968 Series

The way the 968 Coupe and Cabriolet used to be

The Porsche 968 defines the essence of a thoroughbred sports car in just two simple words. Coupe. Cabriolet. You always told yourself that someday you'd drive a Porsche. The only question is, which one? If you're considering the 968, you're looking at a Porsche of magnificent performance and profound safety engineering. But you're still faced with the agonizing question, which one? Coupe. Or Cabriolet.

968 Series Features

Buying a Porsche is a decision based both on sound reasoning and pure emotion.

Take for example, the 968's 3.0-liter, 236-horsepower aluminum alloy engine. Considered to be a masterpiece of engineering logic, its performance is nonetheless a soul-stirring experience. Generating peak torque of 225 Ib-ft at 4,100 rpm, it is the first normally aspirated engine to produce 75 Ib-ft of torque per liter. The 968 Coupe equipped with the six-speed manual transmission can record zero to 60 times of 6.3 seconds and race track top speeds of 156 mph. The torque-rich throttle response is matched by a remarkable smoothness, thanks in part to counterrotating balance shafts that quell vibration. The engine idles quietly in traffic, cruises effortlessly on the highway, and revs seamlessly to its 6,700 rpm redline. Perhaps most impressive of all, the 968 powerplant also returns excellent fuel economy and produces impressively low emissions. Clearly, here is a sports car engine carefully engineered to be both powerful and pragmatic.

More irrefutable engineering logic: Porsche's VarioCam™ system adjusts the 968 engine's intake valve timing for maximum power and minimum emissions. Below 1,500 rpm, the intake camshaft automatically advances to help reduce hydrocarbon emissions. Above 1,500 rpm, the intake valve timing automatically retards to produce maximum midrange torque - peak torque is 225 Ib-ft at just 4,100 rpm, far below redline. And above 5,500 rpm, the timing is again advanced for optimum efficiency power. Another toss-up: The 968's close-ratio six-speed manual transmission. Or the optional Porsche Tiptronic, a revolutionary four-speed automatic. Either way, you'll drive the 968 the way you always dreamed of driving a Porsche.

There is no substitute for the delights of a true open roadster.

So long as it is engineered like a Porsche 968 Cabriolet. Over 50 strategically placed reinforcing panels were added to the body of the 968 Cabriolet to ensure that its performance, stability and riding comfort would accurately mirror that of the 968 Coupe. It's all there: The crisp, disciplined handling that is the hallmark of a Porsche. The solidity and substance that comes from lessons learned in over four decades of endurance racing. The only thing that's missing is the Coupe's shiny hardtop. Not that it matters - each 968 Cabriolet top consists of four beautifully tailored layers and is individually hand-fitted, one car at a time. Raising or lowering the top requires only the engagement or disengagement of two convenient latches, and the simple push of a button.

Drive either the 968 Coupe or the 968 Cabriolet and you cannot fail to be impressed by the confidence they inspire. You'll feel an attachment between yourself, the car, and the road that is at the essence of the Porsche driving experience. The foundation of this feeling is a front engine, rear transaxle design unique to Porsche. By placing the transmission housing at the rear axle, Porsche engineers distributed the car's weight to achieve an ideal 50/50 weight balance. The result is a sports car that turns in without hesitation, adheres to the road tenaciously, and communicates its intentions with absolute clarity. Highly refined - power-assisted steering reduces effort without nullifying road feel or handling feedback. Yet, for all its aggressive handling prowess, the 968's ride is unruffled, even over harsh pavement. Those desiring a more aggressive approach to handling may order a sport suspension option that includes 17-inch wheels, adjustable shock absorbers, stiffer spring rates and more massive brakes derived from the 928 Series.