The Story of the Porsche 928
Porsche’s decision to unveil a new sports car during the energy crisis might seem a bit risky move. But for Porsche, this new car wasn’t just a luxury item. It was an automobile that set up new standards not only in the area of performance, but also in that of safety, comfort and long-life economy. This is the story of the Porsche 928.
Porsche’s Flagship Model
Development of the Porsche 928 began in the early 1970s. Right from the start, it was clear that the 928 would be something completely different. The decision in favor of a transaxle system was made at an early stage after comparison tests had led to favorable results. The same system was adopted for the Porsche 924, which was developed at the same time with the 928.
The completely new chassis design offered a maximum degree of safety and ride comfort. The rear axle featured an automatic toe-in control which ensured optimum stability when cornering. This design was patented by Porsche and is known as the “Weissach-Axle”.
The robust, unitized body structure was made of steel and was wholly galvanized. The focus was on lightweight construction. For this reason, the doors, front wings and bonnet were all made of aluminum instead of sheet steel. The shock absorbing Polyurethane covering of the integral bumpers, as well as the extremely strong roof were the result of Porsche research work in the field of safety.
The 928 models were powered by a water-cooled V8 engine. The engine’s displacement was initially 4.5 litres and was later increased to 5.4 litres. The power was transmitted to the rear-wheel through a 5-speed gearbox or a fully automatic transmission. The light, precise steering was power-assisted but the degree of assistance was dependent on the cars speed.
Debut in 1977
The Porsche 928 was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1977. People were thrilled by Porsche’s new sporty touring car. The roomy 2+2-seater coupe was designed to offer maximum cruising and handling comfort.
Functionality and safety determined the shape of the car. The standard equipment included numerous novel details. The air-conditioning system cooled the glove compartment, the height of the steering wheel and seats could be adjusted, and the driver could even adjust the pedal positions.
This was Porsche’s first Gran Turismo. The new flagship model. So it was positioned higher on the market than the 911. In 1978, the Porsche 928 was named the European “Car of the Year”. It is the only sports car that has achieved that honor.
When the Porsche 928 was unveiled in 1977, it was so technically advanced that it was even thought to replace the 911. Luckily, that didn’t happen, but 928 had a long career. It was produced for almost 20 years, during which time it was constantly improved and updated. The original 928 was followed by the 928 S, 928 S4, 928 GT and 928 GTS. Production of the 928 GTS ended in 1995, after a total of 61,056 Porsche 928 vehicles had been produced.
