1990 Porsche 911 Carrera

The Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and Carrera 2 (Type 964) were launched in 1989. This marked the first time that four-wheel drive had been used on a series-production Porsche model. Porsche had experimented with four-wheel drive on the 959 supercar, and the lessons learned influenced the design of the new Carrera's suspension and chassis. In 1990, the traditional torsion bars were replaced in favor of coil springs. The exterior design was face-lifted but retained the traditional shape, and over 87% of parts were claimed as entirely new. Power was from a 3.6-liter (3600cc) air-cooled flat-six engine offering 250 horsepower. Power-assisted steering (another 911 first), anti-lock brakes and a five-speed manual transmission were standard equipment on both the Carrera 2 and Carrera 4 models. The Tiptronic auto was a Carrera 2-only option (and the first automatic-shift ever available on the 911 series). Top speed was achieved at around 162 mph with zero-to-sixty mph taking 5.4 seconds (5.6 seconds with the Tiptronic installed).

The 1990 Porsche 911 Carrera was offered as a coupe, Targa, and a cabriolet - all with 2+2 seating. The Carrera 2 was a rear-wheel-drive vehicle while the Carrera 4 offered all-wheel drive. Pricing began at $58,500 for the rear-wheel-drive coupe while the Carrera 4 Cabriolet sold for $77,800. Power was from a horizontally opposed, overhead cam six-cylinder engine fitted with an aluminum block and head and displaced 219.7 cubic inches. It produced 247 SAE net horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque. The big news for 1990 was that the Turbo version was no longer available. The 930 Turbo 3.3-liter was in production from 1978 through 1989, followed by the 964 series Turbo produced from 1991 through 1993.

A four-speed overdrive automatic transmission, dubbed the Tiptronic, was available on the two-wheel-drive models. The Tiptronic automatic transmission was introduced for the 1990 model year and available in the 964 Carrera 2, featuring full manual control and adaptive electronic management. This marked the first time a Porsche 911 could be purchased from the factory with an automatic-shift gearbox. A five-speed manual gearbox mounted in the rear transaxle was standard. Standard equipment included anti-lock disc brakes, an automatic-raising rear spoiler, and dual front airbags. Dual airbags became standard in 1991.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2016