s eye-catching Azure Blue 356 paint job is a direct nod to the limited-edition 356 America Roadster of 1953. The car’s American-themed vibe is the brainchild of Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur and features a satin black windshield body and the first-ever tri-color wheels from Porsche.
Those attractive 20-inch entrance and 21-inch rear RS Spyder Design alloy wheels have a white, silver, and crimson theme. Moreover, the white facet decals characteristic crimson accents for an added contact of Americana.
Inside, it has illuminated door sill plates, black leather-based upholstery, crimson seat belts, a white-faced instrument cluster, and a heated GT Sport steering wheel. The Pebble Gray dashboard has delicate crimson and two-tone crimson and grey stitches on the middle console for an added classic contact.
Porsche 911 Carrera GTS America Edition: Pricing & Availability
The Porsche 911 Carrera GTS America Edition arrives at U.S. dealerships in late 2022. The base value begins at $186,370 (inclusive of the $1,450 supply charges). The elective prolonged inside bundle provides extra crimson accents and two-tone stitching for a further $7,500.
Porsche is simply making 115 models of the 911 Carrera GTS America Edition – 100 for the United States and 15 for Canada – so higher hurry if you would like an American-themed 911 cabriolet.
Alvin Reyes is an Automoblog characteristic columnist and an knowledgeable in sports activities and efficiency vehicles. He studied civil aviation, aeronautics, and accountancy in his youthful years and continues to be very a lot smitten to his former Lancer GSR and Galant SS. He additionally likes fried hen, music, and natural drugs.
Photos & Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Source: www.automoblog.internet
