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Evolution of Design | 14 May 2013 Speed, evolved: Porsche's 2014 911 Turbo S vs 1986 959 Matthew Phenix

   Collector cars
   Porsche
   Sports cars 

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Since the early 1990s, the arrival of each new 911 Turbo has prompted comparisons with the father of all modern Porsche supercars, the vaunted 959. And the recent debut of the 2014 911 Turbo S is no exception. Related (BBC Autos) The 911 Turbo’s true price 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo S Porsche 911 Turbo revealed Porsche’s secret stash Porsche’s secret stash

With all-wheel drive and a twin-turbocharged, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine, the newest ultimate 911 owes much to its 1980s-era progenitor, which was for a time the world’s fastest production automobile, and the most technologically advanced road car on the planet. The similarity in specification and performance between the 959 and the new 911 Turbo S – despite nearly three decades between them – is a testament to the midnight oil burned during the creation of the former.

The 959 was created as a Group B rally car. The road car, which Porsche unveiled at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show, was born of a homologation rule from the World Rally Championship’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), stipulating a run of at least 200 street-legal versions.

In 1986, the 959 stickered for a cool 420,000 deutschmark (about $225,000, or close to $480,000 in 2013 dollars) – provided, of course, that you were among the anointed few who were afforded the honor of buying one. Some 300 were built between 1985 and 1988, including prototypes, pre-production cars and production Comfort and Sport models. By comparison, the quicker, faster and more agile 2014 911 Turbo S, which starts at $182,050 and can be purchased through any of Porsche’s 900 or so worldwide dealerships, looks like a bargain.

Just how similar are they? Take a look at this informal side-by-side comparison:

1986 Porsche 959

   Curb weight: 3,190lb
   Wheelbase: 89.5in
   Track, F/R: 56.4in / 58.7in
   Length: 168.9in        
   Width: 72.4in
   Height: 50.4in
   Fuel capacity: 23.8gal
   Drag coefficient: 0.31
   Engine: Twin-turbo DOHC flat-6
   Displacement: 2.8 litre
   Compression ratio: 8.3:1
   Horsepower: 444hp @ 6500rpm
   Torque: 370lb-ft @ 5500rpm
   Fuel delivery: Electronic port injection
   Transmission: 6-speed manual
   Layout: Rear engine/all-wheel drive
   Brakes, F/R: 12.7in vented discs / 12.0in vented discs
   Wheels: Hollow-spoke magnesium; F: 17 x 8in; R: 17 x 9in
   Tires, F/R : 235/45VR-17, 255/40VR-17
   Suspension, F and R: upper and lower A-arms, coil springs, dual shocks, adjustable ride height and damping, anti-roll bar
   0-60 mph: 3.6 seconds
   Top speed: 197mph
   Price: $225,000 (approximately $480,000 in 2013 dollars)

2014 Porsche 911 Turbo S

   Curb weight: 3,538lb
   Wheelbase: 96.5in
   Track, F/R: 60.6in / 62.6in
   Length: 177.4in
   Width: 77.9in
   Height: 51.0in
   Fuel capacity: 16.9gal
   Drag coefficient: 0.31
   Engine: Twin-turbo DOHC flat-6
   Displacement: 3.8 litre
   Compression ratio: 9.8:1
   Horsepower: 560hp @ 6500rpm
   Torque: 516lb-ft @ 2100rpm
   Fuel delivery: Direct injection
   Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
   Layout: Rear engine/all-wheel drive
   Brakes, F/R: 14.96in vented and drilled discs/14.96 vented and drilled discs
   Wheels: Forged alloy; F: 20 x 9in; R: 20 x 11.5in
   Tires, F/R : 245/35ZR-20, 305/30ZR-20
   Suspension, F: MacPherson strut, coil spring,  electronically adjustable damping;  R: five-link, coil spring, electronically adjustable damping
   0-60 mph: 2.9 seconds
   Top speed: 198mph
   Price: $182,050

SOURCE: Auto BBC

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