When Porsche put the engine in the front
The 944 was part of Porsche's strategic effort to create a replacement for the 911. Following Volkswagen's smash success with the bubble-top successor, the Golf, Porsche began production of its first front-engined car. First the 924 from the 1977 model year, then the 928 from 1978. The Porsche 944 didn't come until 1982, as a follow-up to the 924. I've read that Porsche was seriously considering phasing out its air-cooled, rear-engined models.
Model history
The Porsche 944 is a 2+2 seater produced between 1982 and 1991. It has a front-centre 2,5 liter inline four. Clutch and 5-speed gearbox are mounted at the rear axle (transaxle). The engine produces 163 HP and has a maximum torque of 205 Nm at 3000 revolutions. 0-100 is stated to be 8,3 seconds and the top speed is 222 km/h. The model received a facelift in 1985 with an improved interior and more modern dashboard. The model range was expanded with a turbo version. Later, in 1987-89, the 944 S came with 190 HP. Then the 944 S2 with 3 liters and 211 HP. Cabriolet versions have also been produced.
About the pictures
The red car in the main image was photographed at a Porsche meet at Rudskogen. The grey metallic 944 was photographed at Fornebu outside Oslo. The blue, street-parked car was photographed in Kensington, London. The black 944 Turbo was photographed outside AutoXO Sport's former shop at Ramstad outside Oslo. The Rothmans-clad car was photographed in the Pyrenees-Orientales in southern France in connection with a hillclimb for classic cars. The red car in profile at a parking lot was photographed outside a car meet in Perpignan, France. The red, street-parked car was photographed while standing in Manglerud, Oslo in 2025.
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