Porsche Details, Meaning Porsche Article and Explanation Guide

Porsche Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

Porsche (Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG, correctly pronounced as pour-sha¹, but some English speakers use the incorrect pronunciation porsh) is a German manufacturer of sports cars, founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche, the engineer who created the first Volkswagen. The company is located in Zuffenhausen, a city district of Stuttgart.

Porsche has a reputation for producing vehicles that, despite their high performance, are reliable and tractable enough to be used for daily driving, and of high manufacturing quality and durability, but perhaps less visual excitement than their competitors. This reputation is contrasted with that of Ferrari, their main competitor, whose machines are famous for their design flair and temperamental nature.

Porsche has for many years offered consultancy services to various other car manufacturers. Studebaker, Seat, Daewoo and Subaru have consulted Porsche on engineering for their cars.

The headquarters and main factory is still at Zuffenhausen, but for the Cayenne there is a new plant at Leipzig. Most Boxster production is outsourced to Valmet Automotive in Finland.

Table of contents

1 History
2 Motor-racing
3 Models

3.1 Tractors
3.2 Consumer models
3.3 Racing models
3.4 Prototypes and concept cars

4 Notes
5 External links

History

The first Porsche, the Porsche 64 from 1938, used many components from the Volkswagen Beetle. The second Porsche model, the Porsche 356 sports car of 1948, was initially built in Gmünd, Austria, where the company was evacuated to during war times, but after building 49 cars the company relocated back to Zuffenhausen. Ferdinand Porsche worked with his son Ferry Porsche in designing the 356 but died soon after the first prototype was built. Again, the car used components from the Beetle including its engine, gearbox and suspension. However, the 356 had several evolutions while in production and many VW parts were replaced by Porsche-made parts. The last 356s were powered by 100% Porsche designed engines. The sleek bodywork was designed by Erwin Komenda who had also designed the body of the Beetle

In 1963, after some success in motor-racing, the company launched the Porsche 911, another air-cooled, rear-engined sportscar, this time with a 6-cylinder 'boxer' engine. The car, which is still in production, has become their most well-known model, successful on the race-track, in rallies, and in terms of sales. Far more than any other model, the Porsche brand is defined by the 911.

The company has had a close relationship with Volkswagen. As already mentioned, the first Porsche cars used many Volkswagen components. The two companies collaborated in 1969 to make the VW-Porsche 914, in 1976 with the Porsche 924 (which used many Audi components and was built at an Audi factory), and in 2002 with the Porsche Cayenne (which shares engineering with the VW Touareg). In 2003 Ferdinand Porsche's grandson Ferdinand Piech was the CEO of Volkswagen Group and the main shareholder of Porsche AG. Bernd Pischetsrieder is the current CEO.

Porsche's 2002 introduction of the Cayenne also launched production in Leipzig, Saxony. Today, nearly the half of all Porsche vehicles are built there. In 2004, production of the Porsche Carrera GT also started in Leipzig; at 450,000 euros this is the most expensive Porsche ever built.