The Porsche 911 is a well known sports car made by Porsche AG of Germany. The 911 was first introduced in 1964 and has been continually updated since then. The 911 is most well known for its rear engine in addition to the Type 996 introduced in 1999 that is air cooled. The Porsche 911 is known for being a great car for the roads, for racing, as well as rallying and other automotive competition. Many would argue that the Porsche 911 is the best competition car ever mass-produced.
The 911 was originally developed as a replacement for the 356 that would offer more power, space, and comfort. The car was first seen at the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung or the Frankfurt motor show. The 911 was first equipped with a 130 PS six cylinder engine in the boxer configuration, which was rear mounted and air cooled. While the car had four seats, it's generally thought of as a two-seater car because the rear seats are quite small.
In 1966 the 911 was given a power boost with the power raised to 160 PS. Alloy wheels were also added to the 911 in addition to a unique five-leaf design. The next year Porsche introduced the Targa version, which had a removable roof panel, a plastic rear window, and a stainless steel roll bar.
The power for the 1970 model of the 911 was increased again to 2195 cc. The engine was a 2.2-liter and was considered a "secret weapon" that would drive the 911 sales. In 1972 a 2.4-liter engine replaced the 2.2-liter. Porsche also added fuel injection in the cars that were sold in the U.S. market. Porsche also did a lot during this time to improve the handling of the 911 by relocating the oil tank to improve balancing and in effect, handling. Porsche also added a spoiled under the front bumper to help stability during high speed.
From 1974 until 1977 Porsche added the 2.7-liter engine for the mainstream 911. The new cars had more bulky bumpers in the front and the year, as well as an updated interior. From 1975 through 1989 the 911 Type 930, a turbo variant was offered. This model has wide wheel arches and tires, a distinctive rear spoiler, and up to a 3.3-liter engine. By the time its production was over, the turbo variant was equipped with a five speed manual transmission. From 1984 until 1989 the 911 Carrera was introduced and was powered by a 3.2-liter engine. The power was increased with this model, it was equipped with better brakes, was more reliable, and was simply more refined.
Type 964 was produced from 1989 until 1994 and was a major evolution for the 911. The car offered four-wheel drive. Porsche also made coil springs, ABS brakes, and power steering standard. The engine was increased again to a 3600 cc and produced 250 PS. From 1995 until 1998 the type 993 was sold and offered a sleek body type to consumers. From 1999-2004 the type 996 was produced as a late 1999 model. This model was another evolution for the 911 as it was totally different than previous generations. The new unit had a water-cooled engine, which was a new 3.4-liter. Though there were some positive changes, the new model received a lot of criticism.
The 911 type 997 was sold from 2005 until the present time. The new car has head lights similar to the 911s of the past. A turbo version of the car is slated to be released during the summer months of 2006. The car provides 480 horsepower and retails at just under $123,000.
