The 70 greatest Porsches
From tractors to Turbos
70.
Porsche-Diesel Standard 218
Always ahead of the ield
Built: 1957 1963 I Engine: 1644cc diesel twin-cylinder, 25bhp I Top speed: Steady
Plenty of badly driven Porsches have ended up in ields, but some were designed to be there. Ferdinand Porsche began work on a tractor in the ’30s, but it wasn’t until after the war that they entered production with a choice of single-, twin-, threeor four-cylinder engines – air-cooled, of course. While Porsche toyed with the idea of four-wheel drive, production versions were rear-drive – purists rejoice.
69. Cayenne GTS
Stick-shift sports SUV Built: 2008 2010 I Engine: 4806cc V8,
400bhp I Top speed: 157mph
Makes our greatest list by virtue of its absurdity: the Cayenne GTS could be ordered with a six-speed manual ’box. Few were, naturally..
66. Mercedes 500 E
Porsche’s Mercedes Built: 1991 1994 I Engine: 4973cc V8,
322bhp I Top speed: 162mph
Engineered by Porsche for Mercedes, the 500 E is possibly the greatest Q-car ever.
Subtle arch lares hint at the 322bhp 5.0 V8.
63. 356/1
A Boxster they built earlier Built: 1948 I Engine: 1131cc lat-four,
35bhp I Top speed: 84mph
First Porsche sports car was mid-, not rear-engined. Flat-four was shifted aft for 356 production to make space for rear seats…
60. Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo
Wicked wagon for Cayenne haters Built: 2017-present I Engine: 3996cc V8,
543bhp I Top speed: 188mph
Porsche built a 928 estate for Ferry Porsche in the ’80s but it took until 2017 for the concept
to materialise, this time as a Panamera.
57. 968 Club Sport
When lightweight Porsches cost less
Built: 1992 1995 I Engine: 2990cc four-cylinder, 237bhp I Top speed: 157mph
To boost lagging 968 sales, Porsche cleaved 100kg and £7.5k. No more power (and no more back seats) but heaps more fun.
68. 911 Targa 4S
Targa recovers its cool Built: 2016-present I Engine: 3800cc lat-six, 395bhp I Top speed: 184mph
After years in the wilderness the Targa returned for 2014 with an ingenious sliding roof that mimicked the late ’60s original.
65. Panamera GTS
Hideous styling, heavenly handling Built: 2011 2016 I Engine: 4806cc V8,
424bhp I Top speed: 179mph
Couldn’t touch the Turbo’s pace, but the unblown GTS’s throttle response and chassis
balance made it the driver’s choice.
62. 964 Carrera 4
One foot in the present Built: 1988 1993 I Engine: 3600cc lat-six,
247bhp I Top speed: 163mph
Using 959 tricks, Porsche updated the 911 with power steering, ABS and four-wheel drive, all without harming the 911 silhouette.
59. Audi RS2
Porsche’s Audi
Built: 1994 1995 I Engine: 2226cc ive-cylinder, 311bhp I Top speed: 163mph
Audi’s irst RS was a Porsche-fettled 80-based wagon. Unlike the discreet Merc 500 E, iconic Cup wheels let everyone know.
56. 911 Carrera (996)
The water-cooled 911 starts here Built: 1997 2004 I Engine: 3596cc lat-six,
315bhp I Top speed: 177mph
Cheapest way into a 911 and underrated for too long. Forget the blobby styling – it’s all about the drive. 2001-on 3.6 your best bet.
67. Lohner-Porsche
Porsche’s zero-emissions pioneer Built: 1900 1905 I Engine: 10 14bhp
e-motor I Top speed: 37mph
What were you doing at 18? Ferdinand Porsche was designing battery cars. Familiar
bugbears: range, no infrastructure etc.
64. 924
Right car, wrong badge
Built: 1976 1988 I Engine: 1984cc four-cylinder, 123bhp I Top speed: 126mph
Commissioned by VWAudi, front-engined, water-cooled 924 was a radical departure. Ace handling but slow, until turbo option.
61. 944 S2
The 924 inally comes of age Built: 1989 1992 I Engine: 2990cc fourcylinder, 208bhp I Top speed: 150mph
20bhp and 500cc were added to the 944S to create the S2. More drivable than the S or
Turbo (whose sexier nose it borrowed).
58. Macan S
Benchmark ‘small’ SUV Built: 2014-present I Engine: 2997cc V6,
335bhp I Top speed: 158mph
Never read too much into a shared platform. The brilliant Macan shares its roots with the strait-laced Audi A4. Turbo even quicker.
