AHC/WI: Porsche 928 Replaces the Porsche 911

Delta Force

Banned
The Porsche 928 was a grand touring vehicle planned to replace the Porsche 911. In contrast to the Porsche 911, the 928 was more of a luxury grand touring vehicle than a pure sports car. It also featured a large displacement V8 engine in the front of the car in a RWD configuration and perfect weight distribution. Despite weighing more and having more luxury components, the Porsche 928 had performance on par with the Porsche 911 and was considered far easier to drive.

A RWD vehicle could be a good option for the increasing regulation of the 1970s, helping offering better stability, emissions equipment capability, and easier integration of turbocharged engines. Prior to the invention of electronic stability, a high performance RR vehicle such as the Porsche 911 was vulnerable to spinning around backwards upon loss of control. As a RWD vehicle, the Porsche 928 should be more stable. Emissions control was also an issue in the cramped engine compartment of the Porsche 911, and it was probably difficult to provide air-cooling to a turbocharged rear engine.

Could Porsche have gone on to replace the Porsche 911 with the Porsche 928, as the company originally intended? How would the company fare with a lineup consisting of Porsche 928 type vehicles on the high end and Porsche 924/944/968 vehicles on the low end?
 

Delta Force

Banned
Any ideas for this? Does anyone know why Porsche stuck with rear engine designs for so long anyways, given the inherent safety issues?
 
Looks like there were no safety issues in the 911. The wholesale adoption of 'engine in front, drive at the rear' system would mean Porsche is just another maker of sports cars, and 911 was unique.
 
The wholesale adoption of 'engine in front, drive at the rear' system would mean Porsche is just another maker of sports cars, and 911 was unique.
Which is what Porsche is becoming today. Their Macan, Cayenne and Panamera models are amongst their top sellers, and all are engine in the front, drive at the rear (or awd). Purists howl, but the accountants at Porsche are pleased.

So, if we make the 928 and 944 the primary Porsches in the 1980s, we'd likely the four door version of the 928 below go into full production, followed by the 944 Cargo and an SUV. The 928 four door would eventually move to the 989 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_989

Screen-shot-2012-08-08-at-5.35.31-PM-600x399.png
191zlmwvskzzsjpg.jpg


87-Porsche_4Dr_Sdn_DV-08_AI_02.jpg


Check out the prototype four door family car here http://www.ferdinandmagazine.com/porsche-prototype-exhibition-museum-stuttgart One could easily see this becoming an early SUV.
 
Last edited:
I'm all for the Porcshe to achive more in earlier date, but early 21st century market is not equal to 1970s. SUVs are yet to be established among the rich people (I know that Panamera is a luxury sedan).
So I'd keep up with 911 as-is, or as it developed (turbo versions, 4WD versions, cabrio, Targa etc), while 928 can evolve into a luxury sedan on it's own, and in 1990s introduce the SUV with V8 engine.
 
The Porsche 928 was a grand touring vehicle planned to replace the Porsche 911. In contrast to the Porsche 911, the 928 was more of a luxury grand touring vehicle than a pure sports car. It also featured a large displacement V8 engine in the front of the car in a RWD configuration and perfect weight distribution. Despite weighing more and having more luxury components, the Porsche 928 had performance on par with the Porsche 911 and was considered far easier to drive.

A RWD vehicle could be a good option for the increasing regulation of the 1970s, helping offering better stability, emissions equipment capability, and easier integration of turbocharged engines. Prior to the invention of electronic stability, a high performance RR vehicle such as the Porsche 911 was vulnerable to spinning around backwards upon loss of control. As a RWD vehicle, the Porsche 928 should be more stable. Emissions control was also an issue in the cramped engine compartment of the Porsche 911, and it was probably difficult to provide air-cooling to a turbocharged rear engine.

Could Porsche have gone on to replace the Porsche 911 with the Porsche 928, as the company originally intended? How would the company fare with a lineup consisting of Porsche 928 type vehicles on the high end and Porsche 924/944/968 vehicles on the low end?

Both the 911 and the 928 are Rear Wheel Drive. The 911's stability problems were down to the rear mounted engine.

It was always Porsche's intention for this to happen yes, but what makes the public, and the customers respond differently?


Probably wouldn't have a huge impact, once technology improved you'd likely see the 911 brought back at a later date, as the only way the 911 gets replaced is if the 928 is a big success.
 
Top