TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye Watch Review
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye is the latest fusion of Swiss precision and Swabian performance. A limited edition model, offered in a choice of steel or 18K 3N yellow gold, this chronograph incorporates flourishes of red detail while upholding TAG Heuer’s reputation for matchless dial legibility. Angus Davies, a grumpy fiftysomething, talks air cooled Porsches and fully integrated chronographs.
Porsche 911 air-cooled icons
Perhaps it’s an age thing, but sometimes I reminisce about the ‘good old days’. Once upon a time, when I placed household waste in a bin I was considered to be hygienic, tidy and responsible. Today, if I put a plastic container in the ‘non-recyclables’, I’m a social pariah.
When it comes to modern motoring, cars must be whisper quiet, preferably electric. Banned from many urban areas, cars are often resigned to a life on the open road, albeit now stringently policed by ‘cash cow’ speed cameras.
I know that we have to consider the environment and road safety; however, I sometimes feel that the joy of life has been slightly diminished. Back in my youth, when colours seemed a tad brighter, a Porsche 911 emitted a distinct sound, courtesy of its air-cooled engine. It was only a person with a stony heart and little soul that failed to turn round on hearing that iconic flat-six. Porsche unveiled the inaugural 911 at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in 1963 with the final air cooled 911, the so-called 993, rolling off the production lines in 1998. Modern-day water-cooled 911s are über desirable, but for legions of Porsche devotees there is something very special about the air cooled models of yesteryear. The Swabian marques’ success in motorsport serves to reinforce the legend of the 911.
Recently, I saw a watch from TAG Heuer that reminded me of the time I once owned a 911. I still remember those Sunday mornings spent driving with the windows down, indulging my ears with the mellifluous sound of the legendary flat-six, while the tachymeter needle moved ever close to the red line. Despite no longer owning a 911, my head still turns when I hear a Swabian thoroughbred gallop by.
TAG x Porsche
In 2021, TAG Heuer and Porsche entered into a ‘strategic brand partnership’. However, this was not the first time both brands had worked together. Indeed, the luxury marques have crossed paths on numerous occasions. For example, Porsche participated in the Monte Carlo Rally and won in three consecutive years from 1968 to 1970 in a race-specification 911. These cars featured Heuer instruments, including a dashboard-mounted chronograph.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye dial
The new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye is inspired by a dashboard timer fitted to the Porsche 911 ‘147’, the first-ever 911 to competitively race in 1965 (I’ll return to this later). It shares much of its DNA with the Carrera ‘glass box’ design, first unveiled in 2023, albeit it looks very different. This 2023 model united rhodium-plated detail with the cerulean hues, imbuing it with a restrained, understated aesthetic. In contrast, the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye combines a black ‘shimmery’ dial with beige and silvery accents along with liberal applications of cherry red. The resultant mien is vibrant, exciting and evokes thoughts of speed.
Facetted rhodium-plated hands, lined with beige Super-LumiNova, team up with applied indexes to indicate the prevailing time. Unlike the inaugural ‘glass box’ model of 2023, there are no slivers of SLN positioned adjacent the indexes. It’s my belief this latest model eschews the lume to afford room for the additional tracks encircling the dial.
The three-counter design features a 30-minute register at 3 o’clock, a small seconds register at 6 o’clock and a 12-hour register at 9 o’clock. While each counter is equipped with a red lacquered hand, the Swiss avant-garde brand has chosen to embrace alternative colours and textures. For example, the counters at 3 and 9 o’clock are snailed (azurage) and fringed with silver tracks, yet the counter at 6 o’clock is smooth and incorporates a date display. This harmonious blend of colours and textures augments eye-appeal without impairing readability.
In common with the Carrera ‘glassbox’ design of 2023, some indications are located on the flange, mitigating dial clutter. However, this new reference eschews the tachymeter scale of the ‘regular’ model, favouring a 60-second/minute track instead. TAG Heuer pays tribute to the Porsche 911 ‘147’ that competed at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1965. This car was capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 8.4 seconds, an impressive figure for the time. This acceleration is celebrated on this new watch with the presence of a red flash on the flange. Other dial markings include a track fringing the dial that proves ideal for measuring fractions of a second.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye case
For many years, the case of the Carrera has been a shining example of considered design. While some watch cases appear to be an afterthought, intended purely to house the mechanical ‘gubbins’, the exterior of the Carrera has always been the product of prolonged consideration.
