The Porsche 911. The sum of its predecessors.

22/4/2020

The 911 is a sports car icon which has fascinated us for nearly 60 years. The harmonious overall concept, timeless design and unique technical layout are just as present in the 992 as they were in the 901 back in 1963. It is a true thoroughbred sports car which also meets the challenges of everyday driving.

Now in its eighth generation, the 911 stays true to its values whilst embracing new technological designs. The silhouette: iconic. The design: timeless. The technology: inspired by great racing victories and always one step ahead.

To different people, the 911 will mean different things and evoke different memories. However, the 911 is describe by many as a timeless machine and the new 992 as a sum of its predecessors. Let’s take a look at some of the iconic 911s of the past which have helped to shape the future.

901 (1963)

Based on the Porsche 356, this was the original 911. It maintained the 356's fastback design and utilized an air-cooled flat-six that produced130 bhp.

911 Targa (1965)

Porsche introduced the innovative Targa in 1965. The prominent, protective roll bar defined this design, and the roof panel between it and the windshield could be removed, creating an open-air experience for the driver.

911 RS 2.7 (1973)

Ten years after Porsche introduced the 911, the renowned Carrera RS was introduced. Designed as a race car for the FIA Group 4 class, the flat-six was increased to 2.7 litres. producing 210 bhp. The name "Carrera" came from the Carrera Pan-Americana Race in Mexico during the early 1950s.

911 Turbo (1975)

The first turbocharged 911 was launched in 1975 and was an immediate hit. The Turbo made 260 bhp from a 3.0 litre turbocharged engine. People were drawn to the car's wide hips and big rear wing. At the time, it was the fastest production car in Germany.

996 GT3 (1999)

In 1999, Porsche introduced the GT3. A regular production trim of the 911 with a 3.6 litre naturally aspirated flat-six that produced 355 bhp. This was the same engine shared with the 996 Turbo and was derived from the Le Mans racer, the 911 GT1.

997 GT3 (2007)

The 997 GT3 was introduced in 2007 and featured incredible acceleration (0-60 in 4.1 seconds) and a top speed of 193 mph. In addition to this, it featured "zero lift" aerodynamics, which increased stability through automatic ride height adjustment. Altogether, this helped to produce 415 bhp, allowing Porsche test driver, Walter Röhrl, to lap the Nürburgring in 2006 in just 7:42 minutes.

991 Carrera (2013)

For the 991 generation, Porsche lengthened the standard 911 by 2.2 inches and grew its wheelbase by 3.9 inches. The front track was widened by 2.0 inches. It was also a car of firsts. It was the first 911 to be made mostly of aluminium, and the first sports car to be fitted with a seven-speed manual gearbox. The 991 features torque vectoring systems, also a 911 first.

991.2 GT2 RS (2018)

Porsche brought back the hardcore GT2 RS trim for the first time since the 997-generation in 2011, and with a 700-horsepower twin-turbo flat-six, it is certainly deserving of the name.

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