Porsche Confirms 911 Manual Gearbox Option

Porsche AG is introducing a 7-speed manual transmission option on its flagship 911 sports car, starting with the high-performance Carrera S/4S models.

The redesigned 911, known internally as the 992, was launched this year with an 8-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic gearbox as the only transmission available.

The manual transmission will be available only as part of Porsche’s Sport Chrono package that includes uprated suspension settings and other performance enhancements. Sport Chrono, which is a $2,300 option for the 911 with the 8-speed automatic, will be offered for free with the 7-speed manual to equalize the base price of both variants.

The manual transmission will be teamed with a mechanical limited-slip differential with torque vectoring. This replaces the adjustable electronically controlled unit fitted to PDK-equipped 911s.

Although the manual gearbox will trim about 84 lbs from the 911, Porsche says 7-speed 911s will be slightly slower than their 8-speed counterparts. A Carrera S with the manual unit is expected take about four seconds to hit 60 mph on its way to a top speed of 190 mph. This compares with 3.3 seconds and 191 mph for an automatic Carrera S with the Sport Chrono system.