Performance Review: Porsche 944 2.7 - [1988]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Porsche 944 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Porsche 944 2.7 is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1988. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1989 Ferrari F40 LM Competizione 2.9 V8 Twin Turbo and the 1989 Dodge Viper 8.0L V10.This particular Porsche 944 has a 2681cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The 944 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 944's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1290 kgs (2843 lbs) this makes the Porsche 944 2.7 in the same weight category as the 2023 Pagani Utopia 6.0 V12 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Porsche 944 shares the same bhp with the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp)

In terms of power the 2681cc 8V St4 engine produces 162 bhp (120 kW) @ 5800 rpm similar to the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 166 lb-ft (225.0 Nm) @ 4200 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (184 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Porsche 944 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2014 Audi A1 1.8 TFSI S-TRONIC (150.5 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Porsche 944.

The Porsche 944 has a Power to weight ratio of 125.5 bhp per ton and 128.6 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1988 944 competing with the 2014 Audi A1 1.8 TFSI S-TRONIC (150.5 bhp per ton) or the 1963 Maserati Quattroporte AM 107 4.1 V8 (150.4 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Porsche 944 generating around 128.6 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2008 Saab 9-3 2.8t Aero Convertible (153.5 lb-ft per ton) or the 1980 Ford Thunderbird 300 4.9L V8 8th Gen (153.3 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 8.10 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 8.4 secs, this made the Porsche 944 2.7 as fast as the 2014 Peugeot 308 GT 2.0 Blue HDI 180 (8.10 secs) the 2008 Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet 155 Abarth (8.10 secs) the 2006 Volkswagen-VW Golf GT TDi 170 (8.10 secs) the or the 2005 Vauxhall-Opel Astra 2.0 Turbo SRI (8.10 secs). This Porsche 944 2.7 is also faster than the 2006 Seat Leon 2.0 16v TDI FR (8.20 secs) the 2005 Land-Rover Range Rover 4.4 V8 (8.20 secs) the 2003 BMW X5 3.0d (8.20 secs) the and the 2000 Honda Civic 2.0i VTEC Type S (8.20 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 944 and the 1959 Maserati 5000 GT

When talking about the performance of the Porsche 944 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 16.36 secs @ 83.6 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1959 Maserati 5000 GT (16.28 secs), the 2016 Subaru Legacy 3.6 R (16.28 secs), and the 2001 Lexus SC 430 4.3 (16.29 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1988 version of the Porsche 944 2.7 has a maximum speed of 137mph.

Top Speed of the 1988 944 equals the 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo Auto (148 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1988 Porsche 944 2.7 then how about the 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo Auto (148 mph), the 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Woks 2.0 Turbo (148 mph), or the 2012 Jaguar XJ V6 (148 mph).

Related Links:

1988 944 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Porsche

Car Comparison