Porsche 993 Turbo WLS 1

The first 911 Turbo, the 930 born in the mid-70s, was neither a tame nor an easy car. Its mechanical potential quickly deterred inexperienced drivers who were intimidated by the sudden surge of power from the turbocharger. Over time and across generations, the 911 Turbo remained wild, reserved for a select few thrill-seekers.

However, in 1987, the 959 offered, at an astronomical price, an unprecedented level of performance for the 911, with all-wheel drive and a 450-horsepower twin-turbo engine. Extremely rare and short-lived, it nonetheless paved the way for the evolution of the species, leading to the 993 Bi-Turbo.

The concept should have emerged earlier with the 965 project, intended to become the Porsche 969 alongside the 964. Unfortunately, due to economic constraints, Porsche had to settle for the 965 as we know it, with rear-wheel drive and a single turbo. As its career reached its twilight, the air-cooled flat-six still had more to offer Porsche customers. In 1995, for all sports car enthusiasts, the new 993 Turbo once again set the benchmark in its category. The German magazine Auto Motor und Sport named the 993 Bi-Turbo “Sports Car of the Year.”

The 993 Turbo retained a reliable and robust mechanical foundation while introducing several innovations, including twin-turbocharging—a first for a production car. The boost pressure of the KKK turbos reached a maximum of 0.8 bar. The compression ratio was 8.0:1. Fully managed by a Bosch Motronic M5.2 injection system, the flat-six produced 408 hp at 5,750 rpm, with a torque of 540 Nm at 4,500 rpm—80% of which was available from 2,600 to 6,000 rpm. The engine’s impressive efficiency reached 113 hp/L and 150 Nm/L. Later, this power evolved further with an engine kit, bringing output to 430 hp and 59 kgm of torque.

Power was transmitted to all four wheels via an innovative 6-speed gearbox featuring double-cone synchronization on the first two gears. The hydraulically assisted clutch travel was also reduced.

Despite weighing around 1,500 kg, the 993 Turbo remained the fastest production 911 of its time. Its top speed reached 290 km/h! And for acceleration enthusiasts, it effortlessly launched from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, covering the standing kilometer in 23 seconds. Certainly, the 911 Turbo did not set records in power, speed, or acceleration. But thanks to its all-wheel drive and ease of handling, it excelled in balance, versatility, and usability—rare virtues in the realm of super sports cars.