Porsche 911 Carrera S Manual Returns With Fewer Gears And Slower Acceleration

Porsche has reintroduced the manual transmission to the 911 Carrera S for the 2027 model year, responding to customer demand in North America. The new 911 Carrera S with MT Package replaces the seven-speed gearbox from the previous generation with a six-speed unit, which also serves as the standard transmission in the base Carrera T model.

Equipment and Pricing Details

The MT Package adds a number of standard features to justify its price premium over a regular Carrera S. These include rear-axle steering, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with a lowered ride height, and a walnut shift knob. The Sport Chrono Package and unique exhaust tuning are also standard. Buyers can choose from 14-way or 18-way Sport Seats Plus, with carbon-fibre folding bucket seats available as an option.

For the first time, the Carrera S receives centre-lock wheels in a ceramic finish. These wheels are said to save approximately 7.7 kg compared to standard units. The model also features black-trimmed titanium exhaust outlets, a SportDesign front fascia, and a red ‘S’ badge on the rear.

Four options distinguish the MT Package from the base Carrera T. Buyers can choose Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) for an upgrade over the standard cast iron discs. The catalogue offers extensive customization, including paint to sample and over 70 leather interior configurations.

Performance and Specifications

The Carrera S with the MT Package uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six engine producing 480 PS (473 hp or 353 kW) and 530 Nm of torque. Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels. The configuration allows the coupe to reach a top speed of 308 km/h.

Acceleration figures reveal the trade-off for the manual gearbox. The coupe completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds, which is slower than the eight-speed PDK-equipped version at 3.3 seconds. The cabriolet variants take 4.1 seconds with the manual and 3.5 seconds with the PDK.

Deliveries for the new model are expected to begin by the end of 2026. The MT Package starts at USD167,100 for the coupe and USD181,000 for the cabriolet. This represents a premium of USD10,900 over the PDK-equipped Carrera S. The previous 992.1 generation allowed customers to choose a manual transmission without an additional cost.

It is worth noting that the decision to bring the manual back comes after the model lost the option entirely when the 992.2 generation entered production last year. The manual is now available on seven variants of the sports car in North America, including the GT3, GT3 with Touring Package, and GT3 S/C.