New Theon R is 'the ultimate analogue experience'

Every 964 produced by Theon Design so far has been special - but the 500hp R is intended to take the biscuit

Theon Design, it seems, has been busy. We know this because the firm gave us a peak at its first UK commission back in the summer - GBR001 getting nearly 400hp from its 3.8-litre flat-six and a very fetching shade of green. At the time, this was the highest specific output that the firm had delivered. Now, a few months later it has gone the whole hog, announcing not just its ‘fastest, most involving and exhilarating Porsche 911 (964)-based project to date’ but also one featuring its most advanced powertrain - a 4.0-litre air-cooled flat-six capable of producing more than 500hp.

There’s more. Dubbed the Theon R (of course), the car takes its inspiration from Porsche’s ‘most focused’ road cars, is limited to 24 examples, and is expected to weigh less than 1,000kg thanks to the comprehensive use of carbon fibre. This includes not just every body panel, but also the unseen tubs that the tuner bonds to the seam-welded chassis. The latter are said to weigh just 4kg each and transform the 964’s rigidity. Carbon fibre is also used to deliver a flat floor which, in conjunction with the new front splitter, rear diffuser and prominent whale tail, are said to improve ‘high-speed stability and on-circuit performance’.

“With the Theon R we’ve set out to create a model that honours Stuttgart’s most special, low-volume models – past and present. We’ve looked to everything from the 911 S/T of the 1970s – the inspiration for the original Theon Design prototype - to the iconic 3.2 Carrera Clubsport, 964 RS Clubsport and 993 RS Clubsport, as well as the 997.2 GT3 RS 4.0 and modern day GT3 and GT4 models,” said Theon Design co-founder, Adam Hawley.

As you might expect, you get standard carbon ceramic brakes and Minilite-style lightweight (mostly magnesium) wheels, for yet more reduction of mass, and for keeping a tight leash on a 24-valve engine that revs to over 9,000rpm, conjuring up 295lb ft of torque along the way. Theon has grafted on a drive-by-wire throttle and the plenum from a 997 GT3 RS, and reckons you can count not just on superior power-to-weight ratio to any production 911, but also ‘a sound akin to that of a ‘70s RSR race car’. If that’s not enlivening enough, then the thought of managing it all through a short-throw six-speed manual and Wavetrac limited-slip differential ought to be.

Theon has redoubled its efforts in the chassis department, too, where it has deployed something called Motion Control Suspension (no, us neither). But the competition-bred dampers are independently adjustable through high and low speed compression and rebound, and feature external reservoirs - so you ought to be able to fine-tune the R to work on pretty much any surface you like. Which is appropriate when you consider that the starting price - which excludes the donor car you will need for Theon to get started on - clocks in at £790,000 before taxes.

“The R is without doubt Theon Design’s fastest, most-focused and, dare I say it, most ferocious bespoke model yet,” concluded Hawley. “It’s special and rewarding at any speed. It’s the ultimate expression of Theon’s OEM-grade design and engineering expertise – the sum of nearly a decade’s worth of obsessive honing of the Porsche 964 platform.” Unsurprisingly, the first customer car has already been commissioned, but if you’ve a million quid spare to indulge your passion for air-cooled Porsches, Theon would be delighted to begin what its calls ‘a totally unique collaboration with the customer’ that kicks off an 18-month build process. Please do let us know if you take the plunge.

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Twinair

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