In 1954, a new and very special Porsche captured the hearts of sports car enthusiasts everywhere - but first and foremost in the United States, where it was introduced, initially as an exclusive model strictly for the American market. The Porsche 356 Speedster provided the ultimate in Porsche road car performance; it offered the race-proven Porsche chassis and drivetrain within a basic, open-topped, no-frills body shell.

In the days of the original Porsche 356, the Speedster concept represented the least expensive way to enjoy Porsche ownership. With its rudimentary unpadded top, simple interior, side curtains instead of rollup windows, and light weight resulting f rom its focus on basic equipment, the Speedster of the 1950s was a no-nonsense performance car and provided the basis for many competitive race cars. It was, for all practical purposes, a race car that could be driven on the street.

The Speedster was revived as a special 911 model in 1989. The second-generation Speedster had a low-cut windshield and basic top like its namesake, but was based on the wide-fendered body of the 911 Turbo.

Most affordable open 911

For 1994, forty years after it presented the special 356 model that first carried the name Porsche has re-introduced the third-generation Porsche Speedster. Today's Speedster offers the least expensive way to enjoy the pleasures of driving an open 911. In contrast to the Speedster of three decades ago, the 1994 Speedster may be ordered with many of Porsche's luxury and convenience options.

The 1994 Porsche 911 Speedster shares its engine, drivetrain, and most mechanical components with the Carrera 2. It is powered by Porsche's proven 3.6 liter air-cooled six- cylinder boxer engine, mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed Tiptronic transmission. The Speedster employs a speed-sensitive rear spoiler, which extends at speeds above 50 mph to provide added aerodynamic stability and extra cooling air for the engine.

Pure two-seater, simple folding top

The Speedster presents a long list of unique features. First, it is a pure two-seater, with no provision for rear seating. Second, unlilke the Cabriolet, its top is manually operated,.Ilt can be raised quickly and easily, and its low silhouette gives the closed Speedster a unique appearance. When open, the folding top disappears under a hard composite shellbehind the seats. The lowered windshield and roofline of the Speedster decrease the car's frontal area; thus the Speedster has less aerodynamic drag than other 911 models.

INTERIOR

Seating options

The interior features basic door panels similar to those of the RS America, with simple nylon pulli straps and without armrests or side storage pockets. The dashboard, shiter and parking brake handle have color accents keyed to the car's exterior color. Alternatively, an all-black interior is available.

Special interior

Speedster owners may choose from several seating options. The standard seats are unique to the Speedster, and were adapted from Porsche's special European racing model - the Carrera RS. These special seats consist of a rigid composite shell, painted black or keyed to the body color, with padding on the seating surfaces and simple, manual adjustments. The Speedster seat shells are adjustable only for reach; as on a race car, to change the seat angle, bolts must be removed and repositioned. For Speedster customers wishing more conventional seating, the regular leather seats of the Carrera 2 are a no-cost option. These provide the full range of Porsche seat adjustments. A third option available at additional cost is the 911 sport seat, which provides additional lateral support.

3.6 LITER ENGINE

Legendary flat-6 air-cooled engine

The Speedster is powered by the normally-aspirated version of Porsche's 3.6 liter engine, The engine consists of a pressure-cast aluminum alloy crankcase housing a forged steel crankshaft. The connecting rods are made of forged steel, and the pistons are of forged aluminum, concepts proven on the race track for nearly three decades. The aluminum alloy cylinder heads incorporate hemispherical combustion chambers and utilize two spark plugs per cylinder. The twin plugs grew out of Porsche's experience on the race track as well as technology transfer from high-performance aircraft engines that were in turn based on the roadgoing 911 engine. Twin plugs allow the best of both worlds -- higher power output as well as cleaner combustion, with less tendency to knock. The exhaust ports are ceramic- lined to lower engine cylinder head temperatures and increase the effectiveness of the catalytic converter. Each cylinder contains a single chain-driven overhead cam, which activates the valves through solid lifters.

Resonance induction

Air enters the engine through a resonance induction system, which assures optimum cylinder filling across a broad range of engine loads and speeds, and provides a wide, usable torque band.

