X50 MORE POWER FOR THE 911 TURBO
While the availability of the X51 for the Carreras is a web of intrigue and mystery, the possibility to add what’s described as the X50 pack to the Turbo models is far more widely known. The first would, naturally, be the 930, which throughout its lengthy life cycle could be had with differing power outputs via Porsche’s Sonderwunch department.
Larger K27 Turbos, additional oil cooling and other minor revisions would liberate more power, although it wasn’t until Porsche started offering a similar option with the 964 Turbo, that the term X50 (and X88) would start to be bandied about. The X50 is essentially the pack that created the Turbo S in all models up to and including the 996 Turbo. The 993 would be offered with it, with the Tequipment brochure highlighting increases from 408 to 430hp, with the Powerkit Plus increasing that 430hp by an extra 20hp. This option included an additional oil cooler kit, new twin turbos and the Turbo S tailpipes.
Turbo S- and X50-optioned versions up to and including the 996 would be built in limited numbers prior to the power increases being more comprehensively included in the Turbo model lineup. Much like the GTS in the 997, the Powerkit X50 would essentially reach series production with the 997 Turbo S. Like those before it, the changes would liberate power, here 30hp, with the later 991 Turbo S introduced in the model line at the same time as the regular Turbo. Since the 997 Turbo S, Porsche has simply added the X50 as the Turbo S, removing the subterfuge with its most powerful models.
That move, like the Carreras, is certainly a good business decision, but also paves the way for the homologation of changes for all markets.