Porsche Gallery: The 911
Next week Porsche will pull the wraps of its facelifted 911. The legendary sportscar will feature subtly updated looks and host of mechanical tweaks. But the big news will be the hi-tech new dual-clutch gearbox that will be making its debut on the rear-engined sportster.
The newcomer will represent 35 years of continual development of the famous 911, dating back to the car's debut at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show.
We take a look back at some of the highlights of this remarkable motor.
997 GT2
There have been some ferocious 911s over the years, but the 997 GT2 is perhaps the most intimidating. Effectively a 911 Turbo but with more power and rear-wheel drive, it's about as driver-focused as supercars get. The GT2 features a 530bhp version of the 3.6-litre twin-turbocharged flat six and is the first 911 to ever officially exceed 200mph. It can do 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds and accelerate from 0-100mph in just 7.4 seconds. The price? A cool Pounds131,000
996 GT3
The first of the now famous GT3 models was built to allow Porsche to go endurance racing - and heralded the launch of a driver oriented special edition that was universally recognised as one of the best performance cars of its era. Powered by an engine derived from the incredible GT1 Le Mans car it set new standards for handling and drivability
964 RS
When journalists first tested the stripped-out 964 RS at the super smooth Hockenheim circuit in Germany, it was hailed as a revelation. However, that was before they took it public roads, where its super stiff suspension set-up made it almost undriveable on bumpy tarmac. Nevertheless, the combination of a 260bhp engine, low weight and brakes from the 964 Turbo made it an awesome tool. On the right road of course
RUF CTR
Although it's based on a 1987 911 3.2 Carrera, the RUF isn't technically a Porsche. The small German firm is a manufacturer in its own right due to the amount of modification it carries out on cars. This is its first effort and was nicknamed 'Yellowbird'. Fitted with a twin-turbocharged 3.4-litre motor, it was capable of hitting 0-60mph in 4.0 seconds, before scorching on to a top speed in excess of 200mph.
959
Is this the ultimate 911? Built to compete in the fearsome Group B rally class, the 959 was a technological tour-de-force. Arriving in 1987 at the same time as its arch-rival, the Ferrari F40, it made the Italian supercar look almost backward with four-wheel-drive, a 450bhp 2.8-litre twin-turbocharged flat six-cylinder engine and adaptive dampers. It could do 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds and hit a top speed of 197mph, yet also featured a luxurious cabin Just over 300 were produced.
Walter R ???
930 Turbo
Officially, the first production turbocharged 911 - and a car that cemented the firm's reputation for building fearsome drivers cars. With just four gears and a single turbo, the car is most famous for its enormous rear wing, huge tyres and blistered wheel arches. Capable of producing 300bhp, the engine was renowned for its savage power delivery and challenging handling.
911 2.7 RS
Revered by many as the best 911, the RS was based on the 2.4-litre 911 S but featured a bigger 2.7-litre engine developing 210bhp, the famous 'ducktail' rear spoiler, stiffened suspension, bigger brakes and wider tyres. Some 1,580 were made, just 200 in Lightweight guise which had extra thin glass and steel to help trim the weight to only 975kg(2,145lbs). These days prices for 911 2.7 RS models start at Pounds150,000
901
The 911 legend started in 1963 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Designed by Ferdinand Porsche's son Butzi, the car featured a rear-mounted, air-cooled 2.0-litre flat-six motor, a five-speed manual gearbox and 2+2 seating. But at its expo debut the newcomer was badged as a 901. Peugeot protested, claiming it had the rights to all three-digit numbers with a zero in the middle. So the 911 was born.
The newcomer will represent 35 years of continual development of the famous 911, dating back to the car's debut at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show.
We take a look back at some of the highlights of this remarkable motor.
997 GT2
There have been some ferocious 911s over the years, but the 997 GT2 is perhaps the most intimidating. Effectively a 911 Turbo but with more power and rear-wheel drive, it's about as driver-focused as supercars get. The GT2 features a 530bhp version of the 3.6-litre twin-turbocharged flat six and is the first 911 to ever officially exceed 200mph. It can do 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds and accelerate from 0-100mph in just 7.4 seconds. The price? A cool Pounds131,000
996 GT3
The first of the now famous GT3 models was built to allow Porsche to go endurance racing - and heralded the launch of a driver oriented special edition that was universally recognised as one of the best performance cars of its era. Powered by an engine derived from the incredible GT1 Le Mans car it set new standards for handling and drivability
964 RS
When journalists first tested the stripped-out 964 RS at the super smooth Hockenheim circuit in Germany, it was hailed as a revelation. However, that was before they took it public roads, where its super stiff suspension set-up made it almost undriveable on bumpy tarmac. Nevertheless, the combination of a 260bhp engine, low weight and brakes from the 964 Turbo made it an awesome tool. On the right road of course
RUF CTR
Although it's based on a 1987 911 3.2 Carrera, the RUF isn't technically a Porsche. The small German firm is a manufacturer in its own right due to the amount of modification it carries out on cars. This is its first effort and was nicknamed 'Yellowbird'. Fitted with a twin-turbocharged 3.4-litre motor, it was capable of hitting 0-60mph in 4.0 seconds, before scorching on to a top speed in excess of 200mph.
959
Is this the ultimate 911? Built to compete in the fearsome Group B rally class, the 959 was a technological tour-de-force. Arriving in 1987 at the same time as its arch-rival, the Ferrari F40, it made the Italian supercar look almost backward with four-wheel-drive, a 450bhp 2.8-litre twin-turbocharged flat six-cylinder engine and adaptive dampers. It could do 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds and hit a top speed of 197mph, yet also featured a luxurious cabin Just over 300 were produced.
Walter R ???
930 Turbo
Officially, the first production turbocharged 911 - and a car that cemented the firm's reputation for building fearsome drivers cars. With just four gears and a single turbo, the car is most famous for its enormous rear wing, huge tyres and blistered wheel arches. Capable of producing 300bhp, the engine was renowned for its savage power delivery and challenging handling.
911 2.7 RS
Revered by many as the best 911, the RS was based on the 2.4-litre 911 S but featured a bigger 2.7-litre engine developing 210bhp, the famous 'ducktail' rear spoiler, stiffened suspension, bigger brakes and wider tyres. Some 1,580 were made, just 200 in Lightweight guise which had extra thin glass and steel to help trim the weight to only 975kg(2,145lbs). These days prices for 911 2.7 RS models start at Pounds150,000
901
The 911 legend started in 1963 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Designed by Ferdinand Porsche's son Butzi, the car featured a rear-mounted, air-cooled 2.0-litre flat-six motor, a five-speed manual gearbox and 2+2 seating. But at its expo debut the newcomer was badged as a 901. Peugeot protested, claiming it had the rights to all three-digit numbers with a zero in the middle. So the 911 was born.
Maybe one day.
