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Porsche 989 - Four doors for no hallelujah

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Created on January 5, 2024

Text:

Karl Ludvigsen (Übersetzung: Paul Krüger)

Photos:

Ludvigsen Partners

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Ludvigsen Partners

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Although still differing in details such as the front air intake, this model comes very close to the final design.

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When the press learned of Porsche's four-door plans, they naturally speculated eagerly about its appearance. Here is an illustration from "auto motor und sport" from October 1989

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The newly developed 80-degree V8 of the 989 was a modern design and versatilely configurable - ultimately in vain.

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The engine, chassis and drivetrain of the Porsche 989 were tested in eight examples of the Mercedes-Benz 300 CE.

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When the shape of the Porsche 989 was as good as fixed, Harm Lagaay applied for a patent with this shape.

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This early study was divided lengthwise so that two different designs could be realized without having to produce a second model.

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One of the 989 designs still featured flared fenders in the style of the 944, but these were considered inappropriate for the "private jet on wheels".

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This proposal with six side windows, accentuated fenders and higher rear lights was also rejected.

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Together with his team of designers, Harm Lagaay (center, wearing a dark jacket and sunglasses) examines a 1-to-1 model in the open air.

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The relationship with the 911 is particularly clear from the rear, especially through the sweep of the windows and the black B-pillar.

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The side view reveals the two-dimensional form, which is only disturbed by the most necessary lines.

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The massive notchback of the Italdesign design also did not correspond to the Porsche visual habits of the 911.

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Giugiaro's contribution to the "four-door Porsche" theme was the Type 932, whose front with its horizontal headlights was reminiscent of the 928, but also had a somewhat Far Eastern look.

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In order to be able to better compare details, the different design models of the Porsche 989 were placed next to each other.

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The interior of the 989 featured a mighty center tunnel like in the 928 and the classic five round instruments. The steering wheel was later also found in the 911.

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The final design of the 989. The front design without radiator grille and with air intakes in the bumper can still be found on all front-engined Porsches today.

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Before the costs got out of hand, the Porsche 989 was well received by the board. The side line in particular looks much more elegant than the later Panamera.

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Coming ever closer to the actual design, the German press fueled enthusiasm for the four-door Porsche... and a 911 with a V8

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The 989 was the first Porsche with four doors after the 1968 "Dackel" by Troutman & Barnes

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The 989 in the Porsche Museum

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The 989 in the Porsche Museum next to its successor, the Panamera

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The line benefited from the fact that the rear seats were much closer together than the front seats - not so much for comfortable boarding.

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Summary

Not counting an American conversion from the late sixties, the Type 989 was the first Porsche with four doors and the factory's first serious attempt in the field of sports saloons. The project began promisingly, but was stopped shortly before the start of series production due to escalating costs and an unclear economic situation. Porsche historian Karl Ludvigsen tells the story.

This article contains the following chapters

Modern engine kit
The 989 inspires
A quick end

Estimated reading time: 11min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Porsche had already addressed the four-seater theme with the development of the 924 and 928. Although both only had a very narrow bench seat in the rear, the 928 in particular was still much more spacious than the 911. In fact, the 928 became the basis for several four-seater experiments in the 1980s. These included Ferry Porsche's birthday present 928-4 with doors in the style of the Mazda RX-8 and two four-door saloons built by ASC, one of which was based on Porsche's design. However, all work on the two prototypes was stopped by company boss Heinz Branitzki in January 1988. Six months later, Branitzki announced that Porsche would spend one billion DM (approx. 831 million Swiss francs) on the design, development and construction of a new model to replace the 928 and 944 series in the mid-nineties. The "classic" 911 would be retained.

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