What the car is and where it came from
The Porsche 928 is a grand touring car manufactured by Porsche AG of Germany from 1977 to 1995. It was conceived as Porsche’s first fully in-house production design and its first V8-powered model.
How it works, in terms someone would actually use
It is a 2+2 coupé with a rear hatchback. The front-mounted, water-cooled V8 engine drives the rear wheels. It is a grand touring car with a conventional engine layout.
What it gets right
It gets right the synthesis of sports car handling and luxury car comfort in one body. It delivers spaciousness, ride quality, and grand touring composure without sacrificing rear-wheel drive dynamics.
What it does not
It does not replace the 911’s driver feedback or mechanical intimacy. Its front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout prioritises balance and space over the 911’s compact, rear-weighted urgency.
What it changed
It changed Porsche’s design authority: its first fully in-house production vehicle, and its first V8. It proved Porsche could build a front-engined GT without outsourcing or compromise — and win European Car of the Year doing it.
Who it is for, and who it is not
It is for drivers who value composure, space, and integrated engineering over raw mechanical theatre. It is not for those who demand the 911’s tactile directness or air-cooled character.
Is it worth your time
Yes — if you want to understand Porsche’s pivot from air-cooled eccentricity to integrated engineering discipline. It is not a substitute for the 911’s immediacy, but it is the first Porsche built entirely in-house to serve a different idea of performance.
