Porsche 911 Turbo

  The birth of the Porsche 911 dates back to 1963, but it was not until the second generation of 911s (G-series 930) in August 1974 that we first saw the production of the 911 turbo variant. In 1974 the all-new turbo variant was equipped with a 3 liter 6 cylinder engine, while costing $36,000 (roughly $230,000 today). 

The next generation of the 911 began in late 1989 and ended in 1994 and was deemed the 964 generation. The 964 generation featured a new chassis design, 5-speed manual transmission, improved handling, power steering, and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System). The 964 turbo in the early years of the generation had a 3.3-liter turbocharged engine however in the early to mid-90s we saw the release of the turbo 3.6. This high-end model costed $99,000 (roughly $210,000 today). The Porsche 964 is known as the most rare of the seven 911 generations with only 63,000 cars being produced. The turbo 3.3 variant saw 3,660 cars produced, while the turbo 3.6 had fewer than 1,500 units making it the most sought-after Porsche 911 spec in the world. 

The Porsche 993 generation began in 1994 and ended in 1998. This new generation featured all-wheel drive, a 6-speed manual gearbox, a special multi-link rear suspension setup, and larger brakes with better cooling systems. The 993 turbo had a 3.6 liter flat-six engine with two smaller turbochargers instead of one big one. Porsche did minor bodywork to better integrate the rear wing into the car making it more aerodynamic while creating stronger downforce. The 993 turbo had a sticker price of $105,000 (roughly $217,000 today). Although the 993 generation may not be the most rare number-wise, it was the last generation of the air-cooled 911 ever made, making it a rare collector’s piece. 

The Porsche 996 was introduced in 1998 and ended in 2005. It retained the twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six engine, but Porsche created an all-new chassis system, introduced Porsche Stability Management (PSM), and launched the first 911 with water-cooled engines. The 996 turbo had a starting price of $112,600 (roughly $206,000 today). 

During the years 2005 to 2012 the Porsche 997 generation was produced.  This option used an improved version of the 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine but introduced Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG) turbos which reduced the turbo lag and improved the responsiveness. Porsche offered the Tiptronic S automatic transmission with improved shifting times compared to past generations, but the 6-speed manual remained the favorite option for enthusiasts. Towards the end of the generation Porsche introduced a revolutionary transmission called Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) which was the fastest transmission on the whole market, never required clutch replacements, and included the launch control feature. The braking systems were yet again greatly improved, and an upgrade for PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes) alos was offered. A standard on all 997 turbo specs was Active Suspension Management (PASM) which would adjust the car’s suspension based on driving conditions. The previous generation 996 lacked this suspension system, making the 997 a true daily driver and track day car. Porsche listened to their customer’s criticism over the 996 generation and produced the 997 turbo with the traditional round headlights, a new rear wing, and improved air intake on the body. The 997 turbo had a starting price of $132,700 (roughly $200,000 today).  The 997 generation is very iconic as it is the final era that produced the manual transmission in the turbo spec making it a rare collector’s piece. 

The Porsche 991 era started in 2011, but was split into two subcategories: the first being the 991.1 which occurred from 2011 to 2015, and the second the 991.2 from 2015-2018. The 991 generation saw the first time Porsche did not offer the 6-speed manual transmission in the turbo spec as all cars were equipped with the PDK transmission. The new car saw a power increase with the introduction of the 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine. Porsche made the body design slightly bigger to increase interior comfort while reducing the overall weight. The 991 turbo introduced PDCC (Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control) which improved cornering abilities and overall handling at higher speeds. Rear wheel steering was also added to enhance control on turns and improve stability at higher speeds. Porsche introduced active aerodynamics which would automatically adjust front and rear spoilers to provide maximum downforce. The 991.1 turbo in 2011 had a starting price of $151,000 (roughly $212,000 today). Throughout the 7th generation of the 911 Porsche, they have delivered 234,000 units making it the least rare generation of them all.

The Porsche 992 era began in 2018 and is currently the generation of today, which will most likely close soon. Porsche kept all the same systems from the previous 991, but the chassis was slightly wider, PASM was refined, and rear-axle steering was updated. The transmission was an 8-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, compared to the 7-speed PDK in the 991. In 2018, the 992 generation had the starting price for a 911 turbo at $164,000 (roughly $206,000 today). 

The 2024 Porsche 911 Turbo 50 years edition recently was released onto the website to help commemorate the Porsche 911s rich history. Throughout those 50 years, the turbo has been a part of seven generations of 911s. The company did a great job featuring commemorative badging, exclusive colors, and a retro inspired interior. The car has a starting price of $261,100 and is limited to 1,974 units to help pay respect to the original year of the 911 turbo. Despite the higher price compared to previous 911 turbo this definitely will be a very sought after vehicle for which only the most prestigious Porsche owners will have the chance to snag an allocation.