Porsche AG to introduce PCA 50th Anniversary Edition

FYI.

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Porsche has unveiled the most powerful 997 series 911 to date, the Club Coupe, to honor the Porsche Club of America’s 50th anniversary. The car is the first 2006 911 Carrera S to feature Porsche’s new X51 engine upgrade kit that boosts power and torque from 355 hp and 295 lb-ft in the standard Carrera S to 381 hp and 306 lb-ft. Porsche has not confirmed when the kit may become available on non-Club Coupe 911s.

The X51 upgrade provides the 3.8-liter flat-six with a carbon fiber air cleaner housing, a larger throttle body, revised intake, cylinder heads and exhaust manifold modifications. It also includes engine control unit changes and a sport exhaust system. Porsche says the Club Coupe needs just 4.4 seconds to reach 60 mph and is capable of a 186 mph top speed, compared to 4.6 seconds and 182 mph for the Carrera S. Porsche also notes the Club Coupe is the most powerful normally aspirated car it has ever offered for sale in North America. The previous benchmark, the 2004 911 GT3, featured a 3.6-liter engine that produced 380 hp and 284 lb-ft. The Club Coupe won’t hold the title for long, as the 3.8-liter found in the 997 GT3 slated for launch later this year should produce somewhere around 400 hp.

For now, though, this is the most exclusive 911 available—well, barely available: Porsche will offer just 50 copies of the Club Coupe, and PCA members get first crack at writing the checks. After the car’s debut during the PCA’s 50th annual Porsche Parade the weekend of June 25th in Hershey, Pennsylvania, we don’t expect any leftovers for the general public.

Along with the X51 engine tuning, the Club Coupe gets Azurro California paint that Porsche intends as a modern interpretation of azure blue, a color popular on 356 sports cars when the PCA was founded. Inside, the rear portion of the center console is painted the same color, and the seat backs may also be painted. Additionally, the interior features black instrument dials, a sport steering wheel and sport shifter. Stainless steel doorsills incorporate the 911 Club Coupe logo, and each car bears a badge on the driver’s side door trim indicating its individual number in the series of 50 cars.

Like the Carrera S, the 911 Club Coupe is equipped with 19-inch wheels and tires, Porsche Stability Management and Porsche Active Suspension Management. The Sport Chrono Package Plus, an option on Carrera and Carrera S 911s, is standard.

Pricing starts at $99,911, and PCA members must visit a special website (www.porsche.com/911clubcoupe) for a shot at buying the Club Coupe. If any cars remain unsold after August 15, they may be made available to the general public.

Not part of the PCA? Here’s a reason to join: One of the 50 911 Club Coupes will be randomly given away to a lucky member. Sweepstakes rules and eligibility are found on the same website referenced above.

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Agree. Hate the Sport Design wheels - should have stuck with the lobster claws, or made a new wheel version. Love the carbon fiber around the engine though.