Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Leichtbau

What would like a 911 Carrera 4 RS?
I guess this special version should answer the question.

In 1989, Porsche commercialized a new 911 model : the type 964. For the first time, the 911 was enabled in4WD version with the 911 Carrera 4. Two years later, some people asked Porsche a competition version of the Carrera 4. JŸrgen Barth, who was the manager of the customer competition department, developed 20 exemplars of the Carrera 4 Leichtbau.

The main effort made on the car resides in lightening it by 350kg comapred to a stock Carrera 4. To obtain this extraordinary result, Porsche engineersremoved all plastics and materials in the cockpit to let the body sheet metal apparent.

Then, all body panels supported by the body are made of aluminium (doors, front lid) or plastic fibers (front and rear bumpers, fixed rear spoiler). The front and rear winshields are made of thin glasse while the side windows have been replaced by plastic.

The fixed rear spoiler is a modified version of the optionnal spoiler available on the Carrera 3.2, thinner than the turbo one. The retractable spoiler has been removed to save weight and because it is unnecessary on race. It seems that the Carrera 4 Leichtbau have been developped for rally usage because it weights only 1,100 kg, it receives rally-type side mirrors, internal and external circuit-breaker switch, fire extinguisher, body-roll cage, bucket seats with five points harness, light three branches Momo steering wheel...

The transmission configuration confirms this idea because it is a version of the one fitted on the Carrera 3.2 4x4 that won the Paris Dakar in 1984. With short ratios, the top speed is limited to 210 kph but the car accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in just 5"0 seconds. The engine isn't modified and receive a competition exhaust system (the same than on the 964 Cup, with no catalysor) that provide 15 hp more. The 265 hp of the engine are transfered to the gearbox by a competition single disc clutch.

In the cockpit, two control knobs on the central panel allow the driver to choose the repartition of torque between front and rear axles. As a result, the driver can modify the behaviour of the car (understeer or oversteer tendance). The clock has been replaced by two indicators that indicate any disfunctionment of the alternator and ventilator belt. The car isn't equiped with ABS and the brakes are bigger than on stock version. With 205/55 tyres on 6Jx16 wheels front and 225/50 tyres on 8Jx16 wheels rear, dimensions are same as standard.

With only 1,120 kg, 265 hp and a minimal exhaust system, the sensations are great and uncommon on road. Of course, it isnÕt street legal. This car can be compared to the nowadays Subaru Impreza Sti Integra Typre R, a rally car brought to the road with little modifications. But unfortunately, the customers that buy the Carrera 4 Leichtbau around $200,000 couldn't engaged the car in competition, regarding the reglementations... That's just a car for pleasure. Why not after all ?