911 Turbo 50 Years: A fitting 50th birthday for Porsche's icon

 911 Turbo 50 Years: A fitting 50th birthday for Porsche's icon

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Thanks to its supercar-matching performance, precise handling, and exceptional road manners, the Porsche 911 Turbo has been the go-to sportscar for a considerable part of the past 50 years. 

The first 911 Turbo catered to drivers who enjoyed showing off in a prestigious piece of street machine, and enthusiasts may recall that the 930 Turbo, produced between 1975 and 1989, earned itself the ominous nickname ‘Widowmaker’. This reputation originated from its rear-engine layout, powerful turbocharged engine, and minimal safety features. While exhilarating, the 930 Turbo posed a tough challenge for drivers. 

However, times have changed, and the 911 Turbo has matured significantly to become a popular driver's car.

That said, Porsche is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the formidable 911 Turbo, and to mark the special moment, the German marque is introducing the 911 Turbo 50 Years. It is based on the 2019 911 Turbo S and features the highest quality materials as well as a slew of exclusive design elements.

The standard side vinyl graphics pay homage to the iconic livery of the 911 Turbo forerunner, the 1973 911 RSR Turbo. It wears the exclusive Turbonite colour, which can also be found on various sections of the car, such as on inlays in the rear engine cover, the fuel tank cap, and in the Porsche crest. It is also being used as a contrasting shade in the Turbo 50 model insignia.

Another notable historical detail lies in the Anthracite grey colour applied to specific elements of the 911 Turbo 50 Years. These include the rear wing blade, rear apron, mirror base, and air intake trims, adding a touch of elegance and heritage to the design. There is also a badge on the rear engine cover grille with a turbocharged icon, as well as the years 1974–2024. Another distinctive feature is the LED door projector that casts the image of a turbocharger onto the ground next to the car when the door is opened. 

As standard, the 911 Turbo 50 Years comes with the 911 Turbo S Exclusive Design wheels in Turbonite, a sports exhaust system with black tailpipes, Porsche Active Suspension Management sports suspension, and a lift system on the front axle. 

Then you have the interior that screams ‘special’ from the get-go and revives the spirit of the zeitgeist, courtesy of the iconic McKenzie tartan, which adorns the centre panels of the seat covers and door panels. Inside, there's a lot going on, including Turbonite accents on the seat belts, controls, decorative stitching, trim strips with decorative inlays in black leather, and the Porsche crest on the GT sports steering wheel.

It doesn’t end there; the 911 Turbo 50 Years also adds an illuminated Turbo 50 logo and door kick plates in black brushed aluminium. The same logo has been embroidered into the headrests of the Adaptive Sports Seats Plus and on the back of the left rear seat. To mark its special character, there is an anniversary plaque in aluminium above the glove compartment, which features both the Turbo 50 logo and the individual limited-edition number of the 911. 

Buyers seeking to enhance their 911 Turbo 50 Years can choose the Porsche Exclusive Heritage Design Package, which adds unique touches like Aventurine green paint, racing-number dots, additional 50 Years Turbo badging, tartan upholstery, green dials, and a classic Porsche logo on the steering column, among other additions. 

Nestling nicely at the back is a 3.7-litre boxer twin-turbo engine with 478kW of power and a monstrous 800Nm of torque. With a kerb weight of 1,640kg and an all-wheel-drive system, the 911 50 Years accelerates from rest to 100km/h in an Aston Martin Valkyrie-threatening 2.7 seconds while shuffling through an 8-speed DCT. 

With a price tag of R5,903,000, which includes a 5-year Driveplan, the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years doesn’t come without a significant investment. It commands a premium of R1,352,000 over the standard 911 Turbo model. However, this elevated cost ensures exclusivity within its niche.

Only 1,974 units will be built, and local customer orders will be delivered as early as next year. Here’s to the next 50 years.

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