When Porsche introduced the fifth generation of its flagship sports car at the International Motor Show Frankfurt in September of 1997, it instantly drew criticism from its loyal fan base.

Although automotive journalists at the time wrote favorably of the car, the Porsche base was outraged, and with fair reason.

The 996 was a massive departure from previous 911s, and not just in terms of exterior stylings.

But with so much pushback, why did the 996 become the foundation that endures today with the latest-generation 992, and how did it save Porsche from financial ruin?

To understand what exactly were Porsche's motivations for such a bold re-design and what it meant for the company going forward, first let's look at the criticism.