Editing Porsche 968 (section)

== History ==
The [[Porsche 944]] debuted for the 1982 model year as an evolution of the [[Porsche 924|924]], was updated as the "944S" in 1987, and as the "944S2" in 1989. Porsche was in a significant financial crisis at the time, with less interest in its sports cars from customers, especially in the U.S. The virtually unchanged design of the 944, which was derived from the 924, was showing its age and sales of the model declined. Thus, Porsche decided to develop a new entry-level model.<ref name="MOT" (15_91_S22)">''Mot'' Magazin, Issue Nr. 15 of 1991, p. 22.</ref>

Shortly after the start of production of the S2 variant, Porsche engineers began working on another set of significant upgrades for the model, as executives were planning a final "S3" variant of the 944. This new model had a design language in line with the models already in its lineup in order to reduce development costs. During the development phase, 80 percent of the 944's mechanical components were either significantly modified or completely replaced by the engineers, leaving so little of the outgoing S2 model intact that Porsche management chose to introduce the variant as a new model, dubbing it the 968.<ref name="MOT"<ref/>

In addition to the numerous mechanical upgrades, the new model also received styling changes, with a more modern, streamlined look, as well as many luxury amenities not present in its predecessor, the 944.<ref name="AMS (12_91_S61)">''Auto, Motor und Sport'' Magazine, Issue Nr. 12 of 1991, p. 61.</ref> To reduce production costs, manufacturing was moved from the [[Audi]] plant in [[Neckarsulm]] (where the 924 and 944 had been manufactured under contract to Porsche), to Porsche's own factory in [[Zuffenhausen]].
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