Porsche 996
Encyclopedia
The Porsche 996 is the internal designation for the Porsche 911
model manufactured and sold between 1998 and 2005. It has since been replaced by the Type 997
. Both body styles were produced by Porsche in 2005,based upon model type.
At its debut, the 996 featured the most significant changes to the Carrera model since its 1963 introduction; the most significant change with this new iteration is the water-cooled engine replacing the previously air-cooled engine. Progressively stringent noise regulations, environmental concerns, a higher expectation for refinement and a high-performance 4 valve
per cylinder
engine made the switch necessary. The 996 Carrera (non GT and Turbo models) engine is designed with what Porsche calls the "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.
; the first new 911 that didn't carry over a significant component from a previous variant. All new body work, interior and drive-train including the first water-cooled engine in a 911. The Porsche 996 replaced the Porsche 993
.
The first 996s were available as a coupe
or cabriolet with either rear wheel or four-wheel drive and a 3.4 litre flat-6
normally aspirated engine producing 296 bhp (224 kW). These cars had the same front end as the 1996 Porsche Boxster
. Porsche Carrera owners complained loudly and long about the "lower priced car that looked just like theirs did ", hence the headlight change for the 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 420 bhp (309 kW), making the car capable of 4.2 second 0 to 60 mph times. An X50 option which included larger turbochargers and intercoolers along with revised engine control software became available from the factory in 2002, increasing power to 450 hp (336 kW). Porsche produced a Turbo S in 2005, which also had the x50 option with 450 bhp, alongside the formerly optional Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) composite ceramic brakes (PCCB) as standard equipment. Horsepower on the base Carrera model was increased by a modest 3 bhp to 299 bhp.
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 Mk2 generation of the 996, or the 996.2. In addition, engine capacity was also increased to 3.6 litres across the range, yielding gains of 15 horsepower 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. Also in 2002, the Carrera 4S model was first introduced. The C4S as it is commonly called, shares the widebody look of the Turbo as well as the brakes and suspension.
and GT3
. The GT3 was based on the standard 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 360 bhp. 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 380 bhp. 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.
Also its counterpart, the GT2, was RWD to save weight and to avoid power losses through the transmission. It received an added group of aerodynamic body parts, 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 489 hp and 484 lbft of torque
respectively, enough to launch the car from 0 to 60 mi/h in 3.9 seconds and to a top speed of 198 mi/h. Bigger wheels and tires along with lightweight ceramic brakes were standard. The GT2's fixed rear wing (made of CFRP for the post-2003 cars) appears to be a concession to racing rules that usually outlaw moving aerodynamic devices. It had no rear seat and no air conditioning. Both cars were available only with six-speed manual 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 cars' engines.
The 2002+ cars received a 3.6L engine which provided an extra 15 bhp of horse power (taking output to 315 bhp) and an additional 15 lb.ft of torque (increasing from 258 to 273); 320 ps is equal to 315 hp. The inclusion of Variocam Plus (as opposed to Variocam on the earlier 996) improved power delivery through the rpm range. The headlights on the 996 Carrera also adopted the turbo headlights of the MK1 iteration. Seat belt pretensioners were also added and the Tiptronic in 2000 was modified to allow it to enter manual
mode by clicking the steering wheel mounted buttons.
Minor cosmetic updates also included an updated front bumper and the addition of a glove box. The "MK2" 996 gained 55 lbs. compared to the "MK1" in this evolutionary step change.
. 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" for model year 2004. 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 (option in Latin America), litronic bi-xenon headlights, special dynamic sealed panels, and a special "40 Jahre 911" logo on the back. The power was increased from 316 to 345 hp. Only 1,963 units were made, to commemorate 1963—the year the 911 was introduced.
All specifications stated are for the MkII, EU spec 996's.
police. The police department seized the vehicle after they found 10 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside two compartments. Since then the vehicle was redecorated with a wing, light bar, and rear window lights.
The vehicle was unveiled in 2009 as Hoover Police Department police car.
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998...
model manufactured and sold between 1998 and 2005. It has since been replaced by the Type 997
Porsche 997
The Porsche Type 997 , also simply called the 997 is the current version of the 911 family sports car built by German manufacturer Porsche in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen...
. Both body styles were produced by Porsche in 2005,based upon model type.
At its debut, the 996 featured the most significant changes to the Carrera model since its 1963 introduction; the most significant change with this new iteration is the water-cooled engine replacing the previously air-cooled engine. Progressively stringent noise regulations, environmental concerns, a higher expectation for refinement and a high-performance 4 valve
Valve
A valve is a device that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically pipe fittings, but are usually discussed as a separate category...
per cylinder
Cylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
engine made the switch necessary. The 996 Carrera (non GT and Turbo models) engine is designed with what Porsche calls the "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
Windshield
The windshield or windscreen of an aircraft, car, bus, motorbike or tram is the front window. Modern windshields are generally made of laminated safety glass, a type of treated glass, which consists of two curved sheets of glass with a plastic layer laminated between them for safety, and are glued...
and a re-designed interior.
