1990 Porsche 911 964 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Porsche continues facelift spree with 911 Turbo

If there's ever been automotive case for constant evolution, it is the Porsche 911. It seems like every time a new version of the rear-engined sports car debuts, Porsche is already hard at work on a facelifted version of it that changes some subtle, barely noticeable aspect.
Such is the case with this round of images of a facelifted 911 Turbo, which was seen undergoing winter testing alongside the facelifted, hardtop-version of the 911 Cabriolet we showed you yesterday. The new, 991-based 911 Turbo was just unveiled in May of 2013.
Like the Cabrio from yesterday, both the Turbo and naturally aspirated models shown here feature additional slats at the rear of the car, right behind the rear wheels. These slats on the standard model lend credence to what we learned yesterday - that even the regular 911 models could end up getting turbocharged mills.

Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS caters to a very specific customer [w/video]

Porsche is happy to cater to some very specific buyer demographics, and the brand's newly unveiled 911 Targa 4 GTS at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show is the perfect example of that tendency. The sports coupe is aimed at the customer who wants open-air driving without a full convertible, all-wheel drive traction and a little extra performance, all wrapped in a sporty package. Launching in the US in late-April, 2015, for $132,800, plus a $995 destination charge, this high-performance Targa benefits from all of the goodies from Porsche's GTS line. That gives it a 3.8-liter flat-six boasting 424 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of twist, and the choice of either a seven-speed PDK or seven-speed manual. The model also gets the Sport Chrono package, PASM, 20-inch wheels and a sport exhaust. Picking the PDK means the Targa 4 GTS can hit a top speed of 188 miles per hour and sprint to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Opting for the manual makes the run to 60 take a few more ticks at 4.5 seconds and scarcely cuts the top speed to 187 mph. The Targa 4 GTS is more than just about boosted performance, and shows off some handsome styling tweaks, as well. It wears a modded front bumper with an extra opening to cool the middle radiator. Plus, the wheels are 20-inch units from the 911 Turbo S, and the Bi-Xenon headlights get smoked coverings. Inside, drivers are held firmly in place by Sport Plus seats covered partially in black Alcantara. Porsche apparently sees a hole in its lineup that a higher-performance Targa can fill, and here it is. Look below for a video of intricate top doing its fascinating dance and read the German brand's full press release about the its latest take on the venerable 911. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. The new 911 Targa 4 GTS More powerful, dynamic and exquisitely styled To mark the 50th anniversary of the 911 Targa, Porsche is offering this very popular model in the more powerful and dynamic GTS version for the first time. The targa concept of the 911 Targa 4 GTS delivers very safe driving enjoyment with all-wheel drive and a rollover protection bar; it also delivers open-air fun with a targa top that stows fully automatically. Contributing to a boost in dynamic performance are the 430 hp (316 kW) GTS engine together with the standard Sport Chrono package, PASM chassis, 20-inch wheels and a sport exhaust system.

Porsche resurrects V8-powered 911 prototype from the Eighties

These days, we take it for granted that the Porsche 911 uses a flat-six engine. That's because every version of the iconic rear-engined sports car has had one. Right? Well, for the most part. There was the 912 that joined the original in the late Sixties with a flat-four. And in the mid-Eighties, Porsche toyed around with the idea of a V8-powered 911.
After the first-generation 911 had been in production for over two decades, Porsche began development of its successor, the 964, in the 1980s. And one of its ideas was to use a V8 engine. So it took a 964, borrowed a V8 from Audi, gave it the rear bodywork from a 959 and dubbed it the 965.
The idea was to create a more affordable successor to the 959 that included its advanced all-wheel drive system and active suspension. The Audi V8 would have been replaced with one of Porsche's own design - possibly based on the it had built for Indy racing - but Dr. Ulrich Bez (who was then head of Porsche R&D long before taking the reins at Aston Martin) ultimately killed the project.