The Porsche 912, a Porsche of the 1960s
Porsche (Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG), 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 are still at Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, but for the Cayenne and Carrera GT there is a new plant at Leipzig. Some Boxster production is outsourced to Valmet Automotive in Finland.
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. Many people regard the 356 as the first Porsche simply because it was the first model sold by the fledgling company. 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. A cost-reduced model with the same body but 356-derived running gear (including its four-cylinder engine) was sold as the 912.
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 and 914-6, 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 of VW.
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.
Motor-racing
Porsche has been successful in many branches of motor-racing, scoring a total of more than 23,000 victories. Particular success has been in sportscar racing, notably the 24 hours of Le