How Well Do You Know the Past 30 Years of Porsche 911s?

AUTO

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By: Dave Davis

7 Min Quiz

Image: Wiki Commons by Calm Vistas

About This Quiz

It's one of the most recognizable luxury sportscars in the world, and it is seen as a status symbol by many. In this mindset, if you're driving a Porsche 911, you've "made it." But how much do you know about this beautiful, powerful and maneuverable beauty (besides that it's expensive)? This is a quiz that will test you on your knowledge of the past three decades of one of the premier motor cars in existence. 

The Porsche 911 got its start in 1963 and is currently one of the longest-produced sports cars in the world. The car was almost called the "901," but French automaker Peugeot objected since they named their cars in an "X0X" format. Whatever the name, the design and engineering of the car were popular from the start because it fit the lifestyle of people who wanted a comfortable ride with power that was available if and when they needed it. In the words of Ferdinand Porsche, "The 911 is the only car you could drive on an African safari or at Le Mans, to the theatre or through New York City traffic.”

The most mass-produced luxury supercar in the world, the outer shape of the vehicle has mostly remained unchanged throughout its long history (it's easy to spot a 911 as far as you can see it, no matter what model year it is). The engineering that goes into that frame, however, has advanced over the years, with the past three decades of design improvements taking the car into the future. 

Do you think you know a thing or two about Porsche's flagship car? Do you think you know 35? Then you're ready to get behind the wheel and take this quiz for a spin about all things 911!

Where has the Porsche 911s been made since 1989?

This is a bit of a trick question: ALL Porsche 911s, since they were first introduced in 1963, have been made at the company's manufacturing facility at Zuffenhausen, a district of Stuttgart, Germany.

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In 2017, the Porsche 911 hit what milestone?

In 2017, Porsche marked the milestone of producing the 1,000,000th Porsche 911s since starting the line in 1963. The millionth 911, painted Irish Green and shown here, had a manual transmission, a wooden steering wheel and houndstooth seat trim. It went on a world tour after leaving the production line.

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The 911 Carrera S 50th Anniversary Edition, produced in 2014, only came in shades of which color?

Built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 911 line, this special edition of the 2014 Carrera S was converted to a wide body style and given "retro" styling on both the interior and exterior. The color choices for this vehicle were Graphite Grey or Geyser Grey.

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Added in the 2013 Carrera, what did Porsche's "Active Safe" system do?

A driver can sometimes get a little too comfortable when the car is on cruise control, so Porsche added the "Active Safe" system to its vehicles, starting with the 2013 Carrera. The system used a distance-detection function to scan the area ahead of the car. If it looked as if a collision might be coming, it would alert the driver; if the driver didn't take action, the system would start to apply the anti-lock brakes, ultimately going to full use of the brakes to avoid a crash.

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In 1996, which body style of 911 made a big comeback after having been discontinued in 1993?

The 911 Targa — the semi-convertible body style — was first introduced in 1966. The execution of removing the top, which had to be stowed in the nose of the vehicle — required all the storage space — left a lot to be desired. After a hiatus from 1993 to 1996, the body style was revamped, and the glass roof automatically slid down to open the car up to fresh air.

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What change to the 911 in 2002 was made to silence critics?

The 911s 996 Series had been criticized by many fans for sharing a front-end design with the cheaper, less prestigious Boxster line. For the 2002 model year, Porsche changed the headlight design to make the 911 stand out from the rest of its stablemates.

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In 1998, what change took place that altered the nature of the 911's engine?

Since its introduction in 1963, the Porsche 911 had an air-cooled engine system. As time went on, this set-up limited engine output and caused the car to run astray of tightening emission laws. So, starting in 1998 with the 996 line, a water-cooled engine was introduced, breaking with 911 tradition.

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In 2010, Porsche released an experimental 911 GT3 R version to compete in an endurance race. Why was the car experimental?

The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid competed in the 2010 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance competition, where it ran well until its combustion engine — not the hybrid elements — failed and put the car out of the race. Later that year, the car finished the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, where it won in its experimental class (It was, however, the only car in that class). Further development led to the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0, which was even faster and more durable.

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Which of these Porsche 911 models was called "the best handling car in America" in 2006?

The 2006 997 Series GT3 was something special, according to reviewers. The car was rated by Porsche to be able to go from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 4.1 seconds with a top speed of 193 mph. Reviewers, however, found that the car could accelerate to that speed in just 3.9 seconds. And it was a fun car to drive, as well, with Motor Trend magazine saying it was "the best handling car in America" that year.

