What Do Porsche Numbers Mean?

Boxster

The Type 547 four-camshaft engine created by Dr. Ernst Fuhrmann was first known as “Carrera.” Later, Porsche added this suffix to its most potent engine models, such as the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 and 356 A 1500 GS Carrera. However, the term “Carrera” has virtually come to be used interchangeably with the 911 model line. The Carrera Panamericana, a Mexican endurance race in which Porsche achieved significant victories with the 550 Spyder, inspired the name of the vehicle.

The E-Hybrid vehicles also contain an electric motor, which produces higher thrust while also generating less CO2, in addition to the combustion engine.

The body of the Panamera Executive models has been enlarged by 15 cm, especially for the benefit of those riding in the back.

Gran Turismo Sport, or GTS, was first a homologation class in auto racing. This term was first applied to the 904 Carrera GTS in 1963. The 928 GTS brought back the custom in 1991. The extra sporty and expensive models of a Porsche model series are currently identified by the GTS suffix.

The RS is a street-legal vehicle that was derived from the motor racing version (RS stands for RennSport, which means racing sport). However, the moniker is sometimes used to automobiles that are exceptionally sporty, like the 911 RS America.

The RennSport Rennwagen (RSR) is a version intended solely for competition and is not permitted on public streets.

S for “Super” or “Sport”: a more potent engine version. Today, the S is always associated with “Sport,” and in addition to the more powerful engine, it also comes with improved equipment above the base model.

The name was originally used to describe open, lightweight carriages that could fit two persons. The name “Spyder” at Porsche refers to open mid-engine sports cars, much as the term “Roadster.” The 550 Spyder from 1953 is the famous forerunner of the 918.

Known for its characteristic roll-over safety bar and fixed roof part, the 911 Targa is an open-top version of the 911. The name, which translates as “plate” in English, comes from the storied Sicilian road race Targa Florio.

These vehicles’ engines use exhaust gas turbochargers, which give their performance a significant boost. Since 2015, an exhaust gas turbocharger has been standard on all Porsche models.

914, 924, 928, 944, 964, 968… The Porsche-Code equates driving enjoyment with straightforward figures.

The 900 designation was followed by many different models. With the 914 and the transaxle versions, which come with four- and eight-cylinder engines, it is an extremely light and maneuverable mid-engined sports vehicle (924 and 928). This common three-digit number with a nine as the first digit immediately established a Porsche brand. Anyone who reads about the 964 or 928 quickly recognizes it as the name of a sports automobile from Zuffenhausen.

Understanding Porsche jargon: Decoding internal model codes

Every carmaker has an own internal slang system for designating various models, but Porsche’s is more complex than others. The carmaker has clarified the meaning of the string of letters, numbers, and acronyms that makes up the internal names of many of its vehicles and provided background information on how it first adopted the alphanumeric system.

Ferdinand Porsche made the decision to start assigning a sequential number to each new project for his engineering firm in 1931, which led to the creation of the 356, 911, and other models. The type 60 eventually became the first Volkswagen, but the first car under this scheme (a sedan for the German company Wanderer) was actually given the number seven.

Porsche attained position 356 on June 8 of that year, becoming the company’s first sports car under its recently established production-car division. For later models, including the 550 Spyder, Porsche kept the method.

Porsche encountered a challenge, though, as it thought about extending its partnership with Volkswagen. VW’s numbering scheme conflicted with Porsche’s. The answer was to begin numbering Porsches in the 900-series, a system VW had not yet adopted. As a result, Peugeot claimed its trademark on three-digit automobile model names with a zero in the center, which led to the 901, which later became the 911. The typeface had already been made, but Porsche swapped the zero for a one.

After that, Porsche continued to use three-digit numbers that started with “9,” later adding additional numbers to indicate distinct generations of a certain model, giving us the designations 964, 993, 996, 997, 991, and 992 for the 911. Porsche has additionally occasionally utilized type numbers to designate particular iterations of a given model, such as the 930 911 Turbo.

For each model, Porsche now offers a hierarchy of variants by adding the suffixes Turbo, S, or GTS. And don’t forget about the RS variants, Targa models, and the classic Spyder and Speedster models of Porsche’s sports vehicles. Porsche has dropped a couple of these titles throughout the years, including Club Sport, SC, and L, which were applied to a 1967 911 “luxury” model. That’s probably for the best, given the variety of the current Porsche lineup.

What do the various Porsche 911 numbers mean?

  • 911 (1964-1989) (1964-1989)
  • 930, the turbocharged model (1975–1989).
  • 964 (1989-1994)
  • 993, the final 911 with air cooling (1995–1998)
  • 996 water-cooled engines and an entirely new body (1999–2004).
  • 997 (2005-2012)
  • 991 all-new body (2012–2019).
  • 992 (2019-)

What does Porsche’s 997 mean?

Porsche’s internal designation for the Porsche 911 sports vehicle between 2004 (as Model Year 2005) and 2013 was “Porsche 997.” Porsche is a German automaker. Early in 2004, the Carrera and Carrera S coupes entered into production. In November 2005, all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S deliveries to customers started. In late 2006, the Turbo and GT3 derivatives went on sale, and in 2007, the GT2. In addition to the coupe and cabriolet models, the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S were also offered in Targa versions, which maintained the “glass canopy” roof style until the 991 when it switched back to the traditional targa top arrangement found on the early 911 Targas.

