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ACT III... AND EPILOGUE
Between bastard 924 and one unsaleable 928, 944 remainder for Porsche, the most beautiful success of the range with front engine. In 1991, the small manufacturer tried to give a succession to his best-seller. But this time, the miraculous formula had a too strong taste of heated and the customers moved towards a competition which had sharpened its weapons better. However, today still, Porsche 968 is not free from qualities, quite to the contrary...
Text: Sebastien DUPUIS - Photographs: D.R.
Porsche is a manufacturer with share in the car industry, whose image and whole notoriety are due to only one model: 911. Embarrassed by a problematic renewal of his range, Porsche tries at the end of the Seventies to leave himself the "whole 911" whose design and sales acknowledge their limits. In 1975, épopée beginbegins then from the front engine with the 928 which will know more bottom than tops. Then, it is finally by the bottom of its range that Porsche will succeed in imposing the front engine, with the 924, project launched in common with Volkswagen, then in a more convincing way with the 944 which will be a memorable and saving success for the firm of Stuttgart. In 1991, the whole of range 944 is replaced by the 968. It will be the third and last act of the history of "small Porsche with front four-cylinder motor", begun almost 20 years earlier with the 924.
PRESENTATION
Technically, the 968 rests on a basis of 944 whose hull is always pressed at Karmann. Even if it received a certain number of installation, the 968 comparable with one S2 is 944 restylée. For better integrating this true distorts innovation with the range in progress, Porsche skilfully mixes the old one and the new one, although the whole keeps the identity of the 944 clearly. One gives him fires before rounds and a new shield similar to those of the 928, rétros and Cup rims as on the 911 type 964, of the new rear lights and a more discrete aileron. Very typified, Porsche 968 is an authentic half-compartment of sport. The places postpone are symbolic systems and the trunk under which is it limps speed offers only one reduced filing space. Its well finished cockpit takes as a starting point the the 911 and has provided enough equipment. But at the time, it was also often necessary to turn to the interminable list of the options... In series one lays out of 2 airbags, ABS, the adjustment of the electric seats, etc. One has even cover-luggage for hatchback. By the same occasion, splendid convertible 944 had succeeded in being a successor who was introduced besides at the same time as the half-compartment. The hood, insulated particularly well, is unfolded electrically in 20 seconds, once the two bolts on the level of the freed windshields. Unfortunately, it still does not disappear completely and "piles up", a little with old, on the trunk. To mask it, cover-hoods it settles manually, which then takes more than one additional minute. However, convertible 968 does not miss pace and its line is even with the eyes of much, more pleasant than that of the half-compartment with its side rear window not very aesthetic.
ENGINE
Under the long cap of Porsche 968 the "4 legs" 3 liters with short race derivative of the 944 is dissimulated S2. With a variable system of lifting of the valves, called Variocam, it becomes extremely modern and pleasant. The well-known principle from now on of the variable chock of the camshaft is here to delay the movement of the inlet valves of 7,5 degrees. Three distinct synchronizations were thus preset for various speeds of the engine. Below 1500 rpm a minimum overlapping of the valves improves the couple and the flexibility, between 1500 and 5500 rpm one passes to an average overlapping and beyond 5500 rpm, one pushes back the mode and the maximum capacity. The 3 liters thus equipped develops 240 horses to 6 200 rpm, which made of him the most powerful four-cylinder motor atmospheric of the world. Obviously, since this time the performance was pushed back by Honda which extracts the same power from... the 2L of S2000. But the 4 Porsche cylinders preserves the title of largest and coupleux, with a maximum value of 31,1 Mkg of which 27 are already available to 2000 rpm. With the use, 3L with 16 Porsche valves does not have really any evil with ruer towards the red zone and the fact rageusement. What does not prevent it, contrary, to push like a mule as of the low modes. And with that, it is also one of most sober atmospheric 3L, being limited to an average consumption from 10 to 12 L/100 km, in fall from at least 10% compared to the 2,5 of the 944! The 5-speed gearbox was replaced by a Getrag box with 6 reports/ratios (in fact one 5+1) and box 4 tiptronic of the 911 was proposed without additional charge. This automatic box of a new kind proposes two modes of use: a very automatic mode and a semi-automatic mode with which the pilot can pass the reports/ratios when good seems to him by pushing the lever to the top (to go up) or to the bottom (to go down). Then, perfect, this engine? Actually, the assessment would not be so far, if the sonority of this mechanics did not have what to leave marble less blasé of the music lovers. Indeed, when one had the ears educated during 40 years with the singing exercises of the flat 6 of the 911, the pill is hard to swallow... Silencer and entirely free from vibrations thanks to the presence of two against-rotary trees of balancing, the four Porsche cylinders fishes by the voice, elements however indissociable in our opinion of the pleasure of driving sports car.
ON THE ROAD...
Compared to its devancière, the 968 does not have undergoes notorious improvement in terms of road behavior, probably because the 944 S2 from which it results was already well rather effective. Specify, lives, making safe and effective diablement, here what characterizes best Porsche 968. The ideal distribution of the masses (50/50) obtained by the establishment of limps speed on the rear axle - famous Transaxle - brings a balance which since largely proved reliable. Only a light understeering in entry of curve recalls us that the engine is in front of, but as in fact the aft wheels propel the whole, not of concern. A small drift is easy to obtain and the car reacts always healthily, contrary to his/her sister the 911... The 968 is a car which acts with a real ease. It remains very healthy in the large curves where it slips of the 4 wheels. Moreover it is allied with an excellent braking and has an exemplary power-assisted steering. And especially, the 968 is a car pleasant to lead very as much as amusing to control! Placed rather low in the cockpit, there is really impression to drive a sports car cut for the track, comfort moreover. Philosophy is in fact rather that of one WP to the image of one 928 on a lower scale. The large 3L atmospheric is very flexible and available as of the low modes, and limps it 6 speeds is of an impeccable handling. In spite of its handicap of cubic capacity and power, for an appreciably equal weight, the 968 fact equal play with one 964 Will square 2 on circuit. Compared to the half-compartment, convertible 968 shows a supplement of consequent weight (70 kg) due to the many reinforcements of its structure. It results from it an exceptional rigidity and a road behavior for this kind from car. The 968 convertible is even one of rare convertible to support a sporting control "very".
