Performance Review: Porsche 968 3.0 Turbo - [1992]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Porsche 968 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Porsche 968 3.0 Turbo is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1992. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1993 Jaguar XJ 220 S 3.5 V6 Turbo and the 1992 Bugatti EB110 SuperSport.This particular Porsche 968 has a 2990cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

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

The 968 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 968'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 1420 kgs (3130 lbs) this makes the Porsche 968 3.0 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged or the give or take 50kg.

The Porsche 968 shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp)

In terms of power the 2990cc 16V St4 engine produces 240 bhp (178 kW) @ 6200 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp) or the 2020 Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged (243 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 225 lb-ft (305.0 Nm) @ 4100 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (236 lb-ft) or the 2020 McLaren Sabre 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (206 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Porsche 968 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2008 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0 (194.0 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Porsche 968.

The Porsche 968 has a Power to weight ratio of 169.0 bhp per ton and 158.4 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1992 968 competing with the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0 (194.0 bhp per ton) or the 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 (194.0 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 968 generating around 158.4 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 1958 Aston-Martin DB4 1958 (183.4 lb-ft per ton) or the 1978 BMW M1 3.5 2d Manual (183.4 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 6.10 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.3 secs, this made the Porsche 968 3.0 Turbo as fast as the 2017 Maserati Ghibli 3.0 V6 Diesel (6.10 secs) the 2017 Hyundai i30 N 2.0 Turbo (6.10 secs) the 2017 Land-Rover Velar 3.0 SDV6 300 (6.10 secs) the or the 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Woks 2.0 Turbo (6.10 secs). This Porsche 968 3.0 Turbo is also faster than the 2019 Toyota Supra SZ 2.0 Turbo (6.20 secs) the 2019 Toyota Supra SZ-R 2.0 Turbo (6.20 secs) the 2017 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0 TDi SCR 4Motion (6.20 secs) the and the 2014 Peugeot 208 Gti 1.6 Turbo 30th (6.20 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 968 and the 2004 Honda S2000 2.2i

When talking about the performance of the Porsche 968 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.79 secs @ 92.5 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2004 Honda S2000 2.2i (14.72 secs), the 1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth (14.74 secs), and the 2006 Porsche Cayman 2.7 (14.74 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1992 version of the Porsche 968 3.0 Turbo has a maximum speed of 153mph.

Top Speed of the 1992 968 equals the 1999 Porsche Boxster 3.2 S 260 (164 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1992 Porsche 968 3.0 Turbo then how about the 1999 Porsche Boxster 3.2 S 260 (164 mph), the 1977 Lamborghini Countach LP400S (164 mph), or the 1967 Ford GT 40 (164 mph).

Related Links:

1992 968 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Porsche

Car Comparison