Page 93 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

THE BACKSTORY
When Porsche released its new model 944 in 1983, the sales brochure said, “The Porsche 944 combines the experience gained with the 924 and 928 models with a new engine generation.” The model was very much an evolution of the departing 924, but it made a big impact. The 944 had a much more aggressive look than the 924, with sporty box flares around all four wheels and a rubber spoiler growing around the rear hatch window. Those who had wondered if the 924 was a “real” Porsche made no such comments about the 944.
choose a five-speed manual gearbox or a three-speed automatic and expect 0-60 performance of about 8.4 seconds.
The first edition of the 944 offered 150 horsepower and 142 lb ft of torque, which was impressive for a naturally aspirated four- cylinder in that era. European models were a bit hotter than their North American market counterparts because of emission controls that included a reduced 9.5:1 compression ratio. Euro models used higher compression and achieved 163 horsepower from the beginning. The first year of US production received the Bosch LE-Jetronic fuel injection system, but after that all 944s switched to Bosch DME (Digital Motor Electronics), better known as Motronic, which managed ignition as well as fuel distribution. Another notable feature of the 944 engine was the use of two balance shafts to smooth out vibrations, leading to an extraordinarily smooth-running unit.
Porsche maintained the 2.5-liter engine for five years, finally switching to a 2.7-liter for the 1989 model year. The extra displacement was due to a new 104 mm bore, up from the previous 100 mm. By that time the Motronic system had allowed a compression increase that brought 2.5-liter North American spec 944s to 160 horsepower in 1988. The new 2.7-liter engine raised output to 165 horsepower and 166 lb ft.
Porsche 944
944 basics
The 944 eliminated many of the clues about the 924’s VW/Audi roots, putting the Porsche name boldly along the cam cover. That wouldn’t have meant much on its own, but the 944 had the performance chops to back it up. Porsche started with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, single overhead cam engine with two valves per cylinder and the same bore and stroke as the 928 V8. The 944 also maintained the 924’s rear-mounted transaxle design. Buyers could
TOP LEFT: The 944 took Porsche’s water-cooled front-engine designs to the next level, far surpassing the 924. TOP RIGHT: The front-engine, rear-transmission design delivers near-perfect balanced handling.
ABOVE: Beyond the technical advantages, the 944 was an outstandingly good-looking car.
Wayne Carini  Affordable Classics  91