Dry sump lubrication

The Porsche 911 engine is air-cooled by a belt-driven fan. The 911 has always used a dry sump lubrication systemn, common on race cars but seldom seen on road cars. Two principal advantages of dry sump systers are their decreased sensitivity to high cornering forces, which might cause lubrication problems, oil starvation and even engine damage with conventional oil pan systems, and their large oil capacity (in this case, more than 12 quarts of oil circulate to help cool the engine).

TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION

World's most advanced automatic transmission

As an alternative to the standard 5-speed manual transmission, the Speedster is optionally available with Porsche's unique Tiptronic transmission, the most sophisticated automatic transmission presently available in the automobile industry.

Like so many of Porsche's key engineering features, the Tiptronic owes its existence in part to Porsche's racing experience. In the mid-1980s, Porsche experimented with a unique semiautomatic transmission, the PDK, in several Porsche 962 Group C race cars.

Choice of driving styles

Compared to conventional automatic transmissions, the Tiptronic offers Porsche drivers a wider choice of driving styles: the transmission can be left in "Drive" like a conventional automatic, or the driver can move the lever to a special gate and manualy go up and down through the gears by "tipping" the lever forward or backward.

The Tiptronic features electro-hydraulic control, a lockup torque converter (in the upper three gears) and feedbackto the engine controlsystem forsmoother shifts.Inputparameters include throtle position, throttle opening or closing speed, engine rpm, vehicle speed, lateral and straight-line acceleration.

Tiptronic: the most intelligent automatic transmission available

Even in its full automatic mode, the Tiptronic displays capabilities unmatched by any other automatic transmission on the market today. Ilt can virtually sense the driver's needs avoiding annoying and unwanted up or downshifts which detract from sporty driving with conventional automatic transmissions. This is made possible by the Tiptronic's five distinct shift programs, ranging from sport to economy (other automatic transmissions offer two or, at best, three driver-selected shiftmodes), and adaptive logic in its control unit. There is no separate switch to select a shit mode; the control unit senses how a car is being driven and determines which of the five shift maps to use.

Tiptronic manual mode

If the shift lever is moved to the right of its "Drive" position, the transmission goes into its manual mode; the Tiptronic shifts up on driver demand or automatically when engine speed reaches the optimum point on the torque curve, whichever occurs first. Conversely, if the driver requests a downshift that would result in over-revving, the Tiptronic defers the shift until speed has decreased appropriately.

Tiptronic advantages

The Tiptronic gives away only a small performance margin to the Speedster with a five- speed manual transmission, but offers in return greater comfort in congested driving conditions while still enabling the traditional sports car enjoyment of going through the gears. Because it is less dependent on individual drivers' styles with clutch and shift lever, the Tiptronic lends itself to an effective exhaust emissions reduction strategy and allows better control of fuel consumption and noise emissions.

BRAKE SYSTEMS

Large brakes, ABS standard

In keeping with Porsche's tradition of providing braking performance to match the high levels of acceleration possible with its products, the Speedster employs front 11.73 in. (298 mm) and rear 11.77 in. (299 mm) ventilated disc brakes, each with a four-piston caliper. Like every 1994 Porsche, the Speedster has anti-lock brakes as standard equipment.

In brake systems, as in so many other components, Porsche's racing experience has led directly to majorimprovements for production cars- improvements customers can feel and use every day. Technology transfer from race track to street often results in race-proven systems finding their way directly to the assembly line. For example, the brake system used on the legendary Type 917 race cars in the early 1970s was applied to the 911 Turbo as of 1977.

The key to high-performance braking is heat management. The energy repr resented by the speed of the car must be converted t to heat and transferred to the surrounding aira as quickly as possible. Managing this heat transfer requires careful design of the mechanical parts of the brake system, as well as the bodywork and ducting of the car.

Design for optimum cooling

Porsche design parameters for improved brake system performance include the following: temperature-resistant engine piston alloys are used for brake caliper pistons brake fluid is kept at a lower temperature by the large radiating surface of calipers wear-resistant asbestos-free brake pads provide the highest possible resistance to fading use of DOT 4-200 brake fluid, with a higher wet boiling point for greater resistance to fading and extended intervals between brake fluid changes.

