Porsche 911 Turbo Turns 50; Here’s How It Evolved

Time flies when you’re driving a Porsche 911 Turbo. Fifty years after the original turbocharged 911 hit the street, it still has an almost gravitational ability to warp space and time and turn everything outside the windshield into a smear of light and colour. There’s just something about turbochargers. They hit different.

Fifty years ago, the Porsche 911 Turbo was one of the most fearsome cars on the road. Today it’s less terrifying, but even more outrageously fast. On the occasion of the Turbo’s 50^th birthday, we’re taking a look back at all eight — yes, eight! — generations of the Turbo to see how this icon evolved.

The Original: 1974 – ‘77

In the beginning, turbochargers was considered dangerous and unreliable. There were plenty of turbocharged racecars, but hardly any turbocharged roadgoing sports cars. Turbos were laggy, giving no power and then a sudden (often disastrous) wallop of power all at once. Porsche got around this issue on the original 911 Turbo by using an ingenious exhaust bypass valve to help the engine deliver more consistent, predictable power in everyday driving situations. A silver 911 Turbo was unveiled to the world at the Frankfurt auto show in September 1973, and the first production cars hit the street in 1974. It had just 265 horsepower from a 3.0-litre flat-six. It did 0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and went on to a top speed of over 250 km/h, but remember this was in the days before electronic safety nets could save bad drivers from themselves. The OG 911 Turbo demanded concentration and respect. Originally, it was intended as a limited-run model, but sales took off and, as we’ll see, Porsche kept on refining the formula.

2^nd Generation: 1977 – ‘90

For the second-gen, Porsche didn’t change too much. The engine got larger, up to 3.3-litres, and it was aided by an air-cooler below the rear spoiler that improved efficiency. Power went up to 296 ponies and 304 lb-ft of torque. The braking system was updated too, with lightweight alloy vented discs. The ‘80s were a decade of excess, and Porsche gave the people what they wanted in the form of the drop-top 1987 Turbo Cabriolet.

3^rd Generation: 1991 – ‘95

Despite the fact emissions standards were getting more strict, Porsche kept upping the bar. The third-gen saw a near total overhaul; some 85 per cent of the parts were new, according to the company. Compared to the regular 911, the chassis was lower and the suspension stiffer. Open up the engine compartment and you’d find an air-cooled 3.3-litre unit good for 314 horsepower. In 1993, Porsche upped the bar again, enlarging the engine to 3.6-litres to crank out 355 hp. (And, yes, it’s one of these third-gen Turbos that Will Smith and Martin Lawrence drive in the first Bad Boys film.)

4^th Generation: 1995 – ‘98

Porsche diehards know it as the 993-generation 911, the last of the air-cooled era. Everyone else is more likely to know it from the famous “Kills bugs fast” advertisement that made the 911 Turbo a household name. In terms of design, the 993 was a radical departure from its predecessors. The signature turbo “whale tail” wing was gone, replaced by a melted-looking blob. But, give the design time and it grows on you. Today it’s a stone-cold stunner. The 3.6-litre engine was fitted with not one but two turbochargers, which dramatically improved response at low rpms. Other technical highlights include lightweight 18-inch hollow-spoke wheels, and (again) lower, stiffer suspension.

5^th Generation: 2000 – ‘06

The Porsche fanatics were really up in arms about this one. The headlights looked like fried eggs, huge air-intakes adorned the flanks, and — shock! horror! — the engine wasn’t cooled by good old-fashioned air but instead by water. Every single part on this car was new, right down to the nuts and bolts. The four-valve, water-cooled engine finally felt modern, and the newfound cooling system helped the engine churn out 414 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. Top speed? Just over 300 km/h. Demand far outstripped expectations, with the factory upping production from 2,500 to 4,000 in the first year. All told, 20,499 examples were built, making this 911 Turbo a smash hit.

6^th Generation: 2006 – ‘12

Fear not, Porsche came to its senses and made the headlights round (well, technically oval) again. The fried eggs were gone. Variable turbine geometry meant an extra 59 horsepower compared to its predecessor. In 2009, the 3.6-litre engine was enlarged to 3.8-litres, making a total of 493 horsepower. All-wheel drive and the option of a seven-speed PDK automatic transmission (as an alternative to the standard six-speed manual) made this an easy car to live with year-round.

7^th Generation: 2013 – ‘19

By this point, the Turbo had become an everyday cruise missile. Porsche’s GT cars had firmly established themselves as the choice for dedicated track rats, so the Turbo became a little bit more plush and luxurious. Rear-wheel steering made it more agile and easier to wheel around a parking lot. Turbo lag was largely eradicated. The sprint to 100 km/h took just 3.0 seconds in the revised 2016 – ’19 model that featured 532 horsepower.

8^th Generation: 2020 – ??

Adaptive suspension, active aerodynamics, more cooling, supercar-sized rear tires and a surprisingly comfortable ride make this an absolute Swiss Army Knife of a car. It’s a jack of all trades, and a master of nearly all of them. Power was up to 573 ponies and the 0-100 km/h sprint dropped to just 2.8 seconds. Where does the Turbo go from here? Well, these days the “Turbo” badge can be found on all kinds of Porsche models, from the Cayenne Turbo SUV, to the Taycan Turbo GT. The latter has over 1,000 horsepower but, despite the “Turbo” moniker, doesn’t have even a single turbocharger (since it’s powered purely by electricity). Nevertheless, the “Turbo” name still carries weight, and the 911 Turbo is still the ultimate everyday 911.

One thing is clear: this isn’t the end of the Porsche 911 Turbo story.

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