The latest-generation Porsche 911 was launched in 2011. Codenamed 991, it replaced the 997 and gained an entirely new platform, only the third since the original 911 was introduced in 1963. Much like its predecessor, it has an evolutionary exterior design and a restyled interior with finer materials and sporty accents. Both the naturally aspirated 3.4-liter and the turbocharged 3.8-liter were upgraded for more power. In 2016, the entire lineup was updated to 991.2 specs. The facelift's biggest changes is the new twin-turbo, 3.0-liter flat-six engines in the Carrera and Carrera S models. In short, the 991.2 marked the end of the naturally aspirated 911 outside the track-prepped GT3 model.

With the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans right around the corner, Porsche has released the 911 Endurance Racing Edition. Based on the current Carrera S, it comes with extra features inside and out, a Sport Chrono package, and a special livery that pays tribute to the race-spec Porsche 919 Hybrid. Unveiled at the Circuit de la Sarthe before the big endurance race, the special-edition 911 pays homage to the company's success on the race track and the record 17 victories at Le mans.

The sports car is available to order as we speak, but only in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Pricing is a bit steep compared to the standard Carrera S, but Le Mans enthusiasts will probably be more than happy to pay the premium for a piece of Porsche history. Find out more about it below.

Updated 07/13/2016: Porsche dropped a new video featuring Jeff Zwart behind the wheel of a 911 Carrera S Endurance Racing Edition at the 2016 Goodwood Festival Of Speed. Hit "play" to watch him explaining his 50-year passion for Porsche.

Continue reading to learn more about the Porsche 911 Carrera S Endurance Racing Edition.

What makes the Porsche 911 Carrera S Endurance Racing Edition special

The Endurance Racing Edition stands out by means of a livery inspired by the Le Mans-spec, Porsche 919 prototype race cars. The lettering on the front hood and roof and the stripes on side skirts can be combined with one of three exterior colors. There's White, Guards Red, and Black, the exact same colors of the three 919s fielded the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in both 2015 and 2016. Livery aside, the coupe sports a set of black-painted 20-inch wheels and the dynamic LED headlamps as standard equipment. The sports car also comes with an electric sliding sunroof. While that's not the kind of feature you'd expect to see on a race-inspired 911, it's a cool addition for customers who like a bit of sun in the cabin.

Speaking of which, the interior received a few extra features compared to the standard Carrera S. There are leather-wrapped seats with embossed Porsche crests and red seatbelts, carbon-fiber inserts on the dashboard and door panels, and a sports steering wheel with a red 12-o'clock mark. Porsche also added unique floor mats with red accents and equipped the car with front and rear parking sensors.

Under the hood, the Endurance Racing Edition is a standard 911 Carrera S. There's no need to be disappointed though, as the both the Carrera and Carrera S received brand-new turbocharged, 3.0-liter engines with increased performance. The S comes with 420 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque on tap, a 20-horsepower and 43-pound-feet increase over the previous model. All models are equipped with the optional Sport Chrono package, which means that shifting is handled by the PDK automatic. In this configuration, charging from 0 to 60 mph takes only 3.7 seconds, nearly a half-second quicker than the manual version. The coupe's performance is further enhanced by the Porsche Dynamic Control with rear wheel steering and a sports exhaust system, both offered as options on the standard model.

The Endurance Racing Edition is sold only in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. There's no word as to how many will be built, but don't expect it to be around too long. Pricing is set at £107,216, a whopping £21,359 premium over the standard 911 Carrera S.

Porsche 911 Carrera S

The Porsche 911 Carrera S was revised for the 2017 model year, when the German automaker introduced the 991.2 facelift. While visual updates are rather mild, the sports car gained a new Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system, Apple CarPlay, real-time traffic information, and a new Individual mode that allows drivers to configure their own setup of the chassis. The most important change occurred under the hood, where the naturally aspirated 3.4-liter flat-six was replaced with a twin-turbo, 3.0-liter unit. The new flat-six cranks out 420 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque, which accounts for a 20-horsepower and 43-pound-feet increase over the outgoing model. Sprinting from 0 to 60 takes 4.1 seconds with the manual transmission and 3.9 ticks with the PDK. Adding the Sport Chrono package further reduces the benchmark to only 3.7 seconds. Top speed is rated at 191 mph with the manual and 190 mph with the automatic.

Read our full review on the Porsche 911 Carrera S here.