Porsche Museum, Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany
Until January 17th, 2025
Under the title “Forever Young – Celebrating Transaxle,” the Porsche Museum is celebrating the 50th anniversary of “Transaxle” technology through a series of temporary exhibitions highlighting the spirit of the 1980s and the interplay between technology, design, and motorsports that defined that era.
In 2026, Porsche will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the transaxle transmission, a rear-wheel-drive sports car architecture designed to deliver balanced driving dynamics: the engine is mounted at the front, the transmission is located at the rear axle, and between the two, a driveshaft housed in a rigid torque tube ensures efficient power delivery. The exhibition “Forever Young – Celebrating Transaxle” deliberately departs from the format of a traditional temporary exhibition by offering a series of pop-up exhibits throughout the year.
From 1976 to 1995, four model lines, the 924, 928, 944, and 968, defined this chapter, accounting for nearly 400,000 vehicles sold. These models combine stability, driving precision, sportiness, and everyday practicality. Over this period, the transaxle evolved beyond a mere technical solution. It came to define the Porsche experience for an entire generation.
The first model of this generation, the 924, was introduced in 1976 and remained in production until 1988. Unveiled in Geneva in 1977 as the top-of-the-line model, the 928 was positioned as a comfortable grand tourer, combining a water-cooled lightweight alloy V8 engine, an aluminum chassis, and the Weissach rear axle. During the 1980s, the 944 became the flagship model of the Transaxle family, offering better performance than the 924. Finally, the 968, produced from 1991 to 1995, marked the culmination of nearly two decades of continuous development. Flat front ends, pop-up headlights, wide tailgates, and clean lines characterize the design of the Transaxle models.
Like any Porsche sports car, the Transaxle models competed in races, both on the road and on the track: the Monte Carlo Rally and the Safari Rally, the German Rally Championship with Walter Röhrl, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and endurance races. Following the 924 exhibition this spring, a second temporary exhibition will showcase the 944 and 968 through October 4, 2026, before the 928 takes the spotlight from November 24, 2026, to January 17, 2027.
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