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Grand Tourer (GT) Design

Unlike the lighter, more focused Porsche 911, the 928 was designed from the start as a luxury Grand Tourer. This meant it was built for high speed and exceptional comfort over vast distances, making it the perfect vehicle for an emergency road trip.

High-Speed Stability and Power

The 928’s mechanical features allowed it to maintain extremely high speeds safely:

• V8 Engine: It was Porsche’s first mass-produced car with a front-mounted V8 engine, which provided significant power. Models like the 928 GTS (similar to what would have been driven around that time) offered a 5.4-liter V8 with up to 345 horsepower.
• Exceptional Speed: Clarkson specifically mentions that the car could “sit quite happily at 170 miles an hour” for extended periods. This sustained, effortless speed was the critical factor in getting him to the hospital on time.
• Near-Perfect Balance: The car utilized a transaxle layout, placing the engine at the front and the gearbox at the rear. This engineering choice resulted in an optimal 50:50 weight distribution, which made the car extremely stable and controllable even at high speeds.

Interior Comfort

For a long, stressful journey, the car was also designed to reduce fatigue:

• Comfortable Cabin: Clarkson noted that the car felt “Solid. Quiet. Comfortable,” which would have been vital on such an intense drive.
• Driver-Focused Design: The interior featured supportive seats and a futuristic design where the gauge cluster moved with the steering wheel, ensuring the driver’s view of the instruments was never obstructed, regardless of the steering position.