55. 550
Porsche’s racing legend starts here Built: 1953 1956 I Engine: 1498cc lat-four I Top speed: 140mph
Four-cam, mid-engined spyder took Porsche’s irst big win at the ’56 Targa Florio. Best known as the car James Dean died driving.
54. 911 Speedster
California Carrera channels 356’s cool Built: 1988 1989 I Engine: 3164cc lat-six,
228bhp I Top speed: 150mph
Porsche borrowed from the legendary 356 Speedster, cutting the screen and itting a limsy hood. Lots of fun, less so in Britain.
51. 911 (997, with PDK)
Dual-clutch, thank you much Built: 2008 2011 I Engine: 3800cc lat-six,
380bhp I Top speed: 186mph
Porsche’ s brilliant do pp el ku pp lungs getrie be, or PDK dual-clutch ’box, debuted on 997 facelift, but was irst seen on 956/962 racer.
48. Boxster Spyder
Boxster gets bu (and GT4 motor) Built: 2015 2016 I Engine: 3800cc lat-six,
370bhp I Top speed: 180mph
Second version of Boxster Spyder got a hood that didn’t demand a degree in Lego Technic,
and a Cayman GT4’s 3.8-litre six.
45. 968 Turbo S
Turbo’d punch for ultimate 968 Built: 1993 I Engine: 2990cc four-cylinder,
305bhp I Top speed: 175mph
The Club Sport was good, but could have handled more power. Turbo S combined 968
block and 944 Turbo head to deliver it.
42. Mission E
Porsche goes for Tesla takedown Built: 2019-on I Engine: Twin e-motors, 660bhp (est) I Top speed: 155mph+ (est)
Due in 2019 with up to 660bhp, a 300-mile range and the ability to recharge to 80 per
cent in 15 minutes. Elon who?
53. Volkswagen Beetle
Porsche-engineered icon Built: 1938 2003 I Engine: 1131cc lat-four,
25bhp I Top speed: 62mph (1953)
No Porsche badge but such a titan it has to be here. Hitler’s KdFWagen stayed in mass
production for almost 60 years.
50. Cayenne
Porsche’s pig-ugly cash cow Built: 2002 2010 I Engine: 4511cc V8,
444bhp I Top speed: 165mph
Hate it all you like but Porsche’s irst SUV was great to drive and racked up sales that funded sports cars. That face, though…
47. 911 GTS (997)
Carrera price, extra spice Built: 2010 2011 I Engine: 3800cc lat-six,
402bhp I Top speed: 190mph
Run-out special ahead of 991 got wide-arch shell, 22bhp boost and a stack of performance features. Best 997 this side of a GT3.
44. 924 Carrera GT
Porsche’s cub grows some fangs
Built: 1979 1981 I Engine: 1984cc four-cylinder, 207bhp I Top speed: 150mph
Eyeing FIA Group 4 competition, Weissach pumped up the 924 Turbo with wide arches
and more boost. 242bhp GTS even wilder.
41. 911 Carrera Club Sport
Spirit of the RS Built: 1987 1989 I Engine: 3164cc lat-six,
228bhp I Top speed: 152mph
Blueprinted engine with hollow valves and higher rev limit, plus a 70kg diet and those graphics helped it channel the ’73 RS.
52. 911 Targa
Safety scare creates style icon Built: 1966-present I Engine: 2195cc lat-six,
140bhp I Top speed: 134mph (’70 911E)
When car makers thought cabrios would be outlawed on rollover safety grounds, Porsche
came up with the timeless Targa.
49. 911 Carrera S (991.2)
Forced induction democracy Built: 2015-present I Engine: 2981cc lat-six, 416bhp I Top speed: 191mph
Downsizing revolution hit Porsche and turned all non-GT3 911s into turbos for 991 facelift.
Stacks more torque but light on tunes.
46. 911 GT3 (996)
Racing improves the speed Built: 1999 2005 I Engine: 3600cc lat-six,
360bhp I Top speed: 187mph
Hot 996 was named to relect its FIA GT3class intentions. Better Mk2 got bigger brakes and extra 20bhp, and in ’03 the RS returned.
43. 911 Turbo ‘latnose’
935-inspired aero for the street Built: 1983 1989 I Engine: 3299cc lat-six,
325bhp I Top speed: 170mph
Pricey Flachbau, or latnose, option added 935-look wings and lip-up lights to the 930
Turbo. The ultimate yuppie plaything.
40. 935
911 racer scalps the prototypes Built: 1976 1981 I Engine: 2865cc lat-six,
552bhp I Top speed: 183mph
Evolved from 911 RSR, 935 gained its droop snoot after Porsche discovered a loophole in the rules. Outright Le Mans winner in 1979.