Design
The Porsche 996 was an all new design made by Harm LagaayHarm Lagaay
Harm Lagaay is a Dutch automobile designer. Educated in the Netherlands he completed the studies at the IVA and went to work for a Dutch company Olyslager in Soest....
; the first new 911 that didn't carry over a significant component from a previous variant. All new body work, interior and drive-train including the first water-cooled engine in a 911. The Porsche 996 replaced the Porsche 993
Porsche 993
The Porsche 993 is the company's internal name for the version of the Porsche 911 model manufactured and sold between late 1993 and early 1998, replacing the 964...
.
The first 996s were available as a coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
or cabriolet with either rear wheel or four-wheel drive and a 3.4 litre flat-6
Flat-6
A flat-6 or horizontally opposed-6 is a flat engine with six cylinders arranged horizontally in two banks of three cylinders on each side of a central crankcase...
normally aspirated engine producing 296 bhp (224 kW). These cars had the same front end as the 1996 Porsche Boxster
Porsche Boxster
The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engined roadster built by Porsche. The Boxster is Porsche's first road vehicle to be originally designed as a roadster since the 550 Spyder....
. Porsche Carrera owners complained loudly and long about the "lower priced car that looked just like theirs did ", hence the headlight change for the Boxster. The design for the "fried egg" headlamp could be traced all the way back to the Porsche Panamericana
Porsche Panamericana
The Porsche Panamericana is an automobile produced by Porsche AG. It was designed by Dutchman Harm Lagaay and Ulrich Bez to renew the design of the 911. Lagaay was known for his work in Porsche's Weissach R&D center from 1970 to 1977 as a member of the Anatole Lapine design team that designed the...
concept car.
In 2000, Porsche debuted the 996 Turbo, equipped with four-wheel-drive and a 3.6 litre, twin turbocharged
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
and intercooled
Intercooler
An intercooler , or charge air cooler, is an air-to-air or air-to-liquid heat exchange device used on turbocharged and supercharged internal combustion engines to improve their volumetric efficiency by increasing intake air charge density through nearly isobaric cooling, which removes...
flat-six producing 420 bhp (309 kW), making the car capable of 4.2 second 0 to 60 mph times. An X50 option which included larger turbochargers and intercoolers along with revised engine control software became available from the factory in 2002, increasing power to 450 hp (336 kW). Porsche produced a Turbo S in 2005, which also had the x50 option with 450 bhp, alongside the formerly optional Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) composite ceramic brakes (PCCB) as standard equipment. Horsepower on the base Carrera model was increased by a modest 3 bhp to 299 bhp.
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 Mk2 generation of the 996, or the 996.2. In addition, engine capacity was also increased to 3.6 litres across the range, yielding gains of 15 horsepower for the non-Turbo models. 2002 also marked the start of the production of the 996 based Targa
Targa top
Targa top, targa for short, is a semi-convertible car body style with a removable roof section and a full width roll bar behind the seats. The term was first used on the 1966 Porsche 911 Targa, and it remains a registered trademark of Porsche AG....
, featuring a sliding glass "green house" roof system like its Type 993 predecessor. Also in 2002, the Carrera 4S model was first introduced. The C4S as it is commonly called, shares the widebody look of the Turbo as well as the brakes and suspension.
GT variants
The 996 platform was used as the basis for two lightweight GT variants called GT2Porsche 911 GT2
The Porsche 911 GT2 is a sports car built by the German manufacturer Porsche since 1994. It is based on the 911 Turbo, and uses a similar twin-turbocharged engine, but features numerous upgrades, including engine upgrades, larger brakes, and stiffer suspension calibration...
and GT3
Porsche 911 GT3
The Porsche 911 GT3 is a higher performance version of the Porsche 911 sports car. It is the latest in a line of high performance models, beginning with the 1973 911 RS...
. The GT3 was based on the standard 996 Carrera, but was stripped of a great deal of equipment for weight savings, featured stiffer, adjustable suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
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 360 bhp. This engine was shared with the 996 Turbo and was a derivative of the Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
winning engine developed for the 911 GT1
Porsche 911 GT1
The Porsche 911 GT1 was a car designed for competition in the GT1 class of sportscar racing, which also required a street legal version for homologation purposes...
. 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 380 bhp. 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.
Also its counterpart, the GT2, was RWD to save weight and to avoid power losses through the transmission. It received an added group of aerodynamic body parts, 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 489 hp and 484 lbft of torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
respectively, enough to launch the car from 0 to 60 mi/h in 3.9 seconds and to a top speed of 198 mi/h. Bigger wheels and tires along with lightweight ceramic brakes were standard. The GT2's fixed rear wing (made of CFRP for the post-2003 cars) appears to be a concession to racing rules that usually outlaw moving aerodynamic devices. It had no rear seat and no air conditioning. Both cars were available only with six-speed manual transmissions
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
.
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 cars' engines.
