Porsche 996

Infobox Automobile


name=Porsche 996
aka=Porsche 911
Porsche Carrera
manufacturer=Porsche
production=1998–2004
assembly=Stuttgart, Germany
layout=Rear engine, rear wheel drive / all wheel drive
body_style=2-door coupe
2-door convertible
engine=3.4 L H6
3.6 L H6
transmission=5-speed automatic
6-speed manual
predecessor=Porsche 993
successor=Porsche 997
designer=Pinky Lai
wheelbase=Auto in|92.6|0
length=Auto in|174.5|0
4S & Turbo: Auto in|174.6|0
width=1999-2001: Auto in|69.5|0
2002-04: Auto in|69.7|0
4S & Turbo: Auto in|72.0|0
height=Auto in|51.4|0
4S & Turbo: Auto in|51.0|0
40th Anniversary Coupe: Auto in|50.2|0
GT2: Auto in|50.2|0
weight=2920 lbs (1320 Kg)The Porsche 996 is the company's internal name for the version of the Porsche 911 model manufactured and sold between 1998 and 2005. It has since been replaced by the Type 997. Both body styles were used in 2005, depending on model. At its debut, it featured the most significant changes to the Carrera model since its introduction in 1963. The most important among these is the fully water-cooled engine, replacing the previously air-cooled engines used exclusively by the Carrera models. More stringent noise regulations and higher customer expectations for both refinement and a higher performance 4 valve per cylinder engine made the switch necessary. The 996 Carrera (not GT2, GT3 and Turbo models) engine is designed with what Porsche calls "integrated dry sump oiling". This "integrated dry sump" engine does not have an oil scavenge pump in the crankcase to pump the engine oil to a separate holding tank outside the crankcase as a true dry sump design would have. The only scavenge pumps in the 996 engine are in the camshaft boxes and the oil is pumped from there to the bottom of the crankcase as it would be in any "wet sump" engine. Other changes include a sleeker body with a more steeply raked windshield and a re-designed interior.

With these differences in mind, many "purists" consider the 996 to be an altogether different car since it is not air-cooled like the 993 and its predecessors all the way to the 356, at least in spirit, than the Carreras that preceded it, as opposed to being a development of the original.

Design

The first 996s were available as a coupe or cabriolet with either rear wheel or all wheel drive and a 3.4 litre flat-6 normally aspirated engine producing 300 bhp (224 kW). These cars had the same front end as the 1996 Porsche Boxster. The design for the "fried egg" headlamp could be traced all the way back to the Porsche Panamericana concept car. In 2000, Porsche debuted the 996 Turbo, equipped with four-wheel-drive and a 3.6 litre, twin turbocharged and intercooled flat six producing 415 bhp (309 kW), making the car capable of 3.9 second 0 to 60 mph times. An "X50" upgrade package was available from the factory in 2002, increasing power to 444 hp (336 kW) through minor revisions to the turbochargers and engine control software. Porsche produced a Turbo "S" in 2005, featuring the X50 engine upgrades and the formerly optional ceramic brakes as standard equipment. In 2002, the standard models underwent minor re-styling, which included switching to the Turbo-style headlamps and to a new front fascia. These were sometimes known as the Mk.II generation of the 996. In addition, engine capacity was also increased to 3.6 litres across the range, yielding gains of 20 horsepower (15 kW) for the non-Turbo models. 2002 also marked the start of the production of the 996 based Targa, featuring a sliding glass "green house" roof system like its Type 993 predecessor.

