Model Page
Porsche 924
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Production Run: |
121,289 |
|---|---|
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Production Date: |
1976 - 1988 |
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Engine: |
2.0 Audi I4 Straight 4 2.0 Audi I4 Straight 4 TurboCharged 2.5 Porsche Straight 4 |
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Built: |
Neckarsulm (Germany) |
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0-60: |
924 - 9.5 Secs 924S - 8.0 Secs 924 2.0 Turbo - 7.0 Secs 924 Carrera GT - 6.9 Secs 924 Carrera Turbo GTS - 6.0 Secs |
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Max Speed: |
924 - 126 Mph 924S - 136 Mph 924 2.0 Turbo - 140 Mph 924 Carrera GT - 150 Mph 924 Carrera Turbo GTS - 155 Mph |
The 924 is a front engine, rear wheel drive two door 2+2 coupe that replaced the 914 as the entry level Porsche. The 924 was the first Porsche to reach production with a water cooled, front mounted engine. Production of the model spanned from 1976 to 1988.
Porsche 924
In 1970 the jointly owned VW-Porsche marketing firm that had been created for Porsche designed cars using VW Components realised that the 914 was not going to be in long term production. The group began planning a new car that would be designed by Porsche but manufactured and badged as a VW/Audi the intention was that the VW-Porsche partnership used to sell the 914 would no longer exist.
The design brief was to produce a 2+2 coupe with all independent suspensions utilising as many VW components as possible – the car was intended to be Volkswagens range topping sports coupe. The engine would be water cooled and located at the front of the car with a traditional front engine rear wheel drive setup. The engine of choice was a new designed unit that was to be used in the new Audi 100. Development began but in 1973 the VW-Porsche group was disbanded and ownership of project EA425 was transferred to VW as they had funded the entire development which was estimated to be around $70 million. At this point VW announced the car would be sold only as a VW or Audi and not through the VW-Porsche outlet. This caused a dilemma for Porsche as the new vehicle would be a direct competitor to its own 914.
Fortunately, at this point VW General manager Rudolf Leiding left the company in 1974 with his ambitious plans for expansion having over extended VW/Audi group. Subsequent to the oil crisis his successor Tony Schmucker (Former Ford of Europe) informed Porsche that there was no need for the new model. Porsche decided to persevere with the car and paid around DM100 million to buy the production rights from VW, a condition of the sale was that VW group would manufacture the car at Audi’s plant in Neckarsulm utilising Audi sourced engines – a deal that helped get the car into production as Zuffenhausen was completely taken up with 911 production and preparation for the 928.
The bodywork was styled by Harm Lagaay from the Porsche styling department, the design of the car followed a wedge shape, with recessed pop up headlights and sloping bonnet.
The chassis, suspension, interior, exterior and braking were all manufactured by Porsche. The brakes were solid discs at front and rear drums (a step backward from the 914’s discs all round). Four wheel discs brakes were only available on the 924 turbo and 1980 onwards 924’s with the S package.
The cars traditional layout of front engine, rear wheel drive helped achieve a 48/52 weight distribution, the slight rear weight bias improved the handling of the car giving better brake balance and traction.
The 924 was offered with four speed Audi sourced manual transmission or Audi three speed Automatic gearbox that was made available from 1977. The 1,994cc engine (fitted with Bosch K Jetronic Fuel injection), also provided by Audi generated 125bhp @ 5,800 rpm and 121 lb/ft @ 3,500 rpm, but in us spec trim the engine only produced 95bhp that was later increased to 110bhp in 1977 with the introduction of a Catalytic converter thus the model had the power sapping Smog equipment removed.
The 924 was officially launched in November 1975 at a press launch at La Rande Motte, Camargue in the south of France. The car was released in 1976 at a price of £6999.
A variety of revision were made to the model during its production cycle, in 1979 a five speed Porsche manual dogleg unit has made available although this proved troublesome and was replaced in 1980 with a H pattern Audi sourced five speed unit.
