A turbocharger is a device that use the flow of the exhaust gas to compress the intake air. This method provides real rise of power & torque. In 1975, Porsche launched the production of the Porsche 930 and the violence of its turbocharged engine gived it a way to the legend. Today, the turbo are domesticated but not the performances...

Porsche 965 turbo 2
Porsche 911 turbo 3.6
Porsche 993 turbo
Porsche 965 turbo 2

With the apparition of the 911 type 964, Porsche was expected to produce a turbocharged version. But where everybody was waiting for a new supercar, the factory give a shy interpretation of these fantastic cars.

Porsche was quite late on the 965 project so they decided to elaborate the turbo on the old 3.3 engine instead of the new 3.6 one (type M64). Modifications went about new admission system, three ways cathalysor, new ignition cartography, electronic injection Bosch K-Jetronic, bigger heat exchanger, a modified overpressure valve. The engine was also featured the new crankshaft "bi-mass" of the 3.6 block, more effective in resonance and sounds absorber. Power was about 320 hp, despite the presence of the catalysor.

The turbo is really effective from 3000 rpm. Underneath this engine rating, nothing interesting happens. Accelerations are a little bit less violent than on the 930 but confort and flexibility are more present. Rerun are less arduous. Unluckily, the new engine is always in need of fuel and the 77 L of the tank fuel are insufficient for this wonderful machine. To you, great fan of the flat 6, it is interesting to know that the growling and muffled sound of the previous 3.3 Turbo is a little retiring, a sacrifice for confort but it is more present than on the 964 3.6 engine. If the 965 isn't an road monster, it received all the frame ameliorations of the 964 models. The behaviour was in that case safer and more efficient than previous 930 one. On the road and under acceleration, the 965 streams less, guidance is more direct and in big curves, her stability is perfect. It is on unpleasant roads that the large 17 inches rims become an handicap, combined with the low profil tyres and the harder suspensions.

Indeed, in this case, the 965 is noisy and uncomfortable. Adherence is exciting, even under rain, motivity is great and of course, braking is unbeatable.The caracteristic oversteering of all 911 series is progressive and you must quickly enter in a turning to induce it. No violent unhooking is to fear about, it just demands to slowly release the accelerator. The new suspension has allowed to improve the Turbo's behaviour in one after another curve. Indeed, the articulation of the back semi-drawned arms of the suspension with rolling correction create a micro-steering effect on the rear wheels, when the car is on support. The cockpit is a great example of what Porsche is able to build. There are always the 5 never-ending meters forward you. There is just an on-board computer which shows off turbo's pressure, average fuel consumption, sudden spedd and exterior temperature. The handwheel is totaly new and features the Air-bag. Except that, nothing has changed. Full leather an classical interior come as an end.

Technical Specifications:

Body
2 doors Coupé with steel monocoque, 2 seats
Fixed rear spoiler Cx : 0.36 SCx : 0.68

Engine
Flat 6 air cooled in rear longitudinal position
Bore & Stroke : 97 x 74.4 mm
Cubic capacity : 3,299 cm3
Distribution : one camshaft per cylinder bank, 2 valves per cylinders
Compression ratio : 7.0:1
K-Jetronic injection, KKK turbocharger model 27.2 (pressure : 0.75 bar), oil radiator and electronic ignition
Max Power : 320 hp at 5750 rpm
Max Torque : 45,8 mkg at 4500 rpm Engine Maximum speed : 6500 rpm

Transmission
To the rear wheels
Mecanical autoblocking with 20% locking under load and 100% locking under deceleration
Mecanical 5 speed gearbox
Speed in 5th gear at 1000 rpm : 44.7 kph

Suspension
Front : independent type Mc Pherson struts, lower triangle and stabilizer bar
Rear : independent with semi-drawned arms, stabilizer bar

Gearbox Ratios

Final drive ratio 3.44
The 965 turbo reaches 70 kph in first gear in only 2.5 s. The second gear propels the Porsche at 123 kph. 173 kph , 227 kph are reached in 3rd and 4th respectively.

Steering
Power assisted rack and pinion Turning diameter : 11.45 m

Brakes
Ventilated 4 discs with Bosch ABS
Alloying clips with 4 pistons
Front : 320 mm Rear : 299 mm
The brakes of the 965 are able to slow down the car from 100 kph to zero in a mere 3 seconds !

Wheels and tyres
Light 17 inches alloying rim Cup design
Front : 7J x 17 with Bridgestone RE 71 205/50 ZR 17
Rear : 9J x 17 with Bridgestone RE 71 255/40 ZR 17

Dimensions and weight
Wheelbase : 2,271 mm
Track Front/Rear : 1,434/1,493 mm
Lenght : 1,299 mm
Width : 1,773 mm
Height : 1,308 mm
Empty weight : 1450 kg
Fuel tank : 77 L
Case : 90 dm3

Performances
Top Speed : 270kph (some tested cars reached 273 kph)

Standing kimometer : 24"0 s

Fuel Consumption Average consumption : 18.7 L / 100 km
Consumption at 180 kph : 19 L / 100 km
Consumption at 200 kph : 23 L / 100 km