The 997 was a development of the 996 that came before it, with the interior and external style seeing the most major improvements. Of particular note was the switch from the 996’s “fried egg” headlamps to the more traditional “bug eye” headlamps. The automobile is mechanically extremely similar to its predecessor, with the exception of larger 18-inch wheels being installed as standard and minor engineering upgrades such as slightly more power. A new S variant was made available, offering more power from a little bigger engine, sports exhaust, and sports suspension.

Porsche updated its 997 lineup in 2009 with fresh styling, an improved direct-injection engine, and the debut of the brand’s brand-new “PDK” dual clutch transmission. The consequence was that the upgraded 997 vehicles handled better and were lighter, quicker, and more fuel-efficient than the outgoing cars. In the case of the 997 Turbo, a thoroughly retuned all-wheel drive system with an optional “torque vectoring” system was also included in the upgrades package; in a preliminary review published in October 2009, Car and Driver magazine predicted that the updated Turbo should be able to accelerate from 0-97 km/h (0-60 mph) in three seconds when fitted with the PDK transmission.

Even British automotive journalist Jeremy Clarkson, a well-known opponent of Porsche automobiles, stated that the 997 will “make love to your fingertips and arouse your soul” in the majority of his favorable assessments of the 997.

What does 4 in Porsche mean?

4. A 911 is a “4” model if it has a light bar linking the taillight lenses, which indicates that all four wheels are powered by the vehicle. This all-wheel drive option may be ordered with the Carrera, S, and GTS models. 2014 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet owned by Kent (Millbrae, CA)

Why is Porsche 901 referred to as 901?

Porsche introduced the Porsche 901 as the replacement for the Porsche 356 at the IAA in Frankfurt in September 1963.

In September 1964, series production of the 901 got under way. The French automaker Peugeot protested to the model designation when Porsche unveiled the vehicle at the Paris Motor Show in October of that year. Peugeot had a three-digit type designation patent with a zero in the center as the explanation.

Porsche changed the 901’s name to 911 as a result. Due to the fact that this string of numbers is the same as the emergency number in the USA, it was already widely used in this important market for Porsche. The 901 had 82 units made before the name change.

What does Porsche’s 911 stand for?

Porsche came up with the idea to add gold letters spelling out the car’s name to the dashboard and the back of the vehicle. Since these letters were already made, they already had the “9” and the “1,” so they simply swapped out the “0” for another “1,” and the name 911 was born.

What does the Porsche GT acronym mean?

Frank-Steffen Walliser and Mark Webber discuss legendary Porsche vehicles, production models with race roots, and the future of the GT “myth” in the most recent episode of the Porsche Podcast.

Only really rare Porsche vehicles—whether they are the 904 Carrera GTS, 914/6 GT, 911 GT2, 911 GT1, 911 GT3, Carrera GT, or Cayman GT4—get to have the designation “GT” in their names. The two letters normally imply “gran turismo,” which loosely translates as “excellent ride,” but at Porsche, they also stand for “racing with road approval.” The creator of the 911 and 718 model series, which includes the GT cars, Frank-Steffen Walliser, and former racer and Porsche brand ambassador Mark Webber explore the GT mythology in the most recent episode of the podcast.

The new 911 GT3, which among other things achieves remarkable lap times on the Nurburgring-Nordschleife, lives up to Porsche’s high GT claim, is a hot topic of discussion for the two. Webber has spent years making fast laps. He remarks, “Sub seven minutes is really astonishing how quick the lap time is. “Racing drivers like a company that embraces challenges. Put the automobile on the most challenging track in the most challenging weather, then start the stopwatch. The stopwatch is unreliable.”

Why is a Porsche 911 referred to as a “992”?

The first entirely revised Porsche 911 was introduced in 1988. It was known as the 964 internally, and it also represented a substantial shift in the Porsche-Code. Porsche started applying their own code more frequently after that. Following the 964, the Porsche 993, the final air-cooled Porsche, debuted in 1993. The 968 joined the party in the transaxle division.

The very first Porsche Boxster was released in the middle of the 1990s. 986 is the internal code. The first 911 with water cooling began the race shortly after and was given the number 996. The 911s that came after it were designated as 997 and 991, while the most recent one was designated as 992. The three-digit number tradition is thus upheld, albeit with less rigor than 60 years before. Only Porsche’s sports cars today have model numbers. The names on all four-door cars are legitimate.

Porsche adopted the moniker 718 once more when switching the Boxster/Cayman platform from six to four cylinder engines in order to adhere to this tenet. Back in the day, a hillclimb racer named 718K utilized this number to great success. The names of the four-door vehicles include Panamera, Macan, Taycan, and so on. In 2020, Porsche will offer three sports cars: the 718 Boxster, the 718 Cayman (internally known as 982), and the Porsche 911, which has the internal designation 992.

What distinguishes the various Porsche models?

Porsche’s iconic two-door, two-plus-two-seat, rear-engine sports automobile is known as the 911. In time for the 2019 model year, the 8th generation 992 made its appearance. The Carrera hardtop, Carrera Cabriolet, and Targa body styles are available for the 911 basic model, which has a 379 horsepower engine. The “S” trim level adds 443 horsepower and a seven-speed manual transmission. All-wheel drive is used in “4” models rather than rear-wheel drive.

Two high-performance 911 veins exist. The Turbo S has 640 horsepower and accelerates from 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds, making it one of the “Turbo” models that go all out for supercar performance. With a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter boxer-six and a manual transmission, the GT3 is more of a 911 purist’s variant. The 911 GTS versions offer a compromise between the base and top-end models in terms of pricing and performance.