In addition to the 968 Cabriolet, Porsche designed a sportier 968 Roadster in 1991. A prototype was built but the development of the model was eventually abandoned. Back to this variant imagined 30 years ago.
The 968, the result of fifteen years of improving the “transaxle” formula (front engine, rear gearbox) at Porsche, was presented in 1991. It was the manufacturer’s entry-level vehicle until the end of the period. in 1995 before bowing out and putting an end to the line of “transaxles” started with the 924. During its short career, the 968 was available in a few variants, including a convertible marketed at the same time as the coupe. Corn a discoverable sportier version, lighter and inspired by the brand’s speedsters and called the 968 Roadster, was also considered.
A Roadster that looks like a Speedster
As early as 1991, Porsche built a prototype of the 968 Roadster with the help of the American company ACS (American Sunroof Company), a German subsidiary of which previously transformed 944 S2 coupes into convertibles on behalf of the manufacturer. This vehicle is now kept by the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart.
It differs from the 968 Cabriolet with its shortened windshield, curved fenders, lowered and curved upper rear, and more minimalist interior. Under the hood is the 240 hp 3.0L four-cylinder engine from the standard 968. This block is capable of propelling the convertible of 1340 kg (30 kg less than the coupe, 100 kg less than the convertible) to 100 km / h in 6.3 s to a top speed of 252 km / h according to Porsche.
Make way for the Boxster
Forced to renew itself in depth to get out of serious economic difficulties in the early 1990s, Porsche abandoned the 968 Roadster project and the prototype remained a unique model. Instead, Porsche launched the development of the first Boxster with the success we know.