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The Porsche 964 C4 was released in 1993 to celebrate what occasion?

Presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1993, the Porsche 964 C4 "30th Anniversary Edition" is a Carrera 4 with a wide turbo body but without wings. It was limited to 911 vehicles. The model, which offered many points of customization, was made between 1993 and 1994.

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Into which of these model years would the Type 964 Carrera RS fall?

The Type 964 Carrera RS was released in 1991 and 1992 and was made 250 pounds lighter than other 911s by getting rid of anything not considered "essential." Its 3.6-liter flat-six engine could push the car from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and deliver 229 foot-pounds of torque for a quick takeoff.

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In which model year did the 991 Series bring a new platform to the Porsche 911, only the third time this had happened since the car was introduced in 1963?

Debuting in 2011 for the 2012 model year, the 991 Series was slightly wider and longer. But it was lighter because of the high-strength steel, aluminum and composites used. The 911 Carrera and Carrera S were the first in the line to be introduced at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

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In what year was the 25th Anniversary Special Edition version of the Porsche 911 made?

The 25th Anniversary Special Edition of the Porsche 911 was made available in 1989 with a limited production run of 500 units. Of this run, 300 had a coupe body style, and 200 were cabriolet models. All had bronze "25th Anniversary Special Edition" badges.

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What was the name of the super-lightweight version of the 911, sold to the European market in 1992?

The Porsche 911 Carrera RS was a super-lightweight vehicle based on Porsche racing technology and released to the European market. The Carrera RS was a rear-wheel-drive vehicle with an engine that could produce 260 brake horsepower, an asymmetrical limited-slip differential and suspension designed for track conditions.

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In 2019, Porsche released the 911 RSR. What was remarkable about this vehicle?

The Porsche 911 RSR, a racing vehicle that hit the track in September 2019, was built as a naturally aspirated mid-engine vehicle. The 4.0-liter engine, a flat-six, can produce up to 510 braking horsepower. It comes with an augmented gearbox, exhaust system and other improvements.

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In which year did Porsche 911 buyers have the option of purchasing a car with twin turbochargers?

Sometimes, just one turbocharger isn't enough. In 1995, buyers of the Porsche 911s had the option of selecting a twin turbocharging system, which gave the car's 3.6-liter engine a boost to an output of 402 horsepower and a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.2 seconds.

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What is the body of the 2020 Porsche 911 made of?

Aluminum is a great material for cars when strength has to be balanced against weight, and the 2020 Porsche 911 takes advantage of this fact. The lighter-weight material allows the automaker to offset the added weight of new electronic and performance equipment. The roof, by the way, can be made of aluminum, carbon fiber or magnesium, depending on the buyer's preferences. Shown here is the 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S.

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Released for the 40th anniversary of the Porsche 356, which of these geo-specific cars is one of the rarest Porsche 911s models ever made?

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Porsche 356, the company released the America Roadster in 1992, making only 250 units of the variant. With augmented braking and suspension systems, the America Roadster was available in the cabriolet body style.

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In 2016, which vehicle was released as an homage to a racing vehicle in the 911's past?

Built to honor the 1967 Porsche 911 R, the 2016 version was limited to a 991-unit run and offered a naturally aspirated 500-horsepower 4.0-liter flat-six cylinder engine, along with a 6-speed GT sport manual transmission.

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Porsche 911s vehicles released between 1989 and 1994 are known by which internal name?

Porsche 911s vehicles made between 1989 and 1994 were known internally as the "964 Series," a nomenclature that was also taken up by automotive writers and Porsche enthusiasts to distinguish them from other 911 production runs.

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With a production run limited to 345 units, which of these cars is one of the rarest — and most prized — Porsche 911 offerings from 1997?

There were only 345 vehicles made in the 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S variant, but rarity is only one of the reasons this model is one of the most sought after cars in the Porsche line. The model is regularly found in the "Top 5 driving experience" lists of many fans of the Porsche 911 because of its powerful engine (it's timed to go from 0 to 100 km/h — 0 to 62 mph— in 4.1 seconds) and its superior handling capabilities.

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The 997 Series, led by the Carrera and Carrera S, first hit showrooms in what year?

Although the cars in the 997 Series looked similar to the preceding 996 Series, structural and engineering changes were made, and the new series shared fewer than a third of the parts from the line it replaced. New headlights, revised interiors, and more powerful engines were the highlights of the new line.

