Porsche 959 Komfort

Porsche 959 Komfort

The Porsche 959, one of the most technologically significant automobiles ever produced, was offered in two variants: the Sport, which prioritized lightness and track performance, and the Komfort, which recognized that a car of this price and exclusivity should also serve as a capable grand tourer. The Komfort variant, which accounted for the majority of the 292 production units, softened the 959's edges just enough to make it a viable road car without compromising its extraordinary performance capabilities.

The 959 project began as Porsche's entry for Group B rally competition, but it evolved into something far more ambitious: a technology demonstrator that would preview the future of automotive engineering. When it was revealed at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show and entered production in 1987, the 959 was the fastest, most technologically advanced production car in the world. Its top speed of 317 km/h (197 mph) made it the world's fastest production car, a title it held until the Ferrari F40 arrived in 1987.

The heart of the 959 was its 2.85-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine, derived from the 911 but sharing very few components. The engine featured water-cooled four-valve cylinder heads grafted onto air-cooled cylinders, titanium connecting rods, and a sequential twin-turbocharger system that was the first of its kind in a production car. The smaller turbocharger provided boost from low RPM, while the larger unit came online at higher speeds, virtually eliminating the turbo lag that plagued other forced-induction cars of the era. The result was 450 horsepower delivered with a linearity and smoothness that was unprecedented for a turbocharged engine.

The Porsche-Steuer Kupplung (PSK) all-wheel-drive system was equally revolutionary. Using a computer-controlled multi-plate clutch center differential, the PSK system could vary torque distribution between the front and rear axles continuously and in real time, from 20/80 front/rear under normal conditions to 50/50 when the system detected wheel slip. Combined with ride-height adjustable suspension, the PSK system gave the 959 a traction advantage that made its massive power deployable in virtually any conditions.

The Komfort variant differentiated itself from the Sport through several meaningful enhancements. The suspension, while still featuring the 959's electronically adjustable dampers and ride height system, was calibrated with softer spring rates and more compliant damper settings. The interior received full leather upholstery, electric seat adjustment, air conditioning, and a high-quality sound system. Additional sound insulation was fitted throughout the cabin. Power windows, central locking, and heated seats were all standard equipment. These additions increased the Komfort's weight by approximately 100 kilograms over the Sport variant.

The body construction represented another area of innovation. The 959 used a combination of aluminum and Kevlar-reinforced composite panels over a steel-reinforced structure. The doors, engine cover, and front trunk lid were aluminum. The bumpers and side panels were Kevlar composite. The floors incorporated innovative hollow-section aluminum extrusions. This mixed-material approach anticipated construction techniques that would not become common in the automotive industry until decades later.

Despite its Komfort designation, the car remained ferociously fast. The 0-100 km/h sprint was dispatched in 3.7 seconds, and the car could reach 200 km/h in approximately 13 seconds. In wet conditions, the 959's advantage over rear-wheel-drive supercars was even more pronounced, as the PSK system and electronic traction management allowed the driver to exploit performance levels that would be suicidal in a conventional supercar.

The 959 was not officially sold in the United States due to the prohibitive cost of meeting US crash testing and emissions regulations for such a small production run. Several were imported privately under the show and display exemption, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates famously had his 959 impounded by US Customs for years before the regulations were eventually amended. This US exclusion adds to the car's mystique and rarity in the American market.

Today, the 959 is recognized as perhaps the most important Porsche ever built after the original 356. Its sequential turbocharging, computer-controlled all-wheel drive, adaptive suspension, and mixed-material construction all became industry standards. The Komfort variant, with its balance of revolutionary performance and usable road manners, represents the 959 ideal for most collectors. Values have risen dramatically, with exceptional examples exceeding $2 million at auction.