European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 3, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday april 3, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13 one of world s Best sports cars porsche 944 Turbo rates at the top the porsche 944 Turbo is a car that does everything without Effort. It s a sophisticated sports car that can travel in the fast Lane at More than 150 Miles an hour but it can also move along in heavy City traffic without fuss. One can use the porsche 944 Turbo for daily transportation and love every minute behind the wheel because it s a comfortable civilized High performance car that one can rely on. We had the 944 Turbo on test recently Courtesy of the porsche firm at Zug Fenhaus sen and it was a sad Day indeed when we had to take the car Back. We drove the regular porsche 944 when it came onto the Market a few years ago and we thoroughly enjoyed it but the 944 Turbo with its sharply increased Power is just All that much More fun to drive. While the cars Are similar in appear Ance the Turbo version has been totally re engineered brakes suspension Etc to achieve perfect balance with the increased horsepower from the Turbo engine. Aerodynamics stressed the body has also been further refined different front end styling for instance As Well As being aerodynamically smoother with a drag coefficient of 0.33 compared to 0.35 for the 944. Aerodynamically advanced front and rear spoilers Are featured As Well As a rear skirt that functions As an underbody spoiler. Designed to run with or without a catalytic converter the 2.5-liter, four Cylinder Turbo engine with inter cooler turns out 220 horsepower either Way with the maximum Speed rated at 152 Mph. The o-to-100-Kph 62 Mph figure is 6.3 seconds. On the Road the Turbo boost comes on smoothly and is especially effective in the Middle ranges. The car is Swift and silent at All speeds and runs through turns As if on rails making it great fun to put the Power Down especially in second and third gears. The Power assisted steering is extremely precise As is the five Speed Gearbox. With this car you always know what s going on and should never have any trouble. The ride is firm but comfortable the sus pension working just right on any surface from smooth to dirt to Cobblestone. The 944 Turbo is an exceptionally solid car All around. The Turbo engine is Only loafing at 62 Mph turning 2,250 rpm in fifth gear red line is 6,250. One can hit 100 Mph in third gear the engine is turning 6,000 rpm then and 68 Mph in second also at 6,000 rpm. At 125 Mph in fifth gear the Rev counter hits 4,500 rpm. When you push it to 137 Mph it s Nice to note that you still have another 15 Mph or so on tap. Great stuff. And remember All this from a four Cyl Inder Turbo engine. It should come As no sur prise however As porsche s exhaust Turbo charging knowledge gained through its practically endless racing successes is second to none. Racing heritage in fact an experimental version of the porsche 944 Turbo was raced in 1981 at be mans disguised As a 924 Ftp and it came in seventh Overall. Three years later in june of 1984, a pre production version of the 944 Turbo ran at Nelson ledges Ohio and won that 24-hour race by 40 laps. That car was equipped with a catalytic converter As the Nelson ledges race was restricted to production cars and production prototypes that met . Emission requirements. Speaking of racing porsche is planning a porsche Turbo cup series this season for identical 944 Turbo cars with the object being to race these emission controlled production cars to gain More experience on catalyst converter cars under full Load operation and at High speeds. Most races will be staged within the new adar super cup program the first scheduled for april 27 on the nuer Burgering. The porsche 944 Turbo features sleek lines for an aerodynamic drag coefficient of Only 0.33. Is photo rear skirt functions As an underbody spoiler. Large Luggage area is reached through rear Hatch. _ is photo the 4-Cylinder, 220-horsepower Turbo engine. Is photo hands fit wheel at "3 and 9 o clock positions. Is photo inside the 944, the seating for the Driver is perfect with Power seating adjustments that guarantee it. The steering wheel feels just right with the design calling for the hands at the "3 and 9 o clock positions. All controls Are easy to reach. Through the top Section of the wheel one views the relatively spartan instrument panel that is shaped in the same configuration As the top of the wheel. Gauges with Clear White on Black numerals Are easily and quickly read. They include water fuel speedometer and Rev counter Turbo boost Oil pressure and amps. Both doors contain storage space for maps and other items there s a Large lock Able Glove Box and the rear seats can take care of two Small children. Adults would be limited to Short hops about town. The Luggage area is More than adequate and is covered by a Blind and if one needs additional cargo space the rear setbacks May be folded Down to provide it. The rear Hatch May be opened from the inside. Power windows Power Central Locking and heated seats Are featured As Well As two cosmetic mirrors in the sunshades. The cos Metic Mirror on the left Side is a Nice touch for the Driver Lucky enough to own a 944  aerodynamics play a major part in the car s fuel efficiency our figure being 18.8 Miles per gallon under All conditions including some sustained High Speed runs. The tank holds 80 liners 21 Gallons so the Range would be at least 350 Miles. Regarding Price the porsche 944 Turbo costs 63,596 Marks without tax in Germany $27,650 at 2.30 Marks to the Dollar while the Price in the United states runs at about $30,000. As the 944 Turbo easily rates As one of the world s Best sports cars on the Market today that Price is More than reasonable. Randy Barnett