Why is the return of the 911 Carrera T to Porsche showrooms so exciting? Because the T is the sweet spot of the 911 range, taking the base Carrera, cutting the kilos and specifying the most dynamic suspension options to offer a more focused driving experience.

Oh, and it's now exclusively equipped with a six-speed manual transmission – unlike previous Carrera Ts, PDK is no longer available as an option. Tellingly, that’s one ratio down on the pre-facelift car. Not only that, for the first time ever, the Carrera T will be available as a Cabriolet.

Unlike the hybrid GTS, the 911 T is solely powered by a 3-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder boxer, producing the same 389bhp and 332 lb-ft (450Nm) of torque as the base Carrera. Like the recently announced GT3 and GT3 Touring, this is a modest hike in power of 9bhp over the pre-facelift model. Keeping to the purist formula, that power is transferred exclusively to the rear wheels.

In its lightest specification (with the optional fixed-back sports seats specified), the 911 Carrera T undercuts the standard Carrera by 40kg, weighing in at 1,478kg. Despite this weight saving, the T is .4 seconds slower to 62mph than the standard Carrera in both configurations, likely due to the absence of the PDK’s rapid gear changes. The benchmark now takes 4.5 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.7 seconds), and the top speed is 183mph (Cabriolet: 182mph).

However, acceleration times and autobahn dominance are not the point of the Carrera T – corners are. For the first time on a Carrera T, rear-axle steering comes as standard, specifically tuned for the T. Working with the rear-axle steering is the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) adaptive sports suspension. This drops the car by 10mm and benefits from Carrera T-specific tuning. To help stop the Carrera T, new, larger 350mm discs all around provide stopping power, clamped by six-piston fixed callipers at the front.

Porsche is making a big deal of the three-pedals-only format. Across the exterior of the Carrera T, there are plenty of subtle hints that it’s available as manual-only. On each rear window, there is a shift pattern sticker. The rear lid grille, wing mirrors and machine-polished alloys are all finished in Vanadium Grey Metallic.

Paint-wise, there are three distinct colour palettes to choose from: the Legends, Dramas, and Shades, offering a range of colours from classics such as GT Silver Metallic to Guards Red. Paint to Sample and Paint to Sample Plus are also available. For the convertible, there is a choice of black, red, blue and brown roofs.

Harking back to the original 911 T sold between 1968 and 1973, the 2025 edition includes a tartan fabric exclusive to the T. Another special retro touch is the evocative shortened walnut-laminated gear knob, paying homage to the Carrera GT and 917 Le Mans-winning prototype racer. Just in front of this is the ‘MT’ badge. You’ll also find the same shift pattern from the rear windows printed on the passenger side of the dashboard.

The Vanadium Grey theme continues on the centre console and dash inserts. If you’re looking for a preconfigured 911 T, exclusive design packages are available for both the interior and exterior. The exterior package finishes the Carrera T in Gentian Blue; the rear lid inlays, Carrera T decals, MT stickers and alloys are also in this colour. The mirror caps are then finished in gloss black for contrast. For the interior, the package includes Gentian Blue contrast stitching, seat belts, centre console trim and door panels.

The 911 Carrera T order books are open with the coupe starting at £111,300 and the convertible starting at £121,300, a price increase of £5,600 compared to the previous generation. It is, however, a small price to pay for the only 911 outside the GT range available with a manual gearbox – making the Porsche 911 Carrera T 992.2 one of the highlights in Stuttgart's current offerings.