Porsche 911 50 Years Edition (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

Here’s the inevitable special edition 911 to celebrate Porsche’s rear-engined icon’s half-century. The 911 50 Years Edition uses the Carrera 4’s 44mm-wider-than-standard body, rear-wheel drive and the Carrera S’s 395bhp 3.8-litre flat-six engine in either seven-speed manual or PDK form. In a nod to the 911’s birth year, only 1963 examples will be produced, each costing a cool £92,587 – a £10k premium over the Carrera S.

The two-tone 20in alloys aren’t strictly a Fuchs design, but instead offer a retro-inspired look with matt-black details and polished centres. The 50 Years Edition 911 can only be painted one of two exclusive colours, Graphite Grey or Geyser Grey, or in black. You get a bespoke vented engine cover too, as well as choice items from the regular 911’s options list, like SportDesign mirrors, aluminium door sill kickplates, and adaptive xenon headlights.
 
There’s more attention to detail inside, with colour-coded instrument dials, green digits and white needles. Naturally there’s limited edition badging inside, brushed aluminium touches and retro tartan-aping seat upholstery stretched over 14-way adjustable seats (usually a £3.7k option). PASM is standard, which the stability control recalibrated to suit the wider rear track, while the more vocal sports exhaust is also part of the celebratory package.

Thanks to the upgraded engine, the 50YE 911 hits 62mph in 4.5sec (4.3sec with the PDK dual-clutch auto transmission) and can reach a top speed of 186 mph (185 mph with PDK). Porsche claims it’ll also return up to 32.5mpg and 205g/km of CO2 when fitted with PDK. 

By Ollie Kew