Porsche 993 Carrera S

Designed by Harm Lagaay and Tony Hatter, the fourth generation 911 featured significant improvements. As opposed to receiving a mere facelift like some of its predecessors, the new 911 shared just 20% of its parts with the 964, whilst maintaining its classic profile. According to Hatter, “The Porsche board always had very firm ideas about its shape. It was claimed the 964 was 80 per cent new, but visually it looked barely 20 per cent new. We needed to do something less conservative, but without being too radical.” Its smoothed front was influenced by the 959, plans for the 989 four-door sedan that never reached production, and 928. The wheel arches were accentuated to become more muscular, its retractable rear wing was enlarged, and its teardrop mirrors revised. The 993 was referred to by Porsche as “a significant advance, not just from a technical, but also a visual perspective.” The 993 is another example of Porsche’s ethos, pairing tradition with innovation.

A new multi-link rear suspension was derived from the 989. The light-alloy subframe with coil and wishbone suspension corrected oversteer, and when combined with engine enhancements, vastly improved handling and driving experience. The system was also used in the 993’s successor, where it provided the 996 with greater stability. It was the first 911 to receive a six-speed manual transmission as standard and the new automatic Tiptronic S.