Highlights
- Most potent commission to date is destined for a US customer and features a sector-leading
- Optimized for fast road use; better power to weight ratio than 992.1 GT3 RS
- Entirely bespoke commission finished in stunning Azzuro Thetys Metallic
- Full F1-grade carbon body with Theon developed carbon ceramic brake system
- Showcases Oxfordshire-based Theon’s cutting-edge engineering
Best of the Best
Theon Design has revealed its most powerful, lightest Porsche 911 (964) based Coupe commission to date. Built for a US customer over the course of 18 months, the F1 grade carbon-Kevlar bodied Coupe represents the pinnacle of the Oxfordshire, UK based outfit’s engineering prowess.
Finished in gleaming Azzuro Thetys Metallic, the latest Coupe commission combines a snarling 421bhp naturally aspirated flat-six with a curb weight of just 1,150kg (2540lbs), giving it searing performance – with a better power to weight ratio than the 992.1 GT3 RS.
The entirely bespoke machine has been enhanced from the ground up by Theon Design at its HQ, nestled in the heart of the UK’s ‘Motorsport Valley’, inspired by Porsche’s rich engineering and design heritage to capture the true essence of the air-cooled Porsche 911.
Condensing 60+ years of Porsche 911 development, Theon’s team has created a timeless and coherent machine, individually tailored to the commissioning customer. Blending cutting-edge British motorsport engineering DNA and technology, with exquisite, hand-crafted luxury and OEM-grade design methodology, each carefully crafted Theon build combines searing modern performance and capability with thrilling analogue involvement. A Theon commission is the ultimate exclusive expression of the remastered, iconic 911.
Led by Co-Founder Adam Hawley, a former senior designer for luxury OEMs such as BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover and Lotus, each Theon commission is individually designed and built, conceived in a personal, one-to-one consultation process with the founder.
Theon Design Co-Founder Adam Hawley explains: “With this latest US commission – our most powerful and lightest to date – we’ve once again taken the Theon Design offering to a new level. Optimised for fast road use and the occasional track outing, it delivers intense driving thrills while retaining the signature Theon useability; it’s a rounded, cohesive air-cooled 911 package that richly rewards whatever the driving scenario, from cross country road trips to carving round a circuit.”
911 Perfection, Forged in Motorsport Valley
Based in the heart of the UK’s renowned ‘Motorsport Valley’, home to F1 teams and world-class motorsport suppliers, Theon Design leverages competition know-how and cutting-edge technology to create the ultimate in bespoke air-cooled 911s. Its location provides unparalleled access to the most advanced materials, manufacturing processes, and engineering knowledge.
Starting with a donor 911 (964), each car is first stripped back to bare metal by the company’s engineers, before being rebuilt from the ground up with full RS seam welding for transformed torsional rigidity and structural strength. The reinforced platform was then cloaked in a complete
F1-grade carbon fibre-Kevlar body – including the roof – blending aerospace and F1 composites technology to deliver a car that’s super light and exceptionally rigid.
Only the doors remain steel – preserving the signature, satisfying 911 door close ‘clunk’. The result is a fully wet curb weight of just 1,150kg – even though the car retains a full range of modern conveniences and is lavishly trimmed throughout.
Theon Design’s sector-leading craftsmanship is evident in every detail: those you see and those that are buried deep beneath its carbon skin. The aero-spec wiring harness snakes through the strengthened body shell, saving circa 30kg vis-à-vis the original loom. The rear seat delete shaves additional mass while increasing storage space. The resulting area is turned into a beautifully trimmed luggage space, complete with bespoke matching luggage set – ideal for road trips.
Theon’s Most Powerful Flat-Six Yet
The beating heart of the car is the comprehensively overhauled air-cooled 4.0-litre engine, a flat-six work of art. Theon’s most potent motor to date, it produces a sector-leading 421bhp at 7,400rpm, accompanied by a stout 330lb/ft of torque at 5,400rpm.
The motor sits low down in Theon’s signature, super pared back engine bay, with AC compressor and power steering pump now relocated from the high up on the rear of the engine, to the car’s ‘frunk’ tucked away low down for carefully optimized weight distribution – now 46:54 split front to rear.
The engine breathes through Theon’s motorsport 911 inspired open trumpets, carefully shaped to optimize torque delivery, whilst also delivering a fierce intake rasp. A state-of-the-art ignition system delivers enhanced power and response from the flat six, while performance is further improved thanks to bespoke independent throttle bodies developed with British specialists Jenvey. Theon has also worked hard to simplify future servicing, with a single plug connecting all wiring to the bulkhead, meaning that the engine can be dropped out in a matter of minutes.
The naturally aspirated masterpiece sends the power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox built to 993 RS specification, ensuring every gear change is a tactile delight. Combined with a Wavetrac® Torsen limited-slip differential Theon’s latest commission delivers signature Porsche traction and control.
The coupe is also specified with an active switchable exhaust – with an understated ‘closed’ mode for town driving or early starts – as well as a raucous open mode, ideal for spirited drives when you crave hearing the flat-six in all its glory.
