After substantial modifications for the interior and the engine, the 1986 944 S version was introduced to offer more performance for its customers.
The 944 S was introduced at the end of 1985 as a 1986 model, at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It looked sportier than its non-S version and brought few amenities which led to a better driving experience.

At the front, a new bumper was installed and it included more grilles to cool the engine. It kept the pop-up headlights from its predecessor, and in those times that was considered an ultimate reflection of a sports-car. An integrated, hard-rubber, a spoiler was added at the back of the car, on the lift-gate. It featured body-colored bumpers, with a rubber strip on the one in the back. The 944 S badge was added to the tailgate, under the spoiler.

The interior was fitted with four seats, but only the front occupants could sit well. The tiny rear seats were fitted for very small children due to lack of legroom. For the driver, there was a new instrument cluster with four dials and six gauges. The biggest ones were, of course, the tachometer and the speedometer. The AC was offered as an option. On the safety side, the 944 Turbo was the first car in the world with a dual airbag fitted as standard. The ABS was on the options list.

For the engine, the 944 S offered a 2.5-liter inline-four engine fitted with 4-valves/cylinder technology. It offered more power and torque than the regular, 2-valves/ cylinder ones. The front disc-brakes were the same as on the rest of the “regular” 944 engines, but the rear ones were carried-over from the 944 Turbo version.