TAG Heuer releases a new Carrera Chronograph in collaboration with Porsche featuring the 963.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
New: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 Ref. CBU2010.FT6267 retails at SGD 13,000 inclusive of GST.
Commentary
This is an update to the famed TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph. This new watch is a collaboration with Porsche racing, specifically inspired by the Porsche 963. The Porsche is a new LMDh racing prototype and competes in the Hypercar and GTP classes in the FIA World Endurance Championships and IMSA Sports Car Championship. The 963 draws inspiration from the Porsche 956 and the 962 which raced in the 1980s.
The novelty now features a skeletonised dial, which from the images we have been provided looks very nice indeed. The dial also features red hands on the chronograph hands as well as the 4 o’clock marker. This scheme of a splash of red is carried over to the case back with the turrets of the column wheel in red as well as red accents on some of the text on the rotor.
The movement used is the TH20-00, which is in line with what we have observed TAG Heuer to be doing to their automatic chronograph movements. The movement used in the earlier Carrera Chronograph was the Heuer 02. The TH20-00 looks like a simplified version of the Heuer 02, with the most noticeable being the rotor is now different. The TH20 movements have a rotor which is shaped like a shield, while the Heuer 02 rotor is skeletonised and to us looks nicer. The finishing on the TH20 also seems to be at a lower level. But finctionally, they have the same specifications.
Pricing wise, the Carrera Chronograph (Ref. CBS2212.FC6535) with Heuer 02 movement currently retails at SGD 9.2k in steel with a leather strap, and the novelty the Carrera Chronograph x Porsche retails at a higher price of SGD13k.
Release details
TAG Heuer and Porsche share a rich history, an independent and powerful mindset, and a dedication to functional design. For around 70 years, their paths have been meeting and intertwining on and off the racetrack. The solid and lasting bond between TAG Heuer and Porsche comes from their joint roots in motorsports, with a common thread being the Carrera name itself.
Its origins begin at the legendary Carrera Panamericana race, reputed to be one of the most dangerous in the world. It inspired Porsche, which won its first-class victory at the Carrera Panamericana race in 1954, to name its most powerful engine variants Carrera.
At the same time, Jack Heuer, chose to name his new 1963 chronograph Carrera, after hearing about the race’s highly evocative name from the racing driver Rodriguez brothers at the side of the infamous US racetrack Sebring in 1962.
Of course, another race with which both TAG Heuer and Porsche are historically connected is the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Let the Race Begin
Porsche’s history at Le Mans is legendary, having secured numerous victories over the years, making them the most successful manufacturer in the history of the race with 19 overall wins. The development of the Porsche 963, governed by the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona Hybrid) regulations, demonstrates this commitment to innovation. The Porsche 963 is the pinnacle of Porsche’s engineering expertise, based on a Multimatic* chassis derived from the LMP2 category – a second edition Le Mans Prototype developed and designed to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It features an advanced combustion engine able to run on renewable fuels, with its origins in the Porsche 918 Spyder road car. The Porsche 963 has been gathering victories on many famous racetracks across the globe.To celebrate the allure of endurance racing, its history and prowess, TAG Heuer has launched a timepiece – the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 – that embodies this drive for excellence.
“In celebration of Porsche’s racing successes, we are extremely proud to have worked on such a timepiece with our partner. The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 is an exceptional horological piece that represents all the values we stand for: design excellence, endurance, and the surpassing of one’s limits. We particularly look forward to Porsche’s performance this year and wish all the best to the Porsche team on the racetracks.”
Julien Tornare, CEO of TAG Heuer
Design and Engineering Excellence
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 is a remarkable timepiece inspired by the Porsche 963. Limited to just 963 pieces worldwide – a nod to the name of the racing car -, each watch incorporates precision and performance, paying homage to Porsche’s racing heritage and dominance with elements that capture the excitement of endurance racing.
Blending automotive engineering with horology, the sub-dials feature four Super-LumiNova (SLN) blocks, drawing inspiration from Porsche’s innovative LED light design on the modern-day icon, the Porsche 911. In the dark, the SLN blocks on the dial, along with the SLN-coated date revealer, illuminate the Porsche-inspired design elements, enhancing the watch’s visual appeal and practicality. These elements ensure exceptional legibility in all conditions, resonating with the endurance of 24-hour races, as drivers will be racing day and night.
