It was in 1973 that the initial Porsche Turbo prototype was put on display at a number of shows in Europe. The following year, the 911 turbo was released in the market, having a 260 BHP engine with a capacity of 3 litres. Think about this for a second; a road car displaying 260 horse power and a 3000cc engine. It was a luxurious car that had electric windows, tinted glass, air conditioning, Bilstein shocks, leather interior, and headlamp washers. Only 500 models were initially made, but it was so popular that more than 1,000 units were sold. This showed Porsche that the turbo was not going to be a short-lived model.
There are a number of its features that impressed the customers, which included big tyres with wide wheels and large rear wing. The wide wheels gave better road holding capability, while the large rear wing enhanced the aesthetics. In addition to its powerful engine, the turbo made the 911 the fastest 911 ever.
There were a number of additional improvements in the model by 1978, such as a bigger engine of 3.3 litres, which resulted in 40 BHP more. The rear wing was likewise modified, doing away with two different grilles. In their stead, use was made of a single large smooth surface that was slightly elevated to give space for an intercooler.
As a result of the 2nd energy crunch, however, the turbo was removed from the markets in Japan and America in 1979. It was not until 1986 that the turbo was again brought back to America. The company displayed its Turbo S at the motor show in Geneva in 1992, whose engine produced 381 BHP. The turbo weighed in at 120kg, still allowing the Turbo S to be a fast car. Just 80 Turbo S models were produced.
1993 saw another increase in the capacity of the engine, reaching 3.6 litres, and its Turbo 3.6 badge made it easy to notice. Note that the meaning of 3.6 litres is that the engine has a cylinder capacity [cc] of 3,600cc.
Yet another model was introduced in 1996, which was designed from the 993 series. The 4-wheel drive had an engine delivering 408 BHP, with a 6-speed gearbox. Its rear wing, which was less evocative, made the model look elegant. The diameter of its wheels is 18 inches, and there are five hollow spokes that help in reducing the weight by about 20%. The brakes get even more power from the cooling air driven to them by the air ducts in the front wing. It takes just 2.6 seconds to stop the car from a speed of 100 km/h, hence making it a safe automobile.
