1986 Porsche 944 Coupe

Description

Launched in 1982, Porsche’s 944 was everything the 924 should have been, with more muscular styling and an engine developed in-house by Zuffenhausen’s engineers. The 944’s heart was a sophisticated 2.5-litre all-alloy four that was essentially half the 928’s V8, fitted with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection and Digital Motor Electronics (DME) to control the ignition timing. With two valves per cylinder and a 10.6:1 compression ratio, the 2479cc four developed 163bhp at 5800rpm and a maximum torque figure of 151lb/ft at 3000rpm. Driving through a five-speed manual transmission (although there was an automatic option), the 944 was capable of reaching 137 mph and could reach 62 mph in just 8.4 seconds. Four ventilated discs provided more than adequate stopping power, while fully independent suspension endowed the new model with excellent handling characteristics. The 944 proved a smash hit, allowing a whole new generation to enjoy Porsche ownership, and more than 110,000 were built before the revised S2 appeared in 1989.