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As an homage of Porsche's first production automobile, how many units of the 2011 911 Speedster model were produced?

When released in 2011, the 911 Speedster was limited to a production run of 356 to honor the first production automobile the company ever produced, the Porsche 356. This Speedster from the 997 Series was the third 911 Speedster produced, the other two coming in the 930 and 964 series. Powered by an engine that could output 408 horsepower, the vehicle could go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds.

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In 1999, what place did the Porsche 911 come in on the "Car of the Century" list?

When the Global Automotive Elections Foundation released its "Car of the Century" list in 1999, the Porsche 911 came in fifth, which is remarkable considering the cars that placed above it — the Ford Model T, BMC Mini, Citroën DS and Volkswagen Beetle — were all mass-produced vehicles with millions and millions of units sold. Shown here is a 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet.

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When did the 992 Series make its debut?

The next generation of Porsche 911 made its debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show on November 27, revealing the 2019 models of the Carrera S and Carrera 4S. The new models are slightly wider than their predecessors and are powered by 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engines.

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How many of the 911s models can the Porsche factory produce in a day?

The Stuttgart, Germany, factory that produces the Porsche 911 can make about 110 units per day, along with 40 Boxster models and about 500 engines. In 2018, the company produced 36,125 911s vehicles.

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How many different versions of the Porsche 911 are currently made?

Counting the different body styles of the Porsche 911s (coupe, Targa, speedster and others), along with the various performance packages and variants, the company currently makes 16 versions of the venerable vehicle. Shown here is the 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S.

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Why is Porsche planning on focusing more on the base 911 models than some of the upper-level sports models in the future?

By 2021, the European Union's carbon dioxide emissions standard will fall from 130 grams of CO2 per kilometer to 95 grams. The current Carrera S produces 202 g/km, while the base Carrera produces 169 g/km. Since Porsche is owned by the Volkswagen Automotive Group, Porsche doesn't have to hit this number (it's figured as an average of the entire company's offerings) but it has to do its share to hit the target. Shown here is a Porsche 911 C-Series Targa.

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The Type 993 line of the Porsche 911 first hit the streets in which model year?

The final line that featured Porsche's signature air-cooled engine, the 993 line of the 911s came out in the 1994 model year and ran through 1998. Many reviewers and enthusiasts believe that this was the line where the company got the absolute best out of the air-cooled design. The 1994 Carrera 4 also improved handling with a rear limited-slip differential and automatic brake differential.

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Which year ushered in a Porsche 911 with variable-geometry turbos and a new four-wheel-drive system?

When the Porsche 911 came out for the 2007 model year, it brought with it a couple of pieces of technology new to the line — a variable-geometry turbocharger which allowed maximum boost to be given depending on the vehicle's speed and a new four-wheel-drive system that electronically controlled the torque available to each wheel.

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The high-performance GT3 version of the Porsche 911 was introduced in which year?

Intended for racing but ready for the road, the GT3 high-performance variant of the Porsche 911 hit the streets in 1999. It was designed for, and named after, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Group GT3 class. More than 14,000 GT3 vehicles have been produced.

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In 2009, Porsche offered the 911 with an optional "Sports Chrono" package. What was this?

While you always want your car to be able to provide outstanding performance, not all conditions call for the car's behavior. With the Sports Chrono system activated, the Porsche 911's systems became more responsive and performed at peak efficiency.

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True or False? Apple CarPlay is the only system interface that can be added to the Porsche Communication Management system.

Apple CarPlay's interface system is the only one available for the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system. Porsche turned down an agreement with Google to include their Android Auto system because, according to Porsche, they would have to collect and transmit car data back to Google, including vehicle speed, engine revs and other information. Shown here is the Porsche Communication Management system on a 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S.

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In 2008, Porsche introduced what type of transmission to the 911 line?

Drivers who like more control of their gearbox selection than a standard automatic transmission offers but still want the benefits that an automatic brings, for years used the Tiptronic transmission, which was Porsche's take on the "manumatic" transmission. In 2008, Porsche offered the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission. This transmission, taken from racing technology, is a dual-clutch system, with two separate manual transmissions working as a single unit.

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In 1990, Porsche introduced which technological advantage to the 911?

For 1990, Porsche introduced a turbocharger to the 911, giving the engine a total potential output of 316 horsepower. Because there hadn't been time to properly design a turbocharger to the newest version of the 911's 3.6-liter engine, the company reused the 3.3-liter engine from the previous year's model.

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