Porsche

959

Porsche 959: The Car From the Future

If the Ferrari F40 was a sledgehammer, the Porsche 959 was a scalpel guided by a supercomputer. Launched in 1986, it was ostensibly a competitor to the F40, but philosophically, it was from a different planet.

While the F40 used 1960s technology (tube frame, RWD, no assists) to go fast, the 959 used technology that wouldn’t become common in road cars for another 20 years. It is arguably the most technologically advanced car ever built relative to its era.

Group B Origins

Like the Ferrari 288 GTO, the 959 was born to race in Group B rallying. Porsche wanted to demonstrate that their 911 rear-engine layout could dominate off-road as well as on track. Although Group B was cancelled, the 959 did race. It won the brutal Paris-Dakar Rally in 1986, proving that a supercar could survive the desert.

The PSK All-Wheel Drive

The crown jewel of the 959 is the Porsche-Steuer Kupplung (PSK) system. Most 4WD systems of the 80s locked the torque split (e.g., 50/50). The PSK was dynamic.

  • Computer Control: It used a multi-plate wet clutch to vary the torque distribution between the front and rear wheels in real-time based on grip, throttle position, and steering angle.
  • The Gauge: There is a gauge on the dashboard that shows the driver exactly where the torque is going (e.g., sending 80% to the rear under hard acceleration). This system is the grandfather of the Nissan GT-R’s ATTESA and the modern Porsche Turbo AWD system.

Sequential Turbocharging

The 959 used a tiny 2.85-liter Flat-6 engine (air-cooled block, water-cooled heads). To get 450 hp without massive turbo lag, Porsche invented Sequential Turbocharging.

  1. Low RPM: Only the small turbo spins, providing instant response.
  2. High RPM: Above 4,000 rpm, a valve opens and the second, larger turbo wakes up to provide top-end power. This resulted in a smooth, linear powerband that was unheard of in the 80s.

The “G” Gear

The 6-speed manual gearbox had a unique quirk. The first gear was marked “G” (Gelände - Terrain). It was an ultra-short crawler gear designed for getting out of mud or snow. The car effectively started in 2nd gear for normal driving.

Zero Lift Aerodynamics

The body looked like a melted 911, but it was pure science.

  • Kevlar/Aluminum: The body panels were Kevlar and aluminum.
  • Zero Lift: It was the first road car to achieve “zero lift” at top speed (317 km/h / 197 mph), meaning it didn’t get light and floaty like other 911s.

959 S vs. Komfort

  • Komfort: The standard model. Included air conditioning, electric windows, and the incredible hydraulically adjustable suspension (which could raise the car for off-roading or lower it for the Autobahn).
  • Sport (S): The rare lightweight version. Removed the AC, rear seats, and the complex hydraulic suspension for a standard coil-over setup. Only 29 were built.

Legacy

The 959 lost money on every car sold (price: $225,000; cost to build: much more). But it was R&D for the future. The AWD system went into the 911 Carrera 4. The turbo tech went into the 993 Turbo. The 959 taught Porsche how to build the modern, usable supercar. Without the 959, there would be no 918 Spyder and no Bugatti Veyron.