Evolution
The 99 Model year featured a 3.4L engine producing 296 bhp. The 2000 and 2001 model years received a slight increase in horsepower to an even 300 bhp while retaining the same figures for torque produced. In addition, Porsche made many changes to the 3.4-liter unit over its production lifespan, so the last of the last of these 3.4L engines (made in 2001) have improved reliability.The 2002+ cars received a 3.6L engine which provided an extra 15 bhp of horse power (taking output to 315 bhp) and an additional 15 lb.ft of torque (increasing from 258 to 273); 320 ps is equal to 315 hp. The inclusion of Variocam Plus (as opposed to Variocam on the earlier 996) improved power delivery through the rpm range. The headlights on the 996 Carrera also adopted the turbo headlights of the MK1 iteration. Seat belt pretensioners were also added and the Tiptronic in 2000 was modified to allow it to enter manual
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
mode by clicking the steering wheel mounted buttons.
Minor cosmetic updates also included an updated front bumper and the addition of a glove box. The "MK2" 996 gained 55 lbs. compared to the "MK1" in this evolutionary step change.
Special 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 coupeCoupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
. 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" for model year 2004. 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 (option in Latin America), litronic bi-xenon headlights, special dynamic sealed panels, and a special "40 Jahre 911" logo on the back. The power was increased from 316 to 345 hp. Only 1,963 units were made, to commemorate 1963—the year the 911 was introduced.
Statistics
| Model | PS, Engine | 0-62 mph acceleration | Top Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 911 Carrera | 320 PS @ 6800 rpm, 3.6L wet-sump Wet sump A wet sump is a lubricating oil management design for four-stroke piston internal combustion engines which uses a built-in reservoir for oil, as opposed to an external or secondary reservoir used in a dry sump design.... |
4.9 s |
178 mi/h |
| 911 Carrera 4 | 320 PS @ 6800 rpm, 3.6L wet-sump | 5.1 s | 177 mi/h |
| 911 Carrera 4S | 320 PS @ 6800 rpm, 3.6L wet-sump | 5.0 s | 174 mi/h |
| 911 "40 Jahre" | 345 PS @ 6800 rpm, 3.6L wet-sump | 4.8 s | 180 mi/h |
| 911 Targa | 320 PS @ 6800 rpm, 3.6L wet-sump | 5.2 s | 174 mi/h |
| 911 Turbo | 420 PS @ 6000 rpm, 3.6L dry-sump Dry sump A dry sump is a lubricating motor oil management method for four-stroke and large two-stroke piston internal combustion engines that uses external pumps and a secondary external reservoir for oil, as compared to a conventional wet sump system.... |
4.2 s | 189 mi/h |
| 911 Turbo X50 | 450 PS @ 6000 rpm, 3.6L dry-sump | 4.0 s | 192 mi/h |
| 911 Turbo S | 450 PS @ 6000 rpm, 3.6L dry-sump | 3.9 s | 193 mi/h |
| 911 GT3 | 380 PS @ 7400 rpm, 3.6L dry-sump | 4.5 s | 190 mi/h |
| 911 GT3 RS | 400 PS @ 7400 rpm, 3.6L dry-sump | 4.4 s | 190 mi/h |
| 911 GT2 Porsche 911 GT2 The Porsche 911 GT2 is a sports car built by the German manufacturer Porsche since 1994. It is based on the 911 Turbo, and uses a similar twin-turbocharged engine, but features numerous upgrades, including engine upgrades, larger brakes, and stiffer suspension calibration... |
483 PS @ 5700 rpm, 3.6L dry-sump | 3.7 s | 192 mi/h |
| 911 Turbo Cabriolet | 420 PS @ 6000 rpm, 3.6L dry-sump | 4.4 s | 187 mi/h |
| 911 Turbo X50 Cabriolet | 450 PS @ 6000 rpm, 3.6L dry-sump | 4.2 s | 189 mi/h |
| 911 Turbo S Cabriolet | 450 PS @ 6000 rpm, 3.6L dry-sump | 4.1 s | 190 mi/h |
| 911 Carrera Cabriolet | 320 PS @ 6800 rpm, 3.6L wet-sump | 5.1 s | 176 mi/h |
| 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet | 320 PS @ 6800 rpm, 3.6L wet-sump | 5.2 s | 175 mi/h |
| 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet | 320 PS @ 6800 rpm, 3.6L wet-sump | 5.4 s | 172 mi/h |
All specifications stated are for the MkII, EU spec 996's.
Police car
In 2007, a motorist's 2001 Porsche 911 was searched during a traffic stop by Hoover, AlabamaHoover, Alabama
Hoover is a city in Jefferson and Shelby Counties in north central Alabama, in the United States. The largest suburb of Birmingham, the population of the city was 62,742 as of the 2000 census and 81,619 in the 2010 census. Hoover is part of the Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA and is also included in the...
police. The police department seized the vehicle after they found 10 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside two compartments. Since then the vehicle was redecorated with a wing, light bar, and rear window lights.
The vehicle was unveiled in 2009 as Hoover Police Department police car.