Porsche 916
A friendship between Presidents Porsche and Volkswagen (Ferry Porsche and Nordhoff Heinz, respectively) 914 project was born. This partnership was needed because they needed a sport that is modern, different and affordable. On the one hand the need to replace the popular Porsche 912 and another who needed repeat the Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia success, but with a more powerful vehicle. The partnership was agreed that the concept of the vehicle would be assigned to Porsche, the engine size and distribution by Volkswagen and the construction of the body by Karmann-Ghia already making the Porsche 911 and 912. Models In 1968, Heinz Nordhoff leaves the top post of Volskswagen and assumes his compatriot Karl Lotz, who immediately suspended the project, they wanted to develop own project, but Ferry Porsche could move forward with the project, buying the bodies and engines Volkswagen with adjusted prices. After a year of plenty discussions Ferry persuaded Lotz and then formed the VW-Porsche Gesellschaft GmbH, with a division in the U.S. (Porsche-Audi). Vehicles sold in the U.S. would be sent to the Porsche brand, market of great importance for the brand. For Europe the 914 was marketed by Volkswagen with Volkswagen-Porsche brand. Thus in 1969 the car is presented at the Geneva Motor Show, Switzerland in two versions with engines boxter one in 4-cylinder with 2.0 liters and 200hp and another with 6 cylinders and 4.0 liters 300cv.
Secretly, his team builds two versions of 914-8 cylinders, one for the celebration of 60 years of Ferry Porsche, this unit remains in the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, the other unit was presented to Karl Lotz, who keeps to the days of today. Marketed from 1970 to 1972 6 cylinder version not exceeded 3,300 units, the high cost of acquiring this release, ranging from 5,999 to $ 6,099 and little difference to the basic 911 (only $ 500 Americans). Porsche also launched two versions between 1971 and 1972, known as 916 and 914/6 GT with more powerful engine 2.4 L (911-S), enlarged wheels and fenders. Custom fabricated, did not exceed the 11 units and 47 units, respectively. Even considered expensive, somewhere around $ 3,595, compared to its main competitors Marketplace (Datsun 240Z with $ 3,526 among other cheaper within $ 1,000) version 4 cylinder engines with VW 411, in turn coming well walking there 22,000 units sold at the end of 1972. solution would be to produce a new motor replacing the 6-cylinder version and increase potency version 1.7 L. Therefore, in 1973 two new versions are presented with 4 cylinders, 1.8 liter with 85hp and 2.0 liters with 100hp. The 2.0 liter version gets results similar performance as those of the 6-cylinder version. In particular, version 2.0 Liters 1973 is considered by aficionados the best year of 914-4, for no additional cost received all optional 6-cylinder version (console, green glasses, fuchs wheels, dual stabilization bar, adjustable seats etc.). In the U.S. market to 1.7 Liters version was replaced by the 1.8 liter with 80hp, and the 2.0 liter version was changed to 88hp, respecting the rules of the state of California, which required catalyst. At the end of 1975, Lotz expresses his new projects, vehicles with front wheel drive and water-cooled engines and announced that Volkswagen has no more interest in the project 914. production of the 914, was extended until the end of 1976, given exclusively to the North American market. Altogether 118,982 vehicles were produced, of which 75% were exported to USA, the latest version of 2.0 liters was sold at $ 7,250. Porsche presents its replacement, the 924 model, engine and transmission with Audi, this model was Renegade by porschistas, making it a big flop in sales.
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