TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche watch pays homage to a shared history of excellence

They independently shared the name Carrera for decades, so it was only natural when Porsche and TAG Heuer combined their storied histories two years ago and partnered to create a new motorsports-inspired Carrera watch. 

Hold on tight; they’ve turned it up a notch.

The two legendary companies continue their collaboration with the introduction of a new showstopper, the perfect timepiece for every Porsche enthusiast: the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche. Offered in two versions, the watch pays homage to the momentous celebration of the 60th anniversaries of the TAG Heuer Carrera collection as well as the Porsche 911 (called the 901 in pre-production). Merging elements from both the watch and the car, TAG Heuer says the timepieces “offer an unparalleled timekeeping experience.”

With the new release, speed and precision converge, capturing the essence of the original Porsche 901’s remarkable achievement: reaching 0–100 km/h in a mere 9.1 seconds, an enhanced milestone as the history of the 911 unfolds.

“This watch perfectly encapsulates the essence of the motorsport universe, which is a shared value in our partnership with Porsche,” says Frédéric Arnault, CEO of TAG Heuer. “We have seamlessly merged the heritage of the 911 and the TAG Heuer Carrera, leveraging cutting-edge technology and unique design. It is a testament to our shared values of precision, innovation, and a deep appreciation for our respective histories.”

Inspired by Carrera Panamericana

Both TAG Heuer and Porsche’s use of the name Carrera—the Spanish word for race—was inspired by the nine-stage, five-day, 2100-mile Carrera Panamericana, Mexico’s famed 1950s road race. While Porsche’s use of the name clearly celebrated its success in the event (the automaker’s first victory came in 1953 when a 550 Spyder claimed the Small Sports Car category), TAG Heuer’s path there was a little less obvious.

In 1962, Jack Heuer, then head of the company founded by his great-grandfather a century earlier in St-Imier, Switzerland, was in Florida for the 12 Hours Race of Sebring. Heuer, a talented driver in his own right and fan of the entire racing experience, was told stories of the Carrera Panamericana. His interest was instantly piqued. When Heuer returned to Europe he immediately registered rights to use “Carrera,” deciding it was the perfect name for a watch with a racing spirit—useful and functional, featuring a clean and legible design, without extraneous elements that would distract the wearer’s gaze. 

“I loved not only its ‘sexy’ sound, but also its multiple meanings—which include road, race, course and career,” Heuer explained in his 2013 autobiography, The Times of My Life.

In 1963, the first Heuer Carrera watch arrived in the form of the Heuer Carrera ref. 2447, also known as the “Carrera-12.” Sixty years later, with a historic list of enthusiasts that includes racing legends like Bruce McLaren, Ayrton Senna, and Niki Lauda, TAG Heuer continues to create watches that motorsports drivers and fans are proud to wear. 

The Power of Precision

Since its groundbreaking introduction in 1963, the Porsche 911 has captivated enthusiasts with its unwavering commitment to performance, precision, and innovation. Its acceleration from 0–100 km/h in 9.1 seconds not only achieved those goals but paved the way for future generations of the 911, pushing boundaries and setting new records for speed and driving dynamics.

In that vein, TAG Heuer once again pays tribute to Porsche’s exceptional speed achievement. Bringing to life revolutionary designs and conceptual timepieces, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche watches stand out. Both the Steel and Gold Editions celebrate the iconic status of the Porsche 911 and its remarkable performance heritage, fusing the spirit of Porsche’s groundbreaking achievements with TAG Heuer’s unwavering pursuit of excellence.

As a tribute to precision and speed, TAG Heuer introduces the groundbreaking TH20-08 movement, a new interpretation of the in-house caliber TH20 launched at the 2023 Watches & Wonders fair.  Designed for precise measurements of short time intervals, the TH20-08 movement mirrors Porsche 901’s acceleration from 0–100 km/h in 9.1 seconds. Its central hand accelerates swiftly, gradually decelerates over 60 seconds, and quickly restarts. In a word, it’s cool.

The movement’s unique mechanism features two snail-shaped wheels, creating a decelerating motion for the central hand. These wheels are crafted with state-of-the-art technology, the so-called LiGA process widely used in the MEMS (microelectromechanical system) industry. The TH20-08 represents TAG Heuer’s commitment to precision, craftsmanship, and captivating design, setting a new standard in watchmaking.

The dial of these watches beguiles with “a visual representation of speed and acceleration.” Red lines on the flange mirror the 0–100 km/h achievement in just 9.1 seconds, paying homage to the very first Porsche 911. Adding a touch of automotive inspiration, further subtle red details can be found throughout. The 6 o’clock subdial features a reference to the iconic dashboard of the 1970s Porsche, where the area around 50 km/h was often highlighted to indicate the recommended speed in urban areas.

An additional nod to the rich sportscar heritage lies in the red portion of the 9 o’clock subdial. It serves as a reminder of the critical engine speed beyond which damage may occur. It’s not by chance that TAG Heuer chose to place the red line at 6.8 hours; it refers to the limit of 6800 revolutions per minute. In addition, the counter hands of the watch are similar to the shape of a car dashboard, completing the cohesive automotive design aesthetic.

The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche also offers an innovative double glassbox—a curved crystal glass that pays homage to similarly domed Hesalite crystal designs from the 1970s. Re-engineered to have a curve that flows seamlessly over the tachymeter scale, it runs along the edge of the dial, blending into the case. This design, a first for the TAG Heuer Carrera, offers easy reading of the indications on the dial via the domed crystal and a captivating view of the watch’s intricate mechanics through the see-through caseback. The caseback is designed to replicate the iconic three-spoke steering wheel of Porsche.

Both watches feature a calfskin leather strap, in brown for the gold edition and in black for the steel edition, with the embossed original number “911” on the strap.

The steel version boasts a silver dial and flange, while the gold edition wears a beige dial and flange. Each watch is presented in specially designed, co-branded TAG Heuer x Porsche packaging with subtle touches of gold and steel reminiscent of the watches.

Decades after TAG Heuer and Porsche came to the same conclusion about the magical name “Carrera,” the two have created a watch that embodies their shared spirit of speed and precision—and their unwavering pursuit of excellence.