Porsche introduced the 959 in 1986, a high-performance sports car with electronically controlled all-wheel drive.
Porsche developed the 959 for Group B rallying, although changing motorsport circumstances meant that its greatest legacy came as a road car and technology demonstrator. It used a twin-turbocharged flat-six engine, a lightweight body, and an advanced all-wheel-drive system whose torque distribution could be adjusted electronically.
The car’s engineering included a sequential twin-turbo arrangement, adjustable suspension, and a transmission with multiple forward ratios plus a reverse gear. Porsche produced a limited number of road-going examples to satisfy homologation requirements.
The 959 is sometimes confused with the later Carrera GT because both are celebrated Porsche supercars. They differ substantially: the 959 is a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive 1980s technology showcase, while the Carrera GT is a naturally aspirated, mid-engined 2000s car.