Porsche just introduced its Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years model. If proven so worthy after its release, this commemorative car could very well be dubbed the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years “supermodel”— for, on paper it reads like a veritable ultimate dream machine, which is also not-so-subtly mirrored by its stratospheric price tag.
What’s more, Porsche ballyhoos the 911 Turbo 50 Years model as combining “outstanding performance and the finest materials with exclusive design elements.” So it stands to reason that Porsche’s new 2025 Turbo model could very well become today’s classic Seventies’ Christie Brinkley supermodel of Porsche sports cars.
Long on name — but way short on affordability — the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years model is based on the last-generation 911 Turbo S introduced in 2019. Production units of the 911 Turbo 50 Years sports car from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen are limited to 1,974 specimens. Why? Speaking of the Seventies, this is because the 911 50 Years edition honors the year 1974 in which the first 911 Turbo — the fabled Type 930 — made its stellar debut.
According to Porsche, “The interior and exterior evoke historic 911 Turbo models, complemented by timelessly elegant and contemporary styling elements.” Also on offer is an optional Heritage Design Package, which takes the aesthetic refinement of the anniversary model to the ultimate production plateau.
- History of the Porsche Turbo
- Exterior Styling Cues of the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years Model
- Interior Styling Cues of the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years Model
- Optional Heritage Design Package for Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years Model
- Superior Turbo-Trim Performance as Tribute to Historic 911 Turbo Models
- Chronograph from Porsche Design Based on the 911 Turbo 50 Years Model
- Pricing and Availability of the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years Model
History of the Porsche Turbo
As preface, a brief history of Porsche Turbo development is worth mentioning. Porsche had been dabbling in turbocharger technology during its earlier racing heritage. The first such race cars were the mighty 917/10 and 917/30 beasts of Porsche prototype yore.
Then, in 1974, Porsche took their iconic Porsche 911 to a whole other level, the first Porsche production sports car to sport a turbocharger. The famed Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen car manufacturer introduced what would become the gold standard and top-of-the-range model in the 911 model line — the Type 930 Porsche 911 Turbo.
Launched into the market as a model-year 1975, the Porsche 930 pushed the 911’s envelope to the next level and, as they say, the rest is history.
The 930 distinguished itself from other 911 models by featuring flared rear wings. This gave it an extra, shapely 12 cm in width. The front edges of the rear-wheel arches received black stone guard film to protect the paint finish. A distinctive rear wing with a wide black hard-rubber border soared above the rear lid.
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Now the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years model’s time has arrived to shine. Just as the Type 930 looks as good as it did upon its Seventies debut, perhaps the would-be Turbo 50 Years “supermodel” — as the latest descendant of its Type 930 progenitor — will live on to keep looking as good as 70-year-old supermodel Christie Brinkley does today, as intimated in my introduction above.
Exterior Styling Cues of the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years Model
Together, the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years anniversary model and its siring 2019 911 Turbo S pay tribute to and reimagine this rich Turbo heritage. The standard side vinyl graphics echo the historic livery of the Porsche 911 RSR Turbo introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1973, itself a pedigree of the Type 930 911 Turbo.
Turbonite, the chosen Porsche Turbo-exclusive color, makes its debut as a 911 paint color here. Turbonite also accents the inlays in the rear engine cover, the fuel tank cap and in the Porsche Crest. It also serves as a contrasting color in the Turbo 50 model logo.
Additionally, Porsche designers adorn the new Turbo model with Anthracite Grey as a historical reference on the following:
- Rear wing blade
- Rear apron
- Mirror base
- Air intake trims
Other distinctive exterior styling features include:
- Badging on the rear engine cover which features a turbocharger icon and the engraved years “1974–2024”
- LED door projectors casting at night the image of a turbocharger onto the ground next to the car when the door is open
- 911 Turbo S Exclusive Design wheels in Turbonite as standard fitment
Interior Styling Cues of the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years Model
The 911 Turbo 50 Years designers successfully endeavored to imbue the interior with the prevailing spirit and taste and tenor of the 1970s. With this goal in mind, they upholstered the center seat inlays and interior door panels in MacKenzie tartan as an exclusive homage to the early Porsche 911 Turbo models.
