First Look: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye (Incl. Video)
author:luis j rubio
2025-01-21
Among the many partnerships between automotive brands and watchmakers, the collaboration between TAG Heuer and Porsche stands out as one of the most seamless and authentic despite being recent – since 2021. This synergy has given rise to special edition timepieces that captivate enthusiasts well beyond the racing world – the Carrera Porsche Chronograph, then the Carrera x Porsche RS 2.7, the Carrera Chronograph x Porsche Orange Racing, the Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon x Porsche Panamericana, the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche and the?Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 released for the 24h of Le Mans 2024 edition. This year, the excitement shifts gears with the introduction of the “black-livery” editions of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye in steel and yellow gold, which will surely ignite passion among watch and car fans.?This new version of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche boasts an already familiar yet undeniably cool Glassbox-style case with brushed and polished finishes. The 42mm diameter case measures 14.9mm thick, with a 48.6mm lug-to-lug span and offers 100m of water resistance. This bezel-free Glassbox design, introduced with the 60th-anniversary Carrera Chronograph in 2023, features a distinctive domed sapphire crystal protecting the dial and a domed sapphire caseback revealing the movement. Signature Carrera elements remain intact, including the sharp, faceted lugs, fluted crown with the TAG Heuer shield logo at 3 o’clock, and flanking piston-style pushers that enhance its racing aesthetic. Ad - Scroll to continue with article The dial layout retains the signature Carrera chronograph design elements, but the presentation takes a bold new direction compared to the earlier silver-toned steel edition of the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche (or the rose gold version with its beige dial). For the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye, TAG Heuer opted for a black shimmery dial, accented (in the steel version) by rhodium-plated rings on the 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock and the 12-hour totalizer at 9 o’clock. The polished, rhodium-plated applied indexes and faceted central hands – hours and minutes coated with Super-LumiNova – remain consistent with the model’s heritage. The chronograph seconds hand is needle-shaped, while the subdial hands, including the running seconds hand at 6 o’clock, stand out in red lacquer, subtly adding a dynamic touch to the design. The black Porsche-signed flange with its 60-second scale draws attention, particularly to the first 8.4 seconds – highlighted – which commemorate the time it took the 1965 Porsche 911 “147” to accelerate to 100 km/h during the Monte Carlo Rally – an improvement over the 9.1 seconds achieved by the 901 in 1963. The non-linear chronograph seconds display, introduced with the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche, becomes apparent here, mimicking the motion of early rev-counters. Additional nods to Porsche heritage include the red-highlighted segment between 50 and 55 on the running seconds subdial, referencing 1970s Porsche dashboards that emphasized the 50 km/h city speed limit. On the 12-hour counter, a red zone starting at 6.8 serves as a reminder of the 6,800 RPM limit, further tying the design to Porsche’s legacy. TAG Heuer enhanced its TH20 calibre to achieve the original non-linear chronograph seconds display by integrating a mechanism featuring two snail-shaped wheels, creating the central hand’s decelerating motion – something you can discover in the video on top of this article. Beyond this neat little trick, the TH 20-08 movement remains broadly consistent with the TH 20 calibre used in other Carrera Glassbox chronographs. An evolution of the Heuer 02, this integrated column-wheel chronograph movement employs a vertical clutch and bi-directional winding and has an impressive 80-hour power reserve. The rotor is styled after a Porsche car’s three-spoke steering wheel for this special series, adding another distinctive automotive connection.The new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye in stainless steel has a matching three-link bracelet secured by a folding clasp with double safety pushbuttons. For the yellow gold version, TAG Heuer recommends the black perforated calfskin leather strap with beige stitching as the preferred option; this same strap is also included with the steel-cased edition, offering flexibility in styling. Both models are limited series, 911 pieces in stainless steel and 11 in yellow gold, with each watch’s number engraved on the screw-down caseback. Priced at CHF 10,000 for the steel version and CHF 24,000 for the gold edition, these timepieces are available starting this month.For more details, please visit TagHeuer.com....