You start the flat-six, and it roars to life. You grab the shift lever and engage first gear, feeling the mechanical action of cables and clutch plates. Feather the gas and ease out the clutch, let the revs climb until the signature Le Mans howl sings from the rear-mounted engine: Ahh, the joys of a manual transmission Porsche 911.
But lately, the opportunities for that feeling have disappeared, as Porsche increasingly uses its PDK automated dual-clutch transmission. While capable of banging off F1-style shifts, the setup left some traditionalists wanting. But there’s good news: due to customer demand, the Porsche 2027 911 Carrera S MT package returns a six-speed manual to North American drivers.
The clutch pedal is back: Porsche’s six-speed manual returns to the 911 Carrera S
The 992 generation Porsche 911 Carrera S initially shipped with an eight-speed PDK transmission only. Now, the MT Package caters to the driving purist, who values involvement and traditional skill. Customers can order the MT package in coupe or cabriolet form, at a starting price of $167,100 and $181,000, respectively.
Perusing the Carrera S MT Package specs is like reading a driving enthusiast’s wish list. Standard equipment includes a rear-mounted 473-hp twin-turbo flat-six, rear-axle steering, PASM sport suspension with 10mm lower ride height, a walnut shift handle, center-lock wheels, titanium exhaust outlets, and more.
Drivers can also opt for comfort or performance via three options: 14-way Sport Seats, 18-way Sport Plus Seats, or Folding Lightweight Bucket Seats constructed of carbon fiber. Numerous personalization options span 17 exterior shades, Paint to Sample colors, and Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB), among others.
An optional interior package adds classic Plaid Sport-Tex seat centers with chalk-toned stripes, which match the seatbelts and stitching, alongside brushed aluminum accents and Ceramica trim. For enhanced street presence, the exterior package includes HD-Matrix Design headlights in black with a white color ring, Ceramica-finished wheels, and more. Perhaps the coolest part is the puddle lights that cast an image of the six-speed shift pattern.
Timo Resch, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, said: “As a lifelong driving enthusiast, I’m personally excited to announce the return of the manual transmission to the Carrera S. While some brands are abandoning the manual, we are proud to continue offering three pedals in a range of products that speak to different use cases. Managing a clutch and shift lever isn’t for everyone, but for the drivers who want it, there really is no substitute.”
The order banks are open, and interested customers can spec out their 2027 Carrera S MT Package at a Porsche Center. How would The Manual spec ours? We’d go for PCCB brakes, the interior package with plaid seats, the exterior package and its Ceramica wheels, all topped off with Paint to Sample Viper Green. Happy ordering.