Porsche's brake discs employ spiral-shaped internal cooling ribs, with additional half-ribs to radiate heat away from the rubbing surfaces. It takes more to duct cooling air to the brakes than simply cutting the biggest possible holes in the bodywork. Too much cooling air flow will increase drag and front-end lift. Too little air flow results in overheating and altered brake bias., Porsche has found the best compromise in underbody ducting in the nose, a flexible spoiler attached to the lower suspension arms, and a deflector plate attached to the suspension to direct air through the brake splash shield, Wheel design is also a vital element of the brake cooling system. The openings between the spokes must be designed to extract hot air from under the fenders.

Brake testing in the laboratory and on the road

Porsche conducts extensive laboratory and road tests to optimize brake designs. The final testis how the brake system performs on the road. Porsche tests on famous race tracks such as the Nürburgring and Hockenheimring, and under real-world conditions such as the steep mountain roads on Mont Ventoux in southern France.

The net result of Porsche's quest for the ultimate in braking performance is that every Porsche production car is capable of extended duty on race tracks without any special modifications to the brake system. In view of such rigorous demands, it comes as no surprise that Porsche brakes provide the utmost in stopping ability under everyday driving conditions.

SUSPENSION AND STEERING

Wide 17-Inch wheels standard

The Speedster is fitted with 17-inch wheels (larger and wider than the standard wheels of the Carrera 2), keyed to the car's exterior color, as standard equipment. (Black cars are fitted with unpainted wheels.) The Speedster's suspension is shared with the Carrera 2. The front suspension consists of coil springs over MacPherson struts mounted on aluminum alloy lower control arms, together with a 0.79 inch (20 mm) stabilizer bar; the rear suspension also employs a 0.79 inch (20 mm) stabilizer bar along with aluminum semi-trailing arms on coil springs. (Cars equipped with the Tiptronic transmission are fitted with a 0.75 inch (19 mm) rear stabilizer bar.) In addition, the rear suspension incorporates bullt-in toe correction to provide a form of passive rear wheel steer. The Speedster employs force-sensitive hydrauicaly assisted rack and pinion steering.

PERFORMANCE

Zero to 60 mph and top speed

The Porsche Speedster provides performance to justify its name. Acceleration and top speed match the Carrera 2. With a 5-speed manual transmission, the Speedster accelerates to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, and can reach a top test track speed of 162 mph. The Tiptronic- equipped Speedster can reach 60 mph in 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 159 mph. (Performance data is provided for comparison purposes only. Porsche recommends obeying all speed laws.)

SAFETY

At Porsche, safety begins with a car's driving characteristics. The dynamic behavior of Porsche sports cars is the result of advanced testing and experimentation, as well as experience on the race track. The results are uncompromising design of suspension, steering, and brakes. Safety considerations are also reflected in the comfort, excellent visibility, and ergonomically correct design of Porsche sports cars.

Highlights of Porsche's safety engineering

Safety is not a new concept at Porsche. As early as 1952, all Porsche cars were fitted with laminated safety glass windshields. In 1956, Porsche offered seat belts as an option on the 356. A 1959 race car, the Type 718, pioneered the articulated steering column which today is used on all Porsche models. In 1961, Porsche offered a shoulder belt as an option, and in the following year made three-point belts available. Racing experience led to the introduction of plastic fuel tanks,first used in the racing-only 911 R of 1967. Plastic tanks are not only impact and fire resistant, but are also impervious to corrosion. Since 1973, every Porsche 911 has been equipped with door reinforcements for increased protection in side impacts. In 1990, Porsche was the first auto manufacturer to equip all of its products with anti-lock brakes. Also in 1990, Porsche was the first manufacturer, domestic or import, to equip every car sold in the United States with driver as well as front passenger airbags as standard equipment.

