By the start of the 70s Porsche had begun to develop a completely new model which was to be fundamentally different to the previous Porsche. The engine was moved to the front and was water-cooled. The trans-axle construction with front-mounted engine and gearbox behind provided a better axle load distribution.
The propulsion was provided by an eight-cylinder alloy V engine with 4.5 litres capacity. The drive train also included a two-disc clutch, a fixed tube between engine and the five-speed gearbox and a fast-running shaft connecting the clutch to the gearbox. A fully automatic gearbox was available on request.
The engineers spent much effort on developing the drive gear. One result of their efforts was a special rear axle which went down in history as the Weissach axle and was designed to compensate for toe-in changes occurring on the drive gear.
The 928, whose bodywork was developed with future safety regulations in mind, was seen as an easy-to-master luxurious and supremely good sports tourer and it was a bold decision to plan and realise this sports car in the teeth of the prevailing energy crisis.
Technical Specifications
Engine: V-eight cylinder engine, water cooled, one upper camshaft per cylinder series
Power: 240 HP (177 kW) at 5500/min
Displacement: 4474 ccm
Fuel system: K-Jetronic, tank capacity 86 litres
Transmission: five speed gearbox
Chassis: self-supporting bodywork with front independent suspension on double transverse links, coil springs, hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers, stabilisers, rear independent suspension on upper and lower transverse links, control vibration on lower control arms for compensation of track changes, coil springs, hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers, stabilisers
Dimensions and weight: wheel base: 2,500 mm
length: 4,447 mm
width: 1,836 mm
height: 1,313 mm
weight: 1,450 kg
