2024 Porsche 911 S/T unveiled, price announced for Australia

Is this the ultimate Porsche 911 for the road? The new S/T is a GT3 RS race car for the street with subtler looks and a manual transmission – but for a higher price than any Porsche ever sold in Australia.

The latest special-edition, high-performance Porsche 911 – the 2024 Porsche 911 S/T – has been unveiled, ahead of first Australian arrivals in mid-2024.

The special edition’s name originates from the 911 S/T of 1970-71, an ultra lightweight, high-power version of the original Porsche 911 built for motor racing in small numbers, and which won at Le Mans, the Nurburgring and other iconic endurance races.

Limited to 1963 examples – referencing the launch year of the original 911, which is now 60 years old – the new 911 S/T is as close to a ‘Touring’ version of the track-focused 911 GT3 RS as Porsche has ever taken a 911.

It combines the high-output 4.0-litre flat-six engine from the GT3 RS – and some of its aerodynamics upgrades – with a subtle rear spoiler in place of its tall rear wing, and a six-speed manual transmission replacing the RS seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

A limited allocation of cars is due in Australia from the middle of 2024, priced from $660,500 plus on-road costs – making it the most expensive Porsche ever sold in Australia.

It exceeds the $645,400 plus on-road costs of the previous-generation ‘991.2’ 911 GT2 RS track special – and with all option boxes ticked, and on-road costs included, is likely to cost close to three-quarters-of-a-million dollars.

Powering the 911 S/T is the 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated, horizontally-opposed (or ‘flat’) six-cylinder engine from the GT3 RS, developing the same 386kW and 465Nm.

Whereas the GT3 RS sends power through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission – as with all RS cars – the S/T uses a six-speed manual transmission from the GT3 Touring, driving the rear wheels.

The company says it developed a new lightweight clutch for the 911 S/T that reduces the “weight of the rotating mass” by 10.5kg than a GT3 – in conjunction with a single-mass flywheel – while the gear ratios are shorter than a GT3.

A 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.7 seconds, and a top speed of 300km/h are claimed – compared to 3.2sec and 296km/h for the bewinged GT3 RS automatic, and 3.9sec and 320km/h for the GT3 Touring manual.

Porsche is keen to point out the “focus of the development of the 911 S/T has been not on track use, but rather for journeys on public roads.”

The 911 S/T is said to be the lightest version of the latest-generation ‘992’ 911 yet, weighing in at 1380kg (DIN kerb weight, including all fluids) – 40kg lighter than a manual GT3 Touring.

The weight savings come thanks to GT3 RS-derived carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) front wheel arches (with air outlets) and doors – which have traditional handles instead of power-operated pop-out designs on regular 911s – joining a CFRP roof and front bonnet from the standard GT3.

The roll cage, rear anti-roll bar and shear panel (a stiffening element on the rear axle) are also made from CFRP, while the S/T features carbon-ceramic brakes, a lightweight sports exhaust system, lithium-ion starter battery, and lightweight window glass.

The 20-inch front and 21-inch centre-locking wheels are made from magnesium, and wrapped in 255/35 R20 front and 315/30 R21 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

Double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension are fitted, as with the 911 GT3 and GT3 RS, but it is not fitted with rear-axle steering – the only model with this combination in the Porsche 911 line-up, with suspension and electronic systems retuned accordingly.

Porsche says the “aerodynamics of the 911 S/T are also optimised for the public road rather than the race track,” with a small ‘Gurney flap’ lip spoiler on the rear decklid instead of the GT3 RS coupe’s tall rear spoiler.

While the carbon-fibre doors come from the GT3 RS, the front splitter, air vents on top and behind the front wheel arches, air ducts in the rear wheel arches, and rear bumper are closer to the GT3 than the GT3 RS.

Inside, full carbon-fibre reinforced plastic bucket seats are standard, though four-way power-adjustable Sports Seats Plus are a no-cost option. The tachometer and Sport Chrono clock carry “classic” green highlights.

The 911 S/T can be optioned with a $36,760 (plus on-road costs) Heritage Design Package, which adds unique Shoreblue Metallic exterior paint, ‘Ceramica’ white wheels, and the option of a racing-style number from 0 to 99 on the doors.

The package also includes “classic-design” Porsche logos on the front bonnet, wheels, key fob, steering wheel and seat headrests, cognac brown leather seats featuring cloth centres with black pinstripes, black and cognac brown leather upholstery elsewhere in the cabin, and Dinamica suede headlining.

The ‘PORSCHE’ lettering and 911 S/T badge on the rear of the car are finished in gold when the option pack is selected.

Buyers of the 911 S/T can order a unique watch for $21,041, with a titanium case that is “uncoated and blasted for weight-saving reasons”, ‘Porsche Design WERK 01.240’ mechanicals, and a rotor in the design of the 911 S/T’s wheels.

The 2024 Porsche 911 S/T is due in Australian showrooms in mid 2024 in limited numbers, priced from $660,500 plus on-road costs.

Compared to versions sold overseas, Australian models will offer as standard: adaptive LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System, auto-dimming exterior and interior mirrors with rain sensors, a front-axle lift system, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, and digital radio.

The post 2024 Porsche 911 S/T unveiled, price announced for Australia appeared first on Drive.

Chinese electric-car “invasion” prompts security warning – report

The president of a leading UK motoring organisation claims Chinese-made electric cars are a “trojan horse” that could be shut down remotely – potentially causing havoc across Great Britain and Europe.