A few years ago, I spent time with a member of the brand’s design team and discovered the extraordinary amount of thought that goes into each detail. This is manifest with the Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye case. For example, look at the lugs and observe their truncated tips and multi-faceted profile. Now, cast your eye to the area where the lugs approach the bracelet and note how they angle inwards. Then, follow the arc of the lugs and observe how they seem to disappear as the caseband nears the crown as if making extra space for the dial indications. To the casual observer, these refined characteristics may not be immediately apparent; however, they will become obvious after a few weeks of ownership and promise years of post-purchase joy.
When conceiving a watch, the design team gives due consideration to wearer comfort and beauty, especially the way the watch interacts with light. Take a look at the bracelet and case, they feature both fine brushed and polished surfaces, positioned in close proximity, delivering contrast.
In common with said Carrera ‘glass box’ of 2023, the glazing and capstan-style pushpieces make a welcome return albeit, in this instance, the case of the Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye is 3 mm larger.
TAG Heuer Calibre TH20-08 Automatic
It’s fair to say that TAG Heuer has made some incredible chronograph movements over the years. Moreover, in its quest for ‘continuous improvement’, the Swiss marque keeps raising the bar. Consider the specification of the ‘Calibre TH20-08 Automatic’, it’s a fully integrated movement featuring a column-wheel and vertical coupling. This is widely considered as the perfect arrangement for a chronograph, delivering stutter-free starts and proffering a silky pushpiece feel. This particular movement also delivers an impressive power-reserve of 80 hours.
The oscillating mass is openworked, granting superior views of the movement and is styled in the shape of a steering wheel. The bridges are adorned with Côtes de Genève motif and the rotor features snailed decoration.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye – closing remarks
I’m always a tad cynical about watches that are born from two brands collaborating, but since TAG Heuer and Porsche joined their hands in marriage, they’ve created some gorgeous co-branded babies. Moreover, in my opinion, this latest model is probably the prettiest.
This watch does everything you expect from a chronograph. It is legible, precise, comfortable to wear and beautifully presented. Furthermore, TAG Heuer’s thorough approach to design and engineering is evident throughout; traits it shares with the iconic 911.
While I sometimes lament the passing of the good old days, I have to remind myself that life inevitably changes. The Calibre TH20-08 Automatic harnesses all of the know-how amassed since the company was founded in 1860, executed using state of the art machinery and techniques. It serves as a shining exemplar of product advancement. Interestingly, I’ve now succumbed to EV ownership and, surprisingly, I’m thoroughly enjoying the driving experience. Upon reflection, perhaps the combustion engine has had its day, but I still look back at those air cooled engines of the past with great fondness. Indeed, that flash of red, arcing around the flange from 0 to 8.4 evokes thoughts of those sepia-toned Sunday mornings and is just one of several reasons why I love the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye.
Further reading
Technical specification
- Model: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye
- Reference: CBS2015.EB0381 (steel) – limited to 911 pieces
- Reference: CBS2041.EB0382 (3N 18K yellow gold) – limited to 11 pieces
- Case: diameter 42 mm, thickness 14.9 mm, water resistance 10ATM (100 metres), sapphire crystal to front, exhibition caseback.
- Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph
- Movement: Calibre TH20-08 automatic, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz), 33 jewels, power reserve 80 hours
- Strap – (steel): fine brushed, polished steel 3 rows bracelet. Fine brushed, polished steel folding clasp with double safety push-buttons, TAG Heuer shield
- Strap – (3N 18K yellow gold): black perforated calfskin leather strap with beige stitching. Additional light brown perforated calfskin leather strap with beige stitching. Fine brushed, polished 18K 3N solid yellow gold pin buckle, TAG Heuer shield
- Price – (steel): £8,950 (RRP as of 17.5.2025)
- Price – (3N 18K yellow gold): £21,450 (RRP as of 17.5.2025)