Limited-edition Porsche 911 Sport Classic

Porsche has been building limited-edition 911s almost as long as it has been building the rear-engined wundercar, and the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show will see the launch of yet another. The new 911 Sport Classic you see before you has been tweaked by Stuttgart's Porsche Exclusive in-house customizing department, and suddenly our upcoming trip to Germany looks a lot brighter.

Fortunately for enthusiasts, when Porsche says special, they mean it – this far more than just a tape and body kit job. Changes to the Sport Classic Grey model start at the nose with a revised fascia and take off from there. Up top, the roof panel receives a double-bubble treatment: a pair of domes above the driver and passenger with a channel down the middle. At the rear, the ducktail spoiler from the legendary the Carrera RS 2.7 makes its first appearance on a modern 911 and is flanked by even wider rear fenders to enclose the SC's extended track.

Porsche has seen fit to include some mechanical goodness as well. Under that charismatic ducktail, a new intake manifold with flaps that control the runner lengths adds 23 horsepower to the normally aspirated flat-six, bringing the headcount to 403. Carbon ceramic brakes are enclosed in special Fuchs-style 19-inch wheels designed that evoke the last 911SC of the late Seventies and early Eighties, and the whole package lurks closer to the ground thanks to the inclusion of PASM sport suspension.

The interior hasn't been ignored either, with various bits being finished in Espresso Nature natural leather and the use of new materials to the marque, including woven leather/yarn seat panels.

Of course, also following firmly in company tradition is the Sport Classic's premium price. Just 250 examples will be built and we don't imagine Porsche will have any trouble clearing its decks – even though it is priced at a tidy €169,300 ($240,702 USD) – before any applicable value added taxes. It may be extraordinarily dear, but we still want one in the worst way. It isn't immediately clear if the 911 SC will be made available in the U.S., but either way, Porsche is seemingly aware that we don't have that many spare samoleans rolling around in our bank accounts. As such, Porsche Design Driver's Selection has thoughtfully developed a line of accessories inspired by the new SC, including a polo shirt, cap, a 1:43 scale diecast, and – wait for it – a personalized lanyard. Perhaps we can afford one of those.