Structural safety

Airbags and safety belts represent just one level of protection for the occupants, however. The car's structure is also designed for safety, with a rigid cage to surround the occupants and deformable crush zones to absorb impacts. Porsche was the first manufacturer to build car bodies using sheet steel galvanized on both sides. This not only preserves the appearance of the car and the owner's investment, but also maintains the built-in crash- worthiness of the car. Porsche is one of only two manufacturers who feels so strongly about its corrosion protection measures that it provides a full ten-year limited warranty against rust perforation. Even the paint carries a three-year limited warranty.

PORSCHE, SPORTS CARS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmental responsibility

Porsche is not only pioneer in high technology and high performance, but an industry leader in environmental responsibility. This begins with building cars to last. Of all the Porsches built since 1948, it is estimated that 80 percent are still in service. Part of that longevity comes from the fully galvanized bodywork of the Porsche 911. Its durability has been a factor in maintaining Porsche's traditionally high resale values and unparalleled owner loyalty.

Efficient recycling

During development of the 1995 91 1 Carrera, the goal of recyclability of a high proportion of materials used in producing the car was given priority - and achieved. If and when a Porsche reaches the end of its useful life, labeling of various plastic components willmake it easier to reprocess parts, and will help to put plastics back into consumer products, not in landiflls. Lightweight metals, such as aluminum and magnesium, as well as steel, are easily recycled.

Performance WITH LESS pollution

Despite their high performance, Porsche cars are among the cleanest on the road. Highly effective three-way catalytic converters, oxygen sensors, and engine management systems have long been partof the Porsche pedigree. Al Porsche models are equipped with systems that fulfill the most stringent exhaust standards worldwide.

Ozone-friendly HFC-134a refrigerant

Growing concern about the possible effects of chlorofluorocarbons, including the CFC-12 refrigerants used in automotive air conditioning systems, on the earth's ozone layer led Porsche to introduce a CFC-free refrigerant, HFC-134a, beginning with its 1993 models. The higher cost of HFC-134a, and its higher salvage value, also provide a monetary recycling incentive for repair shops.

SPECIAL OPTIONS AND EUROPEAN DELIVERY

Special-order options available for all Porsches

Porsche owners who would like to further personalize their cars can take advantage of Porsche's special options program. Porsche offers a wide range of special order items to make each car uniquely individual. These include paint to match any sample color and leather to dupli licate any sample shade. Virtually every interior item may be ordered with factory-applied leather trim.

Porsches European delivery

Every Porsche may be ordered through participating U.S.dealers for European delivery This program offers an unforgettable driving experience, enabling the buyer to sample the high-speed motorways and scenic, winding secondary roads which gave birth to the Porsche legend.

WARRANTY

Broad warranty coverage

Thanks to decades of experience building solid, urable high-performance cars, Porsche's warranty coverage is among the broadest of any sports car manufacturer. Each Porsche is covered by a two-year new vehicle limited warranty with unlimited mileage, which includes the Porsche roadside assistance program. The fully galvanized body and 26-step paint and anti-corrosion process enable Porsche to warrant each car for ten years and unlimited mileage against rust perforation, protection unmatched by any other sports car manufacturer. In addition, the paintwork carries a three-year limited warranty.

Two-year parts warranty

In addition to the extensive warranty coverage of Porsche cars, Porsche also warrants parts and accessories for two years and unlimited mileage. For parts and accessories installed by authorized Porsche dealers, labor costs are also covered.

LEASING AND FINANCING

Porsche Credit Corporation offers attractive leasing, financing and balloon payment plans for new and used Porsche sports cars. The "Porsche Preferred Lease" program is available for new Porsche sports cars and for 1991-1994 pre-owned cars. The lease term can be as long as 60 months. Finance terms of up to 84 months are available. The "Porsche Options" program combines the economies of leasing with the benefits of ownership for new Porsches as well as 1990-1994 pre-owned Porsches. (Certain programs may not be available in all 50 states.)

Attractive leasing terms for new and pre-owned Porsches

These financial options allow more American drivers to enjoy the thrill of the Porsche experience, an experience which draws on Porsche's legendary heritage as the maker of both the world's finest performance automobiles and some of the most innovative and successful cars in the history of automobile racing.