Porsche is a name which evokes sleek and stylish car design, a hefty price tag and a great deal of attention gathering when it hits the road. Porsche’s reputation is firmly established on both the race car circuit and in the opinions of owners – Porsche vehicles are known to remain with their owners for longer than any other luxury car marquee – a testimony to their attraction and embodiment of car excellence.
Porsche started off life as the independent design company established by Ferdinand Porsche in 1931. Note that this was not a car maker as such but a design company and commissions were received from around the world and also by the German government. Adolf Hitler commissioned Porsche to design the ever-popular VolksWagen Beetle – an instant hit with the German motorist looking for a car within their finances and well-suited to the new German road system called the Autobahn.
Porsche himself commenced his automobile career as a test driver and a draftsman at an ailing company owned by his father. To help keep the family and company finances afloat, Porsche regularly raced cars for prize money and this is why the Porsche company has always used the racing pedigree as a fundamental part of their development process.
It was not until 1948 that a car bearing the Porsche name was launched - the Porsche 356 Roadster. The 356 designation sprang from the chassis number of the prototype vehicle – 356.001. Powered by a VW engine with a “huge” 1.1 liter capacity delivering 35 BHP with 4,000 rpm, the 356 had a top speed of 84 miles an hour. The 356 was a success on and off the track and by 1956, the 10,000th Porsche 356 rolled off the production line. The 356 however, was simply laying the foundation for the flagship model to follow.
In 1963, Porsche launched the 911 with a 2 liter, 6 cylinder engine and delivered high performance and the ultimate in design chic. No other Porsche has attracted such acclaim and such a following amongst car buyers and car enthusiasts around the world. The 911 set the standard for Porsche and also for the rest of the car industry.
Porsche and Volkswagen moved ever closer in terms of both technological advances and production support. Porsche introduced a model aimed at the market below the 911in terms of price range. In 1969, the Porsche 914 emerged complete with a removable roof and a powerful four-cylinder engine. The car was an instant commercial success though many critics argued it was devaluing the Porsche brand.
The Porsche 924 followed as a consequence of the commercial success of the 914 and closer Porsche/VW cooperation. The 924 was initially developed for VW, but became a purely Porsche model and available in 1975. It was the first Porsche to feature the transaxle configuration, including a water cooled engine to the front with rear-axle transmission. Again, this was a commercial success and firmly established the company as a luxury sports car marquee with a price tag which ensured that while it was available on the mass market, it maintained an air of exclusivity. This ensured that the following models, the 944 and the 968, also enjoyed commercial success and together these three models accounted for over 30% of Porsche’s sales for the following twenty years.
The Porsche 928 Gran Turismo (Grand Tourer or GT) is the only sports car to win Car of the Year and along with the 911, it was also the most expensive on-the-road, production Porsche with sales of just over 61,000 worldwide. At the time, the 928 had an engine completely made from aluminium, which dramatically reduced the weight and increased the power-to-weight ratio – most cars at the time had a heavy iron engine block.
In September 1996, the Porsche Boxster was launched which incorporated new performance levels with enhanced safety design. The Boxster rapidly established itself as the premier sports car in its class and in the market, with features added to ensure driver comfort and convenience – for instance, the roof has an innovative opening/closing mechanism which allows for deployment and stowing in less than 12 seconds at the flick of a switch.
Porsche maintains a strong race pedigree today with engines and cars competing in both racing and rally events around the world. In addition the company entered the SUV market with the Cayenne, which has done remarkably well in the North American car market.
Published At: Isnare.com
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