By Andrea Hargraves 
The first Porsche 911 Turbo is an icon in its own right, and gave rise to one of the noblest 911 bloodlines that is still relevant 50 years later.
In 1974, the meaning of performance changed forever in the Porsche 911 with the introduction of the 930 Turbo, the first 911 road car with a turbocharger.
The leap in performance was enormous: it produced 260 hp, while at the time there were many 911s with less than 200 hp. The image was characterised by the car's widened, massive and innovative bodywork. Brake Back (whale tail), and everyone learned the true meaning of Turbo lag…
Porsche couldn't miss the 50th anniversary of the first 911 Turbo and travelled to Monterey Car Week in California (USA) with a 911 Turbo 50 Years, a special and limited edition based on the 911 Turbo S (992).
The difference is in the details.
Only 1,974 units will be built – a nod to the year the 930 Turbo was launched – and of course the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years has been meticulously personalised with details, many of them evocative.
Starting with the Turbo colours and vinyl graphics, which refer to the 911 RSR Turbo prototype, presented at the 1973 Frankfurt Motor Show, which anticipated the production model.
At the rear, in addition to the “Turbo 50” inscription, there is an exclusive logo on the grille that includes the “turbocharger” icon and the years 1974-2024. The doors have an LED projector that also, when opened, projects an image of a turbocharger onto the ground.
Inside, we see a possible return to the 1970s, starting with the covers in the middle of the seats and door panels, which recall the checkered pattern (Mackenzie tartan) of the first 911 Turbo.
The Turbonite tone, which can be seen on the wheels, is repeated on the seat belts, control controls, decorative stitching, decorative inlays and the Porsche badge on the GT sports steering wheel.
The “Turbo 50” logo is illuminated on the door sills (in black brushed aluminium) and embossed on the headrests. Above the glove box there is also an aluminium plaque bearing the same logo and the limited edition number. Finally, at the top of the dashboard is the Porsche Design Sub Second analogue clock in a special Turbo 50 design.
Even more evocative
If all the special details and nostalgia weren't enough, Porsche offers, as an option, a 50-year Heritage Design Turbo package.
In this case, the base color is Aventurine Green Metallic (all 911 colors are also available) which contrasts with satin white vinyl graphics – if you consider them excessive, you can delete them.
Furthermore, the historic Porsche badge appears on the bonnet and steering wheel, while the “Turbo 50” and “Porsche” logos appear in gold. This package also increases the space for the McKenzie leather and tartan covers. The green color is repeated on the back of the instruments and on the Sport Chrono clock.
Ballistic performance
Furthermore, the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years is the 911 Turbo S we have known since 2019. Behind the rear axle is the famous six-cylinder boxer, here with 3.7 liters and two variable geometry turbochargers, which delivers 650 hp and 800 Nm. Power is transmitted to all four wheels via a dual-clutch gearbox (PDK) and eight gears.
All this allows it to accelerate from 1,640 kg to 100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds, and to pass the 200 km/h mark in 8.9 seconds.
To keep everything under control, the 911 Turbo 50 Years comes as standard with several acronyms: PTM (Porsche Traction Management) with PTV Plus (Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus), including a rear differential lock with fully variable torque distribution; PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) lowered by 10 mm; and PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake), carbon-ceramic brakes.
Open orders
It may have been revealed on the other side of the world, at Monterey Car Week, but the new Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years can now be ordered in Portugal.
The price starts at 332,639 euros and the first deliveries are scheduled for early autumn 2024. Remember that it is a limited edition of 1,974 units.