In 1963, little did Porsche know that it was giving the motoring world a name that will resonate louder than their flat-six engines. The evolution of the 911's design has stayed true to the original even as it constantly evolved, which has made the Porsche 911 the best-selling sports car ever. Sales apart, its cultural implications are even broader.

Featured in rallyes, camping, and track racing around the world, the 911 was ranked fifth in 1999 in an international poll to determine the car of the century. Loads of technology firsts during almost six decades of engineering progress has made this a very special car. In this post we look at the lineage of Porsche 911s through the ages:

8 First Generation 911 (1963-1973)

Introduced as the successor to the 356, the first generation was initially named the 901. The first edition came with a 2.0L flat-six which produced 130 horsepower, giving it a top speed of 210 km/h.

In 1972 Porsche introduced the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 which came with 210 horsepower and weighed under 1000 kilograms and to this day it remains a dream car to enthusiasts. The Carrera also came with the now-iconic "ducktail" rear spoiler.

The G series (1973- 1989)

The longest-running generation, the G series was the first major makeover Porsche gave the 911. The base model came with 150 horsepower with the 911S model churning out 175 horses.

The most important event in this time period was the launch of the first-ever 911 Turbo in 1974. It came with a 3.0L that produced 260 horsepower, uniquely blending performance and luxury. Characterized by a giant wing, the Turbo became synonymous with the 911s to come.

Related: Here's Why The 996 Porsche 911 Is A Performance Bargain 

7 The 964 (1989-1994)

The third generation, or the 964, saw little changes visually. Mechanically though, the car was 85 percent new. It came with an air-cooled 3.6L flat-six making 250 horsepower, which, like previous generations, was sent to the rear wheels for the base model.

This was the first generation to have ABS braking, power steering, and airbags. Porsche also introduced the Carrera 4 model which was the first-ever 911 to have four-wheel-drive, something that was unheard of in previous-gen 911s.

6 The 993 (1994-1998)

The 993 was arguably the prettiest and the best-looking 911 yet. The air-cooled flat-six base model produced 272 horsepower with the Carrera 2S and Carrera 4S making 285. The 3.6 boxer engine was paired with a six-speed manual transmission making it the first 911 with a six-speed manual.

The 993 was also the first-ever 911 to feature a biturbo engine. This gave the 911 two distinct benefits. Firstly, it made nearly 400 horsepower, making the most powerful 911 ever produced. Secondly, the biturbo engine made it the lowest emission standard powertrain in the world in 1995.

Related: 2021 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo: Costs, Facts, And Figures

5 The 996 (1998-2001)

Introduced in 1998, Porsche believes that the 996 represents a revolutionary point in the history of the 911s. The car was extensively redesigned, with the engine now being water-cooled, unlike previous air-cooled models. The base model came with rear-wheel-drive and a naturally aspirated 3.4L flat-six making 305 horsepower.

Porsche used the 996 generation of the 911 to launch a whole array of models to the 911 lineup. This was also the first time the German automaker introduced the 911 GT3 as an attempt to keep the tradition and spirit of the Carrera RS alive.

4 The 996.2 (2001-2004)

The 996 was given a facelift in 2002 to distinguish it from the Porsche Boxster and the original 996. The 996.2 also saw the 3.6L boxer become standard across all variants. Therefore, the 996.2 now made 320 horsepower.

Porsche offered a total of 13 variants for the 996.2. One of the options was the Targa. This glass-roofed variant was aimed at pleasing Porsche-nerds who were disappointed by the new styling and the electronic aids which made the car "too safe".

3 The 997 (2004-2011)

In July 2004, Porsche gave us the 997 which remained in production until 2011. This generation was defined by the return of the automaker's oval headlights with individual indicators. Powered by the 3.6L flat-six, the base variant was good for 321 horses while the Carrera S had a power output of 350 horsepower from its 3.8L flat-six.

In 2008, mid-cycle upgrades gave the 997 dual-clutch transmission and direct fuel injection. The 997 marked an era where 911s were built to cater to individual liking. The manufacturer offered a total of 24 variants of the 997 which included the Targa, Cabriolet, GT, special editions, Turbo, rear, and four-wheel-drive and road versions of the GT race car.

2 The 991 (2011-2018)

The Porsche 991 signifies the greatest jump in engineering capabilities of the 911. This generation was longer, sleeker, and more powerful than the outgoing 997 by a country mile.

Power was delivered by a 3.4L boxer which now made 345 horsepower. The Carrera 2S and 4S now made almost 400 horsepower being powered by a 3.8L flat-six. Porsche also introduced the 500 horsepower 911R which was powered by the flat 4.0L six-cylinder and came with a manual transmission.

Related: Ferrari F8 Tributo Vs Porsche 992 Turbo S: Both Cars Hit The Strip For Quarter-Mile Drag Race

1 The 992 (2018 And Up)

2020-porsche-911
Porsche

The current generation of the 911 was introduced in 2018. It is available in either a naturally aspirated 3.0L or twin-turbocharged 3.7L flat-six.

For the first time ever, the 911 offers "wet mode" as standard across the entire range. Another distinction is this the first time ever that all models share the wide-body architecture which was previously only meant for the all-wheel-drive models.

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