The positioning of the red indexes at 04:00PM on the dial symbolizes the excitement and adrenaline associated with the countdown to a race start, capturing the essence of competitive racing within the watch’s design language.
Crafted with boldness and technical sophistication, the watch features a striking skeleton dial with tubular shapes reminiscent of Porsche’s racing car chassis—reflecting the minimalist yet robust construction seen in motorsport. The bezel, made from forged carbon, mirrors the lightweight, high-performance components of the Porsche 963, enhancing both aesthetics and the connection to motorsport.
High craftsmanship is evident with the in-house TH20-00 movement, featuring a personalized red column wheel, emphasizing the technical savoir faire of this vertical clutch chronograph movement. The vertical position of the chronograph mechanism’s coupling, similar to the systems found in cars connecting the engine’s flywheel with the transmission, in the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 provides for a smooth and “jump free“ actuation of the stopping function.
The watch’s rubber strap shape is inspired by the NACA-style low-drag air inlets, often featured on Porsche race cars all the way back to the record-breaking Porsche 917, adding a further subtle nod to the deep shared heritage in endurance racing.
The colors chosen for the watch are the iconic racing colours of Porsche motorsport: white, red and black.
Distinctive Porsche Elements
TAG Heuer has integrated several distinctive Porsche elements into the design of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963, which will delight Porsche fans.
The bezel proudly features a luminescent Porsche logo, allowing for legibility even in the dark, while the strap decor showcases the Porsche 963 logo. Additionally, the watch incorporates Porsche’s iconic steering wheel motif in the oscillating mass, and a Porsche logo in 3D on the side of the steel case, underscoring the integration of the car manufacturer inspired details.
Each TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 is individually numbered XXX/963 and is presented in a dedicated packaging, complete with a travel pouch and a mention of its limited-edition status.
As TAG Heuer and Porsche continue to strengthen their partnership, which stands as one of the most authentic alliances between a car manufacturer and a watchmaker, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 is the perfect testament to the spirit of endurance racing and the pursuit of perfection shared by Porsche and TAG Heuer.
Race fans, start your engines!
*Multimatic: a supplier of components, systems, and engineering services for the automotive industry.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 Specifications
Ref: CBU2010.FT6267
Movement
Calibre TH20-00
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Dial
“Tubular” skeleton dial with NAC finishing / Black flange with 60 second / minute scale; with white, red & grey markings /3 counters: -3 o’clock: black shimmery minute chronograph counter with 4 white Super-LumiNova® blocks and a black ring; red lacquered hand -6 o’clock: black open worked shimmery permanent second indicator; rhodium plated hand -9 o’clock: black shimmery hour chronograph counter with 4 white Super-LumiNova® blocks and a black ring; red lacquered hand
White Super-LumiNova® block indexes, except the one at 4 o’clock in red Rhodium plated facetted, polished hour and minute hands with white Super-LumiNova® / Red lacquered central hand / Rhodium plated polished TAG HEUER applied logo / 6 o’clock black open worked date disc, white Super-LumiNova® date revealer, blue light by night / “CARRERA” & “SWISS” printed
Case
44 mm diameter
Steel fine brushed, polished case; black PVD fine grained hollowed side & “PORSCHE” logo / Black forged carbon tachymeter fixed bezel, with white Super-LumiNova® “PORSCHE” logo printed and grey markings
Beveled, domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment / Fine brushed, polished black DLC steel crown at 3 o’clock, sandblasted steel ring / Fine brushed, polished black DLC steel round push button at 2 o’clock / Fine brushed, polished black DLC steel round push button at 4 o’clock / Circular brushed, polished steel screwed sapphire caseback, with special engraving
“LIMITED EDITION” & “XXX/963”
Water resistance: 100 meters
Bracelet
Black integrated rubber strap, with “963” engraved on a fine brushed, polished steel central link / Fine brushed, polished steel folding clasp with double safety push-buttons; TAG Heuer shield
Dimensions
Lug-to-lug: 49,7 mm
Thickness: 15,1 mm