GT variants

Like the 993 before it, the 996 platform was used as the basis for two lightweight GT variants called GT2 [cite web|title=First Drive: 2002 Porsche 911 GT2|publisher="Motor Trend"|url=http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/112_0106_2002_porsche_911_gt2|accessdate=2008-02-04] and GT3. The GT3 was based on the standard RWD 996 Carrera, but was stripped of a great deal of equipment for weight savings, featured stiffer, adjustable suspension and upgraded brakes, and used the bodyshell of the four-wheel-drive version, which incorporated additional front-end stiffening. It was produced in two versions. The first, commonly referred to as the Mk.I GT3, was released in 1999 in all markets, save North America. It featured a naturally aspirated version 3.6L flat six making convert|360|bhp|abbr=on. This engine was shared with the 996 Turbo and was a derivative of the Le Mans winning engine developed for the 911 GT1. The Mk.II GT3 variant was based on the second generation of the 996, and featured updated aerodynamics, and a more powerful version of the 3.6L engine from the MK.I, now producing convert|380|bhp|abbr=on. The Mk.II was the first GT3 marketed in the North America. In a 2004 testing of the Mk.II GT3, the car accelerated 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds, and produced 1.03 g on the skidpad, the second highest number ever recorded by a street legal automobile. Its counterpart, the GT2, was also RWD only, but received an added group of aerodynamic body parts, ceramic brakes of larger diameter, and a re-tuned version of the 996 Turbo's 3.6 litre, twin turbocharged engine featuring larger turbochargers and intercoolers, revised intake and exhaust systems, and re-programmed engine control software. The result was 477 horsepower (356 kW) and 472 ft·lbf (640 Nm) of torque, enough to launch the car from 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds and to a top speed of 198 miles per hour (316 km/h). Both cars were available only with six-speed transmissions.

The Turbo, GT2 and GT3 models use the Aluminum crankcase of the air-cooled 911 with its true dry sump oiling system. The six separate individual Nikasil lined cylinders in this engine are covered with two separately installed water jackets each covering a bank of 3 cylinders on each side of the engine, thus adding water cooling to a crankcase originally designed for air-cooled cylinders (the normal 996 Carrera engine has the cylinders and water jackets cast together with the crankcase). This engine is very similar to that of the Le Mans winning Dauer Porsche 962 and Porsche GT1 racing car's engines.

Evolution

The 99/00/01 cars are all basically the same. 2002 brought a stiffer body which improved safety and handling. They also added seat belt pretensioners. The Tiptronic in 2000 was modified to allow it to enter manual mode by clicking the steering wheel mounted buttons. The Tiptronic would go back to auto mode after 8 seconds. The 2002 cars received the 996 turbo Tiptronic box which is stronger, shifts faster and had 250 shift modes. 2002 cars also received a 3.6L engine which provided an extra convert|25|bhp|abbr=on. It also had some improved parts helping with some reliability issues on the 3.4L engines. The X74 suspension which lowers and stiffens the car was also available as a 2002+ factory modification. Meanwhile, Variocam Plus had become standard for every 996 till production ended.

pecial Editions

Porsche offered a special edition of the 996 for the year 2000. The company introduced the car as "The 911 for the Millennium" and based it on the Carrera 4 coupe. Only 911 were made.

This special edition was finished in Violet Chromaflair paint with natural leather interior and dark burr maple trim. Available with a Tiptronic or six-speed manual gearbox, the car was well-equipped. A number plate on the center console and a unique "911" badge on the engine lid and lettering on the door sills make this special edition easy to identify.

Porsche celebrated the 911's 40-year history in 2003, using the slogan, "40 Jahre 911/40 Fast Years". The company also introduced the 996 "40th Anniversary Edition". This model has the 996 Turbo's front-end, and was available only in Carrera GT Silver exterior paint. Other unique features included: X51 power kit, turbo radiators, limited slip differential, sport suspension, polished 5-spoke alloys (unique to this model), GT3 side skirts, natural gray leather interior (with luggage set to match), sports seats (there was a power comfort seat option), polished exhaust tips, heated seats, litronic bi-xenon headlights, special dynamic sealed panels, and a special "40 Jahre 911" logo on the back. The power was increased from 325 to convert|345|hp|abbr=on. Only 1,963 units were made, to commemorate 1963--the very first year of the 911.

tatistics

ee also

*Porsche 911

References

External links

* [http://www.rennlist.com/main996faq/faq.htm 996 FAQ at Rennlist]
* [http://www.911uk.com 996 Owners and information]
* [http://www.autoguidewiki.com/Porsche_911_GT2 AutoGuideWiki.com]
* [http://www.sportwagen.fr/photos.php?galerie=911_996 Porsche 996 photo gallery]
* [http://www.rennteam.com/ Rennteam - the largest non-commercial and ad-free Porsche discussion forum worldwide]