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Porsche 928

The Porsche 928 was a grand tourer manufactured and marketed by Porsche AG from 1977 to 1995.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Porsche 928 was a grand tourer manufactured and marketed by Porsche AG from 1977 to 1995. It was a 2+2 coupé with a front-mounted, water-cooled V8 engine and rear-wheel drive, and it was Porsche’s first production car with a V8.

Development and purpose

The 928 was developed in the 1970s as a high-performance luxury grand tourer. It was originally intended to replace the 911 but later sold alongside it. The model was designed as a grand touring car rather than a pure sports car.

Design and engineering

The car used a front-mounted water-cooled V8 and rear-wheel drive, with the gearbox and differential mounted together at the rear in a transaxle arrangement. The layout was a front-engine, rear-wheel drive architecture. It was a 2+2 coupé with a rear hatchback body style.

Production history

Porsche built the 928 from 1977 to 1995 in a single generation that included a facelift. Later variants included higher-performance versions such as the S, S4, GT and GTS. The production run lasted 18 years.

Reception and legacy

Although it did not outsell the 911, the 928 developed a strong following and is now regarded as a classic grand tourer. It gained recognition as the 1978 European Car of the Year, according to some sources. It is notable as Porsche’s first production car with a V8 engine.

Key facts

  • The Porsche 928 was produced across a single generation with an intermediate facelift.
  • It combined a front-mounted engine with rear-wheel drive through a transaxle layout.
  • The model was intended as a grand touring car rather than a pure sports car.
  • It was sold from 1977 to 1995 and remained in production for 18 years.
  • The 928 gained recognition as the 1978 European Car of the Year, according to some sources.
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Canadian context

The Porsche 928 is relevant to Canadian readers as a collectible European grand tourer that appears in Canada’s classic-car market and enthusiast community. Its long production run and V8 power make it a notable model among Porsche collectors in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Porsche 928?
The Porsche 928 is a grand touring car made by Porsche from 1977 to 1995.
Was the Porsche 928 a 911 replacement?
It was originally developed as a possible replacement for the 911, but it was ultimately sold alongside the 911 instead.
What engine did the Porsche 928 use?
It used a front-mounted, water-cooled V8 engine.
How was the Porsche 928 laid out mechanically?
It had front-engine, rear-wheel drive architecture with the transmission and differential mounted together at the rear in a transaxle layout.
Was the Porsche 928 important in Porsche history?
Yes. It was Porsche’s first production car with a V8 engine.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_928
    Supports: Production years, body style, front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout, water-cooled V8, and first Porsche production V8.
  2. Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_928
    Supports: Grand tourer description, production years, V8 front-engine layout, and transaxle arrangement.
  3. Stuttcars — https://www.stuttcars.com/porsche-model-research/porsche-928-research/
    Supports: Manufacturer, production years, production total, body style, first production V8, and development as a 911 replacement.
  4. Classic Motorsports — https://www.classicmotorsports.com/articles/better-buy-it-now-porsche-928/
    Supports: Collector-market context and modern enthusiast interest.
  5. Secret Classics — https://www.secret-classics.com/porsche-928/
    Supports: Variant progression and technical details of later versions.
  6. Wikipedia — https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_928
    Supports: European Car of the Year 1978 claim.