STUTTGART: Porsche is restarting production of the exclusive 911 GT2 after four cars bound for Brazil sank to a watery grave when a cargo ship caught fire, Germany's Autobild motoring gazette reports.
The GT2s worth a total of 1.2 million euros (RM5.5mil) went down with around 2,000 cars when the blazing Italian freighter Grande America foundered and sank off Brest in France on March 12.
Another 33 Porsches along with luxury RS 4 and Q7 models from Audi were also lost.
Customers would normally get their money back when a cargo vessel sinks before cars can be delivered.
Porsche said the unusual decision to remake the GT2s with the all the ordered features was a gesture to "uphold its commitment to its valued Brazilian customers".
Regular production of the limited edition GT2 stopped in February this year. The legendary high-performance model boasts 700 horsepower and a top speed of 340kph.
Salvaging the lost cars is not an option since the cargo ship came to rest on the sea bed at a depth of 4,500 metres and can only be reached by specialist diving robots.
