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Porsche 968 Turbo-S

Most will agree, the 968 is quick. For a certain segment of our society, "quick" isn't enough. Unfortunately for them, the 968 Turbo-S wasn't offered in the United States. Unfortunate because rather than simply being quick, the 968 Turbo-S is blisteringly fast.

The 968 was a replacement for the 944. There was a problem though. Anyone who's ever driven a 944 Turbo and a 968 back-to-back can tell you the 944 is a lot faster. Forget the HP numbers. Carroll Shelby once said: "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races." The 944 Turbo is a poster car for that saying. The 968 has more horsepower, but the 944 Turbo could walk away from it. That's because the 968 lacked the 944 Turbo's fat, linear, torque curve. Porsche's answer was to turbocharge the 3 liter 968 block.

The 968 Turbo-S looks somewhat like a pedestrian 968, but it was actually the street version of the 968 Turbo RS race car. The 968 Turbo RS was rare. There were only four of those built. The Turbo-S is rare as well. They were only built in 1993, and depending on which source you believe, there were either thirteen or fourteen built.

Outwardly, the first clue that this may be something special is the hood. There are two NACA ducts. This could mean the owner liked NACA ducts, but on a factory 968 it meant there's a turbo. The other outward differences are the 18-inch, three-piece Speedline wheels (also used on the 911 Turbo-S), the chin spoiler, the front bumper intake, and the large, adjustable rear spoiler. The Turbo-S also had a few standard items deleted - the sunroof, power windows, power locks, and undercoating.

The interior is a bit different as well. It has race seats, and a 944 Turbo boost gauge under the tach. Those familiar with a 944 Turbo may notice the 190 MPH speedometer. It looks a lot like a 944 Turbo under the hood as well. The intercooler with the "turbo S" insignia is the evidence that this is a Turbo-S.

The biggest difference between the 968 and the Turbo-S is obviously the engine. The Turbo-S used a three-liter 968 block, a reworked eight-valve 951 head, most of the 951's intake and engine management, and a water-cooled K26 KKK turbo. 1 bar of boost raised the output from the 968's 236 HP and 225 lb-ft of torque to 305 HP and 369 lb-ft of torque. This was backed up by a light-weight steel flywheel (the standard 968 had the dual mass unit), heavy duty clutch, a 968 six-speed with different fifth and six gears, and a limited slip differential.

Other changes included 968 Turbo-S specific springs (the car sits .8" lower), shocks, and upgraded brakes. The 968 Turbo-S used the four-piston aluminum calipers and vented/cross-drilled discs from the 911 Turbo-S.

Specifications