CMF Porsche 989 Prototype

A sophisticated sedan that was a bit before its time

It was 1988 and life was good at Porsche.

In North America alone sales had topped 20,000 cars in each of the previous two years, thanks to the triple punch of the entry-level 944, the iconic 911, and the muscular grand tourer 928. This last model was the main focus of Porsche executives; they felt it was the big V-8-powered GT that offered the most potential to expand its market, particularly if it could serve as the basis for a larger, four-door sedan with which to challenge German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The idea was not new. CEO Ferry Porsche had championed a four-door conversion of a 928 back in 1984, but the modest wheelbase increase and use of clamshell half-doors in the rear did not make for a very practical solution for rear passengers. So Porsche started looking at developing a full-fledged four-door. The result would be the one-off prototype 989 which debuted, not coincidentally, in 1989.