State-of-the-Art Brakes and Suspension
All the Coupe’s new-found performance is kept in check thanks to a sophisticated TracTive semi-active suspension system. The five stage, motorsport derived setup has been calibrated over countless tests to deliver exceptional control across all driving scenarios. Further fine tuning of the setup was carried out in a final optimization process with the owner, ensuring that the settings are perfectly matched to their dynamic preferences.
Braking performance is also transformed thanks to the addition of Theon’s all-new bespoke carbon ceramic brake system featuring Brembo monobloc calipers. The sizable carbon rotors (355mm front and rear – up from 322mm front and 299mm rear on the standard car) are nestled behind upgraded 18-inch Fuchs wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber. The advanced brake package not only delivers exceptional, fade free stopping power, but also significantly reduces unsprung mass. This, along with the super low kerb weight, and sophisticated TracTive suspension enables the car to flow down even the most pock-marked backroad.
The modern hardware and bespoke calibration take the car’s dynamic sophistication to new heights, with a breadth of ability that is carefully optimized in accordance with the customer’s specific requirements; a fast-road setup that can be dialed back for comfortable road trip cruising, or tightened up for on-track outings.
Tailored 911 Perfection
Each Theon is a bespoke creation both inside and out, tailored to the customer’s exact wishes. The specification of each build is determined over the course of an 18-month consultation period prior to the build commencing; the mechanical character, as well as the aesthetic details, are deliberated over by Hawley and the customer.
Every detail, both during the build process and before it has even begun, is critical at Theon. For instance, when specifying this car, a range of ‘Speedforms’ painted in the various color options were sent over the Atlantic for the customer, so they could appraise their visual and emotional impact in unique local light, as well as at different times of day.
The customer ultimately selected the beguiling, elegant Azzuro Thetys Metallic paintwork for the carbon body, complemented by subtle ghost stripes and classic PORSCHE graphics. This is offset by traditional satin chrome brightwork, arcing around the signature 911 window line. The lower bumper valance features gloss aesthetic carbon fibre, and the entire car benefits from comprehensive paint protection film application, so it can be driven enthusiastically on road and on track, with total confidence.
Other exquisite touches are dotted around the car: a quilted leather-trimmed bulkhead pad sits behind the flat-six work of art, while up front you find leather-trimmed frunk side pods and a carbon-fibre fuel tank cover, also trimmed in leather. A CTEK charging port with charge indicator is neatly integrated into the side pods, while the frunk is capped off by woven leather wrapped RS strut brace, further enhancing structural rigidity.
Exquisitely Handcrafted Cabin, Showstopping Audio Setup
Moving inside, the signature Theon attention to detail has been lavished on the car’s hand-trimmed cabin. Despite the impressively light curb weight, the interior remains luxuriously appointed, with every carbon fibre surface covered in rich, Fresca blue and Picasso ivory leather with intricate six-color woven leather detailing. The woven sections take hundreds of hours to complete, with each individual surface carefully adapted to ensure the pattern remains proportional across the dashboard, door cards and seats.
The car has been specified with the sporting Recaro CS seat option, in this case featuring fully leather-trimmed hard backs, providing enhanced support ideal for spirited driving while maintaining road-trip comfort. These are complemented by matching blue seat belts and a trimmed center console. The commission also features an updated instrument cluster, with all-new, jewel-like Theon-designed gauges, including a body-colored tachometer, gleaming behind the classic, thin rimmed deepdish steering wheel.
Elsewhere, Theon’s Interior Aluminum Pack sees key touchpoints – including vents and door handles – reverse-engineered from the Porsche originals, now machined from beautifully tactile, billet aluminum. Cool to the touch and pleasingly weighted, these elements elevate interior quality to a new level, but in a familiar, authentic ‘Porsche’ way, as if they could be original OEM parts.
Working closely with the client – a discerning audiophile – Theon has developed a bespoke stereo setup for the car, featuring upgraded JL Audio amplifiers, Focal speakers, and dual JL Audio subwoofers integrated into the base of the rear seat delete area. The centerpiece is an electrically deployable Alpine head unit that magically appears from under the dashboard when required, then folds away neatly, giving a timeless, uncluttered look to the cabin.
The audio system was then calibrated precisely for the customer, with a program of optimization and tuning carried out over a variety of driving conditions and scenarios to ensure exceptional audio performance, tailored to their specific preferences.
Hawley concludes: “For each car we painstakingly blend the very latest, motorsport derived technology – including F1 grade carbon for the body, bespoke carbon ceramic brakes, military-spec wiring, semi-active suspension and more – with the best analogue fundamentals: a real firecracker of an air-cooled 4.0-litre flat six, a tactile 993 RS spec ‘box and a beautifully resolved chassis. The result is a cohesive machine that still feels familiar – like a classic, air-cooled 911 – but with its outright capability, useability and capacity to thrill moved into a whole new realm. It is the best of all worlds; a responsive, rounded and richly rewarding air-cooled 911 that you never want to stop driving.”
Prices for US Theon Design commissions start at $590,000*. Each car is a totally unique collaboration with the customer and takes 18 months to build. Price excludes donor car, shipping and local taxes.
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Above content © 2025 Theon Design Ltd, reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee
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