Porsche 968 is basically the successor of the Porsche 944. It has a low nose and wide wheel arches that helps accentuating the beautiful lines of this classic shape that in a Porsche Guards Red is a real head turner. It has also the classic GT front engine, rear wheel drive layout with the added advantage of a rear transaxle giving almost perfect weight distribution.
Instead of the hidden headlights of the 944, the 968 has visible pop-up headlights, similar to the Porsche 928. This brings the look of the car in-line with the new Porsche 997-911. This change has also a practical advantage: the headlights can be washed along with the rest of the car instead of having to pop them up to wash them.
As for the interior, it remains the same as produced in the 944, keeping the famous oval dash. The designers used the same robust materials which have given all Porsche owners many years of trouble-free motoring.
The exterior has a few differences: the door mirrors have been streamlined with the tear drop effect and the wheels have 5 spoke Cup design alloys. The rear bumper is more blended and with integral rear light clusters, making it almost indistinguishable from the bodywork. All these bodywork changes made the 968 look a lot like the 928, and added the engine heritage, some people have referred to it as the daughter of 928.
The engine is a version of the one first used on the 944 S2: it is a 4-cylinder, 3-liter, 16-valve unit. And they added VarioCam for optimum power throughout the speed range. It has 240 HP at 6200 rpm and a torque of 305 Nm at 4100 rpm, given by the improved combustion chamber and inlet manifold design. At the time of production, it was a remarkable engine, having the highest displacement per cylinder of any car engine and also the highest torque output of any unblown 3-liter engine. Clearly, the result of Porsches investment in this engine paid off.
The rear-mounted gearbox is a 6-speed manual or 4-speed tiptronic. It is the first ever mounted on a production car. The chassis has almost perfect weight distribution and very stiff characteristics.
Usually, most cars start to fail when it comes to breaks and the reason is that it doesn’t matter how fast the car is in a straight line if you cant take a bend (turn) at the right safe speed. But Porsche brakes have always been the envy of most road sports car manufacturers. You will notice little or no or no discernable fatigue even under harsh use of Porsche 968. ABS adds even more safety to the already excellent braking system. Also, what makes the brakes so effective is that the wheels themselves are designed to prevent the tire from coming off the rim in the event of a sudden pressure loss.
The Porsche 968 carried on the legacy of the 944 while incorporating design and engineering cues that brought it closer to the 928. With its near-perfect weight distribution, advanced transaxle layout, and refined styling, the 968 was an impressive evolution of Porsche’s front-engine lineage. Many enthusiasts even refer to it as the “daughter of the 928,” given their similarities in design and engineering philosophy.
The 928 and 968 share a unique place in Porsche’s history as front-engine, grand touring sports cars that offered balance, comfort, and high-speed stability. While the 928 featured a V8 and was intended to redefine Porsche’s future, the 968 perfected the formula of the four-cylinder transaxle platform. Both cars stand as reminders of Porsche’s willingness to innovate beyond the traditional rear-engine setup. Today, maintaining and restoring these models requires specialized knowledge, ensuring that they continue to deliver the performance and driving experience that Porsche intended.
Thank you for taking the time with me to learn more about what Don Fenton, the Porsche 928 whisperer, can do for you.
Sincerely,
Don Fenton
(AKA) 928 Done Right
For more information on Porsche 928 maintenance, repair, or restoration in the greater Austin area (or beyond), please contact your premiere 928 mechanic, Don Fenton, AKA Mr. 928 Done Right – Porsche 928 repairs and restoration of Austin, because Don ensures any repairs get Done Right the first time!
📞 Call us now for a free estimate! (737) 900-8179
🌐 Visit us at www.928DoneRight.com
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