The 944 Turbo S and the Turbo from 1989
The 1988 special series with a larger turbocharger, M030 sport suspension and limited-slip differential – and what became standard from 1989.
In short: The 1988 Turbo S had a larger turbocharger and a map that holds full boost for longer. From 1989 every Turbo got this engine – but not automatically the M030 suspension or the Club Sport wheels.
What the Turbo S brought
- Engine M44/52 with a K26-8 charger; full boost is held to about 5,800 rpm, whereas the earlier Turbo’s boost drops off towards the rev limit.
- M030 suspension with adjustable Koni dampers, progressive springs, larger anti-roll bars and front-end stiffening.
- Limited-slip differential as standard.
- Forged 16-inch Club Sport wheels; many cars in «Silver Rose Metallic» with burgundy plaid cloth.
How many are there?
The figures differ widely: one production table lists 1,635 Turbo S, an estimate puts it at 750 to 1,000. We treat neither figure as established.
The Turbo from 1989
The “S” was dropped from 1989; all Turbos had the stronger engine. 1990 is given as the last US import year, with fewer than 150 cars.
Technical values
Only work with the workshop manual and the correct tools. Do not use unverified values without checking them – wrong tension values can destroy the engine.
| Value | Figure | Condition | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo S / Turbo from 1989: engine / charger | M44/52 with KKK K26-8 | – | unverified | [2] |
| Turbo S / Turbo from 1989: power | 250 hp (DIN) at 6000 rpm | Other figure: 247 hp | unverified | [3] |
| Turbo S: number built, higher figure | 1,635 | – | unverified | [1] |
| Turbo S: number built, lower figure | estimated 750 to 1,000 | Conflicts with the higher figure | unverified | [2] |
| Turbo S / Turbo from 1989: displacement / compression | 2479 cc / 8.0 : 1 | – | unverified | [3] |
| Turbo S / Turbo from 1989: torque | 350 Nm at 4000 rpm | – | unverified | [4] |
| Turbo S / Turbo from 1989: 0–100 km/h | 5.9 s | – | unverified | [4] |
| Turbo S / Turbo from 1989: top speed | 260 km/h | – | unverified | [4] |
| Turbo S: kerb weight | 1350 kg | Standard (DIN or EU) not stated | unverified | [4] |
| Turbo from 1989: kerb weight | 1350 kg, from 1990 1400 kg | Standard (DIN or EU) not stated | unverified | [4] |
Sources
- Secondary source Porsche 944 (Abschnitt «Production»)
Secondary source. Production tables per model year, no book citation; totals are partly inconsistent.
- Secondary source 944 Turbo (951) FAQ
Secondary source on the Turbo: charger, boost, wastegate, model years. Some figures quoted from the workshop manual, unverified here.
- Secondary source 944 specification tables
Data tables 944, Turbo, S, S2 (1983–1991).
- Secondary source Porsche 944
Secondary source. Covers special series (Turbo S, Celebration Edition) among others. «Technische Daten» table with torque, 0–100 km/h, top speed and kerb weight, without its own reference.