WHEN someone asks, would you like to take the Porsche for a drive, the only polite answer is, of course, "Yes".

Which is how I came to be behind the wheel of the exhilarating 911 Carrera T, which slides in between the standard Carrera and the Carrera S.

Although it's powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, the T actually stands for Touring, not Turbo.

The T is based on the standard Carrera, the flat-six engine with 380bhp and 450NM of torque, which is ample. It rides on 20-inch wheels at the front, 21-inch at the rear. There's also a new front splitter and rear spoiler extension.

Some 35kg has been saved over the regular Carrera with the introduction of lightweight glass, a smaller battery and less sound insulation - a good thing in my opinion. The engine is all the soundtrack you need.

The rear seats - only really usable by small children - have been taken out, though you can have them put back in at no cost.

The standard car's auto gearbox has also been replaced by a sweet seven-speed manual, which has also helped the weight loss.

The T also comes with PASM Sport Suspension, an electronically variable damping system that can lower the ride height by 10mm, depending on the driving mode - Normal, Wet, Sport, Sport+ and Individual are available, all accessible via a rotary knob on the steering wheel, and a mechanical locking rear differential.

I have no doubt that most, as I did, will immediately head to Sport mode given Porsche's credentials. This also brings the sports exhaust system into play, noticeable from the throaty bellow behind and also the addictive auto blip function on downshifts. You don't need to thrash it to enjoy this.

I'd never driven a seven-speed manual before but it was remarkably easy to use, even while driving gently through urban areas, and using it a bit more furiously on twisty country roads. It quickly becomes intuitive. On the twistys, you select third and then work it from there. It's joyous.

Seventh gear is really for motorway cruising. That said, second gear will easily take you to the national speed limit. This really is a ‘driver's car' and a fun one too. You want to drive it quickly, on twisty roads, like an addiction.

The tyres and chassis provide a tremendous amount of grip,which gives you the confidence to enjoy the T's potential. The car I was driving also had an optional rear-wheel steer system, which adds stability to high speed cornering but also helps when you're nipping the 911 around town.

Inside, the cabin is very similar to the standard Carrera. Agate Grey is the overwhelming colour scheme with a few matt black touches. The four-way adjustable electric Sport Seat Plus package is standard. Once nestled in, they keep you cosseted while cornering and comfortable on a longer, gentler trip.

Behind the steering wheel, there's an analogue central rev counter, courted by a rev counter and a read out for time and outside temperature. You sit low, but with plenty of visibility, and the steering column has plenty of adjustment. It's a comfortable place to be, even for a man of my ample proportions.

An option on the standard Carrera, the T comes with Porsche's Sport Chrono Package, which features a dash-mounted stopwatch, a mode switch, the Porsche Track Precision app, and a tyre temperature display. Something for the track addicts.

A 10.9-inch flush-mounted ‘Porsche Communication Management' touchscreen display in the centre of the dash covers everything else you might need thorough, to be honest, apart from aircon, I didn't feel the need to fiddle. I was enjoying it just the way it was.

As for storage space, under the bonnet, there's 132-litres of storage space, plenty for those long weekends away. There's also space behind the front seats, with lashing points beneath the rear window.