Porsche 928
Porsche put a water-cooled V8 in the front, the gearbox at the back and clever self-steering suspension underneath a futuristic grand tourer.
1978 Porsche 928 Automatic in the Netherlands · Niels de Wit · CC BY 2.0
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More than a set of wheels.
The 928 was Porsche's first production car designed around a front-mounted V8 and its first clean-sheet grand tourer. It debuted in 1977 and entered full model-year production for 1978, when it became the only sports car ever voted European Car of the Year. This page follows the 240 PS European five-speed manual, not the lower-output North American car or the later 928 S.
Look a little closer.
The round headlights lie down inside the fenders when switched off, then rotate upward like a frog opening its eyes.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A different Porsche balance
The rear transaxle helped distribute mass more evenly than mounting the engine and gearbox together at the front. Porsche paired it with the toe-stabilising Weissach rear axle, a passive mechanical solution that made a big, fast grand tourer easier to control.
Source: Porsche Newsroom · 928 transaxle and Weissach axle ↗Light materials under a large shape
Porsche used aluminium for the bonnet, front wings and doors, plus impact-resistant profiles behind the integrated plastic bumpers. Those choices cut weight and helped the smooth body look unlike any earlier Porsche.
Source: Porsche Classic · Model 928 ↗Where these facts come from
- Porsche Newsroom · History of Porsche eight-cylinder engines
- Porsche Newsroom · 928 transaxle and Weissach axle
- Porsche Classic · Model 928
- Automobile-Catalog · 1978 European Porsche 928 manual
- Excellence · 1978 Porsche 928 specification
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.