The Porsche 928 was a significant step in a new direction for the company. This was the company's first attempt at a water-cooled single overhead cam V8, front-mounted engine. It also featured a lightweight, partially aluminum body. Porsche designed the 928 with a rear-mounted transaxle, giving it excellent weight distribution. The GT car was a 2+2 configuration with a hatchback. Initially, it was offered with a 4.5L V8 rated at 219hp in the U.S. and 240hp in Europe. Power was sent through an optional three-speed Mercedes Benz automatic transmission to the rear wheels. Some 80% of 928's have automatic transmissions. The next iteration of the 928 was the "S" version, which began in 1980. The original base model 928 stopped production in 1982.