Electric cars made in China could be controlled remotely – “paralysing a country” – a British car-industry expert has claimed.

Professor Jim Saker, the president of the Institute of the Motor Industry in the UK, alleges there are “major security issues” with Chinese-made electric cars, according to a report in The Telegraph newspaper.

Despite there being no evidence shared by Prof Saker to substantiate his claims – and other experts dismissing them as scaremongering – the comments come ahead of a report set to be shared with the automotive industry and UK regulators.

“The car manufacturer may be in Shanghai and could stop 100,000 to 300,000 cars across Europe thus paralysing a country,” he told The Telegraph.

Prof Saker said there was “no way” of preventing these vehicles being disabled remotely by car companies in China – many of which are state-owned.

“The threat of connected electric vehicles flooding the country could be the most effective Trojan horse that the Chinese establishment has,” he said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

MORE: Chinese cars aren’t an emerging threat, they’re here – auto executive

Photo by Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former leader of the British Conservative Party and co-chairman of the UK’s Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, echoed the warning.

“Anything to do with China is a security threat,” he told The Daily Mail.

“China is doing its level best to break us. We have to get rid of devices inside the technology in their cars that report back things like locations. They could even lock into the systems of the car and hear what you say.”

While there has been no accusations of impropriety or wrongdoing on their part, traditionally-British car brands such as MG, Lotus, and the London Taxi Company now come under Chinese ownership, while Aston Martin’s third-largest shareholder is Geely – one of China’s automotive giants.

However, Andy Mayer, chief operating officer and energy analyst at the UK’s Institute of Economic Affairs, disagreed with the threat of malicious Chinese Trojan horse software being anything other than scaremongering.

“While possible – and worth war-gaming – these threats are easily identified, and the reputational damage of being caught so extreme that the cost isn’t worth whatever nefarious benefit is intended,” he told The Epoch Times.

MORE: China now world’s largest exporter of new cars

Photo by Tang Ke/VCG via Getty Images.

“Such an attack would be a one-shot event, with limited capacity for anything more than short-term disruption. Followed by a trillion-dollar trade war,” he said.

Carlos Tavares, the CEO of Stellantis – the parent company of brands including Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Jeep, Peugeot and Ram, among others – last week called the influx of Chinese car-makers an “invasion”, news outlet Reuters reports.

Mr Tavares said European manufacturers were under pressure from low-priced cars from China, as they have struggled to cut costs while also developing new battery-electric vehicles increasingly mandated by governments.

China overtook Japan to become the world’s largest exporter of new cars in the first three months of 2023 – with Russia its top customer, and Belgium, Australia, and Thailand being the biggest buyers of Chinese electric vehicles.

New-car exports from China between January and March 2023 were up 58 per cent, compared with the same period in 2022 – with 1.07 million Chinese cars sold across the globe.

The post Chinese electric-car “invasion” prompts security warning – report appeared first on Drive.

Kia EV5 electric SUV to be revealed this month – report

Kia is expected to take covers off the Sportage-sized, Tesla Model Y-rivalling EV5 electric SUV towards the end of the month – but it is not yet locked in for Australia.

Kia Concept EV5

The Kia EV5 – a Sportage-sized electric SUV which will rival the class-leading Tesla Model Y – will reportedly be revealed later this month at the Chengdu Motor Show in China.

Kia’s ‘Concept EV5’ was unveiled in March this year – sharing most of its design with the larger EV9 SUV – but the South Korean car-maker has not yet revealed the production model.

South Korean publication Korean Car Blog reports Kia will unveil the EV5 at the Chengdu Motor Show on 25 August, ahead of deliveries starting in China – where the electric SUV will be built – from November 2023.

Kia Concept EV5

While Kia is prioritising China for the roll-out of the EV5, the Korean Car Blog claims the electric SUV will be available in “South Korea and overseas” – which could include Australia.

In June 2023, Kia Australia’s general manager of product planning, Roland Rivero, told Australian media the EV5 is on the company’s wishlist for local showrooms – though its plans have not yet been confirmed.

According to Korean Car Blog, examples of the Kia EV5 sold outside China will be powered by an 82kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack – larger than the 77.4kWh battery in the sleeker EV6 – which could offer up to 600km driving range.

The publication also claims Kia’s latest electric SUV will be based on a 400-volt electric-car platform – rather than the 800-volt ‘E-GMP’ architecture found in the EV6, EV9 and Hyundai’s battery-powered vehicles.

Kia Concept EV5

If the Kia Concept EV5’s dimensions carry across to the production version, we can expect the EV5 to measure between 4.5 to 4.6 metres in length – similar to the petrol and diesel-powered Sportage.

Korean Car Blog expects the Kia EV5 will be priced between 50 million won ($AU58,500) and 57 million won ($AU66,700) in South Korea – on par with Drive’s estimated figures of a $65,000 to $75,000 starting price in Australia.

Those prices would allow it to come within striking distance of the Tesla Model Y – the best-selling electric car in Australia and the world – which is priced from $65,400 plus on-road costs in rear-wheel-drive guise, and from $78,400 plus on-road costs for the Long Range all-wheel-drive.

Kia Concept EV5

The Kia EV5 will also be a part of the brand’s push to introduce more affordable and smaller electric cars, with plans for the new models to be built at factories in Europe, China and India in the next four years.

Kia has previously announced its plans to sell 15 electric vehicles by 2027, with those battery-powered models accounting for 1.6 million sales annually.

The post Kia EV5 electric SUV to be revealed this month – report appeared first on Drive.