Porsche 928: Models and Specs

The Porsche 928 was developed during the 1970s as a very different kind of Porsche flagship. Rather than continuing the compact rear-engined format of the 911, Porsche created a V8 grand tourer with a rear transaxle layout. That gave the car a more balanced weight distribution and helped to distinguish it from conventional coupés. Porsche’s transaxle family would expand to include the 924, 944 and 968, but the 928 stood apart as the only V8-powered car. Its combination of aluminium-intensive construction, a water-cooled V8, pop-up headlights and integrated bumpers gave it a very different image from both the 911 and older European GTs.

The 928 evolved steadily over a long production life. Engine capacity and output increased, styling was refined, and later cars became more powerful and luxurious. The basic recipe stayed consistent, with a rear-mounted gearbox, front-mounted V8 and 2+2 hatchback body. By the end of production in 1995, the 928 had evolved into the more powerful GTS, with a final 5.4-litre V8 producing 355 PS. Around 61,000 were produced across the car’s 18-year manufacturing run, including low-volume versions such as the GT and GTS.

The Porsche 928’s performance evolved steadily rather than through distinct platform generations. Early cars used a 4.5-litre V8, while later versions grew to 4.7, 5.0 and finally 5.4 litres, remaining smooth and torquey units throughout.

The Porsche 928 looks unlike anything else in the classic Porsche family. Its long bonnet, rounded nose and large glass hatch give it a futuristic GT shape rather than the compact silhouette of a rear-engined sports car. Those proportions are low and broad, with the cabin set into a relatively aerodynamic body that still feels modern today. This is a Porsche built around distance, speed and stability rather than delicacy.

Inside, the 928 follows the same philosophy. The cabin is more substantial and comfort-led than a 911 of the same era, with a 2+2 layout and driver-focused instrumentation. It feels like a flagship GT: technical, mature and designed for long journeys.

The Porsche 928 predates the electronics-driven modern age, but it was far more technically advanced than many older classics. Its safety and stability philosophy was built around structural design, high-speed balance, braking capabilities (with ABS fitted in later models) and predictable grand-touring behaviour ensuring it felt stable at speed.

The Porsche 928 is best treated as a single model line with major variants. These are some of the model’s key evolutions.

Pros

• Distinctive Porsche identity despite being a V8 GT rather than another 911-style sports car.

• Strong long-distance character, with comfort and stability central to its appeal.

• Wide model range gives buyers a choice between early purity and later performance.

Cons

• Its complexity makes specialist Porsche knowledge important.

• GTS and sought-after manual cars sit in a different market from lesser examples.

• Buyers need to understand the 928 on its own terms, not think of it as a 911 substitute.

The 928 made a strong impression on the motoring public and press alike. It was the European Car of the Year in 1978 - a rare achievement for a high-performance grand tourer at a time when humdrum vehicles like the Renault 9 and Ford Escort routinely claimed the honours. This award underlined how modern the 928 appeared at the time of its launch.

The Porsche 928 was powered exclusively by V8 engines throughout its production life. Early cars used a 4.5-litre all-aluminium V8 producing around 240 PS, whereas the final GTS used a 5.4-litre V8 producing 355 PS.

The 928 was developed as a more modern, front-engined boulevard cruiser at a time when Porsche was envisioning a different future beyond the tail-happy sports-oriented 911. In reality, the 911 continued on sale and the 928 became a separate flagship GT rather than a replacement, though it did survive for almost two decades.

The 928 S4 is one of the major later versions of the model, known for its 5.0-litre 32-valve V8 and revised styling. The GTS was the final and most powerful regular-production 928, using a larger 5.4-litre V8 and sitting at the top of the model range.