The Porsche 911 Carrera T is back for 2023, revived now for the current 992 generation. It slots in above the base Carrera and below the Carrera S, preserving its touring car roots in the best ways possible: it’s fun, sporty, and cool; and it does it in a purist drivers’ package.

Instead of just hitting the streets of LA, we left the city for the Angeles Crest Highway. It was here where the rear-mounted twin-turbo six-cylinder came to life, displacing 379 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. Power was sent to the rear wheels through a standard seven-speed manual transmission. According to Porsche, a Carrera T manual can do 0-60 sprints in 4.3 seconds.

But as a touring car, I almost feel like the 0-60 stuff and top speed– 181 mph, by the way– is less important. It’s about how it feels on the road. And this engine is perfect for the Carrera T’s job. Smooth acceleration, accurate response and harmonics you just can’t get enough of. The transmission is slick, and the clutch is firm in actuation without being a burden.

Sticking to the road was easy thanks to the mechanical limited slip differential with Porsche Torque Vectoring– a standard feature on the Carrera S trickled down to the T. The Porsche Active Suspension Management system and Sport Chrono Package are also included, though rear-axle steering, which my car had, is an option.

After some time driving, I had a realization– thinking back to another T I drove on similar roads…

“You know, it’s kinda funny. I was out here with the Macan T not that long ago, and I made a comment then about how the Macan T was a little sportier without going full-bore. That’s exactly the case with the Carrera T. It’s meant to be sort of a sportier ride, a very– almost like a purist kind of experience without going all-out, right? Now, they accomplish this first and foremost by being a 911, right? It’s going to sport. But, uh, standard you get a seven-speed manual and you get a rear-seat delete. Now, you can opt for an 8-speed PDK and you can also throw those rear seats back in if you so choose, and that’s fine, but I think the way I have this one optioned is just perfect. Like, this is how I would want it. So that, along with the lightweight glass, less sound deadening to let all the good noises in, um, and the Porsche Active Suspension– all those things, it all culminates into yeah, exactly that: a purist, just totally fun experience.”

So, the Carrera T brings in some of the more driver-focused amenities and also does it while saving a little weight in the process, but it does so without stripping away all the premium features you’d realistically still want. 4-way power sport seats are standard, as are the digital gauge cluster and infotainment screen; the latter of which I used for Apple CarPlay.  My car’s seats were the optional 18-way Adaptive Sport Seats– very comfortable, and stylish with the 911 name embroidered up top.

The Carrera T stands apart from the crowd in some obvious ways, like the big side profile designations and rear badging, but it also accentuates the exterior with various trimmings in Agate Gray. The wheels are finished in Titanium Grey and carry the theme well. All in all, it’s nice to have something a little bespoke in a near-entry trim.

Now, I understand that an “entry level Carrera” may sound like an oxymoron to some, but that’s what it is, starting around $118,000 with delivery. My Guards Red tester ultimately optioned out to $137,480, so you can get a little gung-ho with the options– some of which I highly recommend for that driver’s experience, like rear axle steering.

So, to reiterate my opener: the 2023 Porsche Carrera T is a fine addition in the lineup, slotting in perfectly above the Carrera and below the Carrera S. It’s fun, sporty, and– at least in my opinion– undeniably cool.

And we’ll have plenty more cool cars soon, right here on MotorWeek.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to hybrids: efficiency and performance. This 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance, as you might guess, focuses on the latter, and to mind-blowing effect.

This self-described four-door coupe uses a new plug-in hybrid system, complementing the handcrafted 4.0-liter biturbo V8. A rear-mounted 150-kilowatt electric motor brings total system output to 831 horsepower and 1,032 lb-ft of torque. The 6.1-kilowatt-hour battery enables some emissions-free driving, though even Mercedes themselves will tell you this electric setup prioritizes performance over range.

And the Mercedes-AMG dichotomy presented by the GT 63 continues from there. The seats, for example, while Mercedes plush, are AMG sporty with supportive bolstering for spirited driving. The 12.3-inch touchscreen and matching instrument cluster provide digital opulence and vital performance info. And although Comfort mode is just a dial-switch away, so is Race mode.

The Mercedes part was obvious throughout our testing, but the AMG side, well, that experience required a trip to none other than Mason Dixon Dragway. Weather prevented full quarter-mile times, but there was plenty of dry track for 0-60 passes.

ALEXANDER KELLUM: “Holy mother! Oh man, 0-60 in 3.21 seconds… Oh, yeah. That’s the AMG side I was looking forward to!”

That explosion off the was only our first try. It got better from there with our best pass a scant 3 seconds to 60. While still a tad short of the Mercedes-AMG claim of 2.8 seconds, we know in perfect conditions it’ll do it.

You may question Mercedes’ use of the word “Coupe” to describe it, but there’s no denying the pure thrills this four-door delivers. Rightfully so, considering a starting price north of $190,000.
And we’ll have more Quick Spins… soon!