The first 911 Turbo was unveiled at the Paris Auto Show in 1975. This version of the 911 was at the top of the range and was known internally as the 930. The 12cm wider 911 featured flared rear wings and a black rubber border on the lid of the rear wing. In 1987, the Turbo model was expanded to include a Targa and Cabriolet version.
Next up was the 924 Turbo with 170 hp, which slotted between the 924 and the 911 SC in terms of performance. It was recognisable from it’s four air openings between the headlights and the vertical air slots in the front apron. The rear lid had a black rear spoiler beneath the glass window; this feature was also seen on the 944 Turbo which was launched in 1985. The 944 Turbo had a 2.5-litre turbo engine which generated an incredible 220 hp, and when Porsche brought out the 944 Turbo S model, that power output went up to 250 hp due to a larger turbocharger.
The third Turbo model that Porsche produced was the 911 964 Turbo, which were different from the Carrera models by the distinctively wider wheel arches. During the model years 1991-1992, the 911 964 Turbo housed a turbocharged 3.3-litre engine that produced 320 hp, which was increased to 360 hp when in 1993 the engine was upgraded to a 3.6-litre unit. The 964 Turbo had a very limited run of Cabriolet models, so if you spot one, be sure to take a photo of this rare beast!
Spoiler Alert
With a rear spoiler painted in the exterior colour, the 911 993 Turbo had the first twin-turbocharged engine, and was the first Turbo model to feature all-wheel drive. The 3.6-litre bi-turbo engine was powered by one smaller turbocharger in each cylinder bank. Similar to the 964 Turbo Cabriolet, the 993 Turbo had a limited run of only 14 units of a 911 993 Turbo Cabriolet. The 911 996 Turbo was the first 911 to buck this trend and created the first mass-produced Turbo Cabriolet in 2004. The 996 Turbo was also the first 911 Turbo with a water-cooled engine. The 3.6-litre flat-6 had a power output of 414 hp and was available with a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed tiptronic transmission.
The iconic 997 Turbo is one of the most sought after 911 Turbo models. It made its debut in February 2006 at the Geneva Motor Show and boasted a top speed of 193 mph. Key elements of the 911 997 Turbo were made from aluminum which made it an impressive 41kg lighter than its predecessor. The 473 hp engine produced 680 Nm of torque when using the Sport Chrono package overboost and can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 3.7 seconds with the 5-speed Tiptronic S transmission. The Cabriolet version came out in 2007, and was noticeably able to achieve similar top speeds to the Coupe, despite Cabriolet models usually facing aerodynamic and weight issues which lead to them being slower.
Info republished from: www.dicklovett.co.uk
