Porsche history · 1991–1995
Porsche 968: History, Specs & What to Know
By CarWhere Research · Updated
The Porsche 968 is the final evolution of the 944, premiered at the 1991 Frankfurt show and built until 1995. Its 3.0-liter four-cylinder made 240 PS and drove through a six-speed manual or Tiptronic. Porsche built only 11,248, including 1,538 lightweight 968 CS (Club Sport) cars and 14 Turbo S.
The 968 kept the 944's transaxle layout and much of its body but adopted a 3.0-liter engine with 240 PS and 305 Nm, and a six-speed manual. Tiptronic was available as an alternative.
Low production makes the 968 the rarest of the four-cylinder transaxle cars. The stripped-out 968 CS was named Performance Car of the Year by the British magazine Performance Car in 1993, and Porsche also built four 968 Turbo RS race cars and 14 road-legal Turbo S models.
968 history: what changed, year by year
- 1991 — World premiere at the Frankfurt IAA: 3.0-liter inline-four with 240 PS and a six-speed manual.[1]
- 1992 — First customer deliveries; Tiptronic offered.[1]
- 1993 — 968 CS (Club Sport), 1,538 built; Performance Car of the Year (UK). Turbo RS race car (4) and Turbo S road car (14).[1]
- 1995 — Production ends at 11,248; Porsche retires its front-engine cars.[1],[2]
How many 968s were made?
| Model / variant | Years | Units | What the figure counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 968 | to 1995 | 11,248[1] | total built |
| 968 | — | 1,538[1] | total built |
| 968 | — | 14[1] | total built |
| 968 | — | 4[1] | total built |
More model-by-model totals: Porsche production numbers.
968 variants and engines
| Variant | Years | Engine | Power | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 968 Coupe | 1992–1995 | 3.0 L DOHC 16-valve inline-4 | 240 PS[1],[3] | US 236 hp; MSRP $39,950 (1992); 0–60 mph 6.3 s. |
| 968 Cabriolet | 1992–1995 | 3.0 L DOHC 16-valve inline-4 | 240 PS[1],[3] | US MSRP $51,900 (1992). |
| 968 CS (Club Sport) | from 1993 | 3.0 L inline-4 | 240 PS[1] | Lightweight; 1,538 built. |
| 968 Turbo S | 1993 | 3.0 L turbocharged inline-4 | —[1] | 14 built. |
| 968 Turbo RS (race) | 1993 | 3.0 L turbocharged inline-4 | 337–350 PS[1] | 4 built. |
Full trim-by-trim figures (US hp, torque, 0–60, weight, launch MSRP): Porsche 968 specs.
968 engine and drivetrain facts
What to check before you buy a 968
- Belt service: like the 944, the 968 uses a toothed timing belt and a balance-shaft belt; get dated replacement records.
- With 11,248 built and 1,538 Club Sports, verify CS and special-model claims against the factory record.[1]
- Check the clutch and the condition of the torque tube bearings during a specialist inspection.
- Cabriolet tops and rear windows should be checked for wear and leaks.
How to verify a 968's factory options
Every 968 carries a 17-character VIN. A build sheet can check for factory paint, interior and option codes recorded for the VIN; for 1990s cars the data is thinner than for modern Porsches, so the free check comes first. Porsche's Certificate of Authenticity is the factory's own fallback record.
See exactly how this 968 left the factory.
The CarWhere build sheet decodes a US-market Porsche VIN into the factory paint, interior and option codes recorded for it. $9.99. Build data is thinner for older cars, so the free availability check shows whether it exists for your VIN before you pay.
Porsche 968 FAQ
How many Porsche 968s were made?
Porsche built 11,248 968s from 1991 to 1995, including 1,538 968 CS (Club Sport) cars and 14 968 Turbo S.
How much horsepower does a 968 have?
240 PS and 305 Nm by Porsche's figures; US-market cars were rated 236 hp.
Is the 968 a 944?
It is the final evolution of the 944, keeping its transaxle layout and much of its body but with a 3.0-liter 240 PS engine and a six-speed manual.
What is a 968 CS?
The Club Sport, a lighter, simplified 968 introduced in 1993. Porsche built 1,538 of them.
Related Porsche history
Specs, production and buying research
Sources
Production counts, power outputs and dates on this page come from the sources below. Where sources disagree, the page says so or uses Porsche's own figure.
- Time lapse: Porsche's transaxle models — Porsche Newsroom
- Porsche Historical Background: 1948-2025 — Porsche Cars North America (Porsche Newsroom)
- Porsche 968 specs (US-market figures, each sourced on the page) — CarWhere Research
Independent reference published by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. Porsche, 911, Carrera, Targa and Boxster are trademarks of their owner.