2025 Porsche 911 Spirit 70

Porsche took its cleverest new 911 and dressed it up as a 1970s icon, and we are smitten

We love it. Let us get that out of the way immediately, because the 911 Spirit 70 tends to divide people the moment they see it. But here is the thing everyone misses: strip away the heritage paint and the period stripes and you are left with a Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet. In other words, the Spirit 70 drives exactly like what many consider the sweet spot of the entire 911 range. So this is not just a styling exercise. It is one of the best driving cars on sale, wearing a fabulous costume.

Driving: a Carrera 4 GTS underneath, and that is very good news

Because it is mechanically a Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, the Spirit 70 drives like one, and that is the highest praise. Porsche quotes 0 to 100 km/h in 3.1 seconds, but independent US testing found this all-wheel-drive GTS Cabriolet even quicker than the factory claim, hitting 0 to 60 mph in a scarcely believable 2.6 seconds, with all-wheel-drive traction firing it off the line brutally hard. It grips beyond 1 g on the skidpad and the brakes haul it down almost instantly. Better still is how it feels: the steering is wonderfully precise, rear-wheel steering makes it feel smaller and more agile than it is, and the turn-in is decisive with a balance that is very hard to fault. Drop the roof and the full flat-six soundtrack pours in, hard-edged and mechanical. This is a 911 doing exactly what a 911 should.

The T-Hybrid: clever, and it never gets in the way

The powertrain is the other star. This is Porsche's T-Hybrid, a 3.6-litre flat-six turbo boxer helped by two electric motors, one inside the turbocharger to eliminate lag and one in the eight-speed PDK, with a small 1.9 kWh battery and a 400-volt system. The numbers are 541 hp and 610 Nm, enough for a claimed 312 km/h top speed. What matters more is the feel. The electric turbo means the throttle responds instantly, the PDK fires off shifts seamlessly whether you use the paddles or leave it alone, and there is genuinely no hint that you are driving a hybrid. It is tuned for performance rather than economy and adds only around 50 kg. You never think about it. You just enjoy a sharper, more urgent 911.

An everyday supercar, with one firm caveat

The magic of any 911 GTS is breadth: supercar pace with real daily usability, and the Spirit 70 keeps all of it. It is docile and glorious around town, and the convertible roof is a masterpiece, seamless when up and dropping in around 12 seconds at up to 50 km/h, with none of the shake that afflicts lesser drop-tops. There is one genuine caveat: the GTS suspension is firm, and over poor surfaces it can be downright harsh. It is beautifully composed on smooth roads, but if you value comfort, this is the aspect to weigh most carefully. On this all-wheel-drive version you also cannot have the larger optional fuel tank, which trims the touring range, though we still saw a reasonable 10.7 litres per 100 km.

Design: the 1970s costume that makes it special

So why buy this one over a normal GTS? Because of the theatre. Its signature exterior colour is the striking Olive Neo, set off by Bronzite accents on the lower body sections and the period Sport Classic Fuchs wheels. Buyers can also dip into Porsche's Paint to Sample programme for something more personal: our test car wore a gorgeous Paint to Sample Bahama Yellow, another nod to the 1970s. Three stripes run down the centre, a reference to 1970s safety markings rather than racing, and the nose wears the 1963-style Porsche crest. It is bold and unusual, and it will not be for everyone, but it is done with real conviction rather than as a cheap sticker pack.

Inside: heritage detail done right

The cabin commits just as hard. You get the famous Pasha checkerboard pattern on the seats and dashboard, vintage-style white needles and green numerals on the 12.65-inch display, and a Racetex headlining with a hole pattern echoing the exterior stripes, plus Heritage and Manufaktur badges throughout. It could have felt like fancy dress. Instead it feels special every time you climb in, a modern 911 that quietly transports you to another decade.

Exclusivity and price

Then there is the exclusivity. Porsche is making just 1,500 Spirit 70s worldwide, each buyer gets a matching watch, and you can even configure the car in an Apple Vision Pro app. In Belgium it starts at €256,792, a hefty premium over a standard Carrera GTS Cabriolet, though Porsche softens it a little with richer standard equipment and that exclusive character. It is a lot of money, which will keep numbers tiny and values high. For most of us this is a dream rather than a purchase, but that has always been part of the 911 halo.

AutoNext Verdict

Here is the trick the Spirit 70 pulls off: it is a genuine collector's item and a genuinely brilliant everyday sports car at the same time. Strip away the heritage paint and you have a Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, one of the finest all-round 911s money can buy. All-wheel drive makes it even quicker and grippier than the rear-drive car, the T-Hybrid drivetrain is sharp and lag-free, and only a firm ride keeps it from complete comfort. Add the roof-down soundtrack and it is a joy on every drive.

Is it expensive and slightly mad? Of course. The styling will divide opinion, and you are paying a big premium for paint, badges and exclusivity on top of an already pricey GTS. But this was never meant to be sensible. It is a celebration of the 911, and it commits to that idea with total conviction.

We adore it. It drives like the best everyday 911 there is, and it looks like nothing else on the road. If you have the means, the Spirit 70 is a future classic you will love driving as much as looking at, and that is a rare and wonderful thing.