This further serves as stark contrast to distinguish the new Turbo model from the preceding 911 Turbo S series-production model.
Other Turbonite accents also embellish the…
- Seat belts
- Controls
- Decorative stitching
- Trim strips with decorative inlays in black leather
- Porsche Crest on the GT sports steering wheel
Additional interior styling cues include…
- An illuminated Turbo 50 logo
- Door kick-plate features finished in black brushed aluminum
- Adaptive Sports Seats Plus headrests embroidered with the Turbo 50 logo
- An anniversary plaque in aluminum, bearing both the Turbo 50 logo and the individual limited-edition number of the sports car, poised above the glove compartment
Optional Heritage Design Package for Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years Model
The historically inspired optional Heritage Design Package and its exclusive design and equipment features further evoke the 911 Turbo models of the 1970s. Aventurine Green Metallic paintwork is the Heritage Design Package’s chosen base color.
As an alternative design option, both the standard 911 colors and Paint to Sample colors are also on offer.
A premium stylistic graphic in White (with a satin finish) is available to enhance three elements:
- Lollipop with individually selectable car numbers between 0 and 99
- 50 years of Turbo logo
- Porsche logo
For a more minimalistic vibe, deletes of some or all of the graphic elements can be ordered by those buyers who so desire it.
Other Heritage Design Package styling cues include…
- The historic Porsche Crest from 1964 painted in Brilliant Silver and White (satin finish) on the:
- Front bonnet
- Center caps of the Sport Classic wheels
- The Turbo 50 and Porsche logos on the rubenesque rear are plated in gold
- The Sport Chrono clock and the instrument cluster dials are finished in green
VIDEO: Celebrating 50 Years of the 911 Turbo
Superior Turbo-Trim Performance as Tribute to Historic 911 Turbo Models
In technological and performance terms, the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years model derives from the aforementioned current 2025 911 Turbo S.
Specs include…
- 3.7 liter boxer engine with VTG-twin-turbocharging, producing 640 hp and 590 lb.-ft. of torque
- Curb weight of 3,649 lbs.
- Power-to-weight ratio of 5.7 lbs. per hp
- Accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds [!]
- 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (PDK)
- Porsche Traction Management (PTM) active all-wheel drive
- Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus)
- Sport exhaust system with black tailpipes
- Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) sport suspension with a 10 mm lower ride height
- Front-axle lift system
- Tinted LED Matrix design headlights with Dynamic Light System Plus
- Black-finish brake calipers with standard PCCB brake system
Chronograph from Porsche Design Based on the 911 Turbo 50 Years Model
Porsche Design Timepieces will release a distinctive chronograph in homage to the Turbo anniversary model. The watch is exclusively available only to the purchasers of the 911 Turbo 50 Years model. The chronograph showcases the COSC-certified Porsche Design WERK 01.200 movement with fly-back function.
Not unlike the vehicle, the watch is also limited to 1,974 units. It interlaces classic design with modern technology. Its Turbonite-accented black dial makes for a perfect identical likeness of the car’s dashboard timepiece.
Fashioned from black vehicle leather with decorative Turbonite stitching, the timepiece’s strap sports a folding clasp. The chronograph’s transparent underside case grants a view of the winding rotor, which is scrupulously in the same style as the wheels of the 911 Turbo 50.
The limited-edition number engraved on the titanium housing is identical to the limited-edition number of the matching 911 Turbo 50 Years model. A Heritage Design Package special edition of the chronograph is also on offer.
Pricing and Availability of the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years Model
The limited-production anniversary Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years model can now be ordered immediately. MSRP adds up to a stratospheric $261,100, excluding the usual $1,995 for delivery, processing and handling.
Thus the new Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years model comes at a substantial premium — about $30,000 over and above the base 911 Turbo S. Units are expected to roll in to U.S. Porsche Center dealerships in late 2024.