The car was very well received but did receive some harsh criticism for poor performance mainly due to the Audi 2.0 engine. Porsche management realised the need for introduction of a higher performance version to fit in between the 924 base and 911 and so sanctioned the development of the 924 Turbo. The 924 turbo was released in 1978 and produced 170bhp @ 5,500 rpm and 184 lb/t @ 3,500 rpm. The Turbo was capable of a top speed of 140 mph and 0-60 was brought up in around 7 seconds. The turbo utilised the same Audi 20. l I4 engine but had a new designed cylinder head coupled with a KKK K26 turbocharger. Further information on this model can be found on its own model page. The Turbo was produced until 1982 in all markets with Italian market continuing up until 1984. This is due to the restrictions on engines larger than 2 liters, putting the 2.5 liter 944 into a much higher tax category.
In 1980 Porsche released the 924 Carrera GT this was to meet homologation requirements as the Carrera was about to enter competition. The Carrera GT was a development of the 924 turbo with increased compression and intercooler. The car produced 210 bhp, with the subsequent 924 GTS producing 245bhp, Club-Sport version of the 924 GTS was available with 280bhp. Theses models are covered in detail in their own section.
Porsche 924
In 1984 VW stopped manufacturing the I4 engine blocks leaving Porsche without a source of engines fro the base 924. Porsche still wanted a entry level model that was cheaper than the 944, to overcome the situation the 2.5 litre straight four engine was installed in the 924 – launched as the 924S. This model produced 150bhp and marked the re-introduction of the car into the US market. The car remained in production until 1988 when the 924 was dropped altogether. Further details can be found on the 924S page.
In 1987 the final limited edition 924 was released – namely the 924S Le Mans, this model was available in alpine white or black and only 980 cars were ever manufactured. The engine received an upgraded engine to 160bhp, just 3bhp behind the base 944. Out of the 980 cars produced 813 were black and 167 white. The car received electric tilt and slide steel sunroof as standard.
In 1988 the S received a revised power rating for the engine increasing to 160bhp. The car was dropped in 1988 after 121,000 cars were manufactured making this series one of the most successful in Porsches history.
The Facts
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Engine: |
Audi 2.0 Audi 2.0 Turbo Porsche 2.5 |
|---|---|
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Capacity: |
Audi - 1,984cc Porsche - 2,479cc |
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Valves: |
8 |
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Compression Ratio: |
Audi - 9.3:1 Porsche - 9.7:1 |
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Fuel System: |
Audi - Bosch K Jetronic Porsche - Bosch L Jetronic |
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Maximum Power: |
924 2.0 - 125bhp @ 5,800 rpm 924S 2.5 150/160 bhp @ 5,800 rpm. 924 2.0 Turbo - 170 bhp @ 5,500rpm 924 Carrera GT - 207 bhp @ 6,000 rpm 924 Carrera Turbo GTS - 245 bhp @ 6,250 rpm |
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Maximum Torque: |
924 2.0 - 121 lb/ft @ 3,500 rpm 924S 2.5 155 lb/ft @ 4,500 rpm. 924 2.0 Turbo - 184 lb/ft @ 3,500rpm 924 Carrera GT - 207 lb/ft @ 3,500 rpm 924 Carrera Turbo GTS - 247 lb/ft @ 3,000 rpm |
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Transmission: |
Manual 4 speed / Manual 5 Speed / 3 Speed Automatic |
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Top Gear: |
- |
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Brakes: |
924 - Front discs / rear drums All others - discs all round |
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Kerb Weight: |
924 - 1,080 Kg 924S - 1,217 Kg 924 2.0 Turbo - 1,180 Kg 924 Carrera GT - 1,179 Kg 924 Carrera Turbo GTS - 1,121 Kg |
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Max Speed: |
924 - 126 Mph 924S - 136 Mph 924 2.0 Turbo - 140 Mph 924 Carrera GT - 150 Mph 924 Carrera Turbo GTS - 155 Mph </</td> |
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0-60: |
924 - 9.5 Secs 924S - 8.0 Secs 924 2.0 Turbo - 7.0 Secs 924 Carrera GT - 6.9 Secs 924 Carrera Turbo GTS - 6.0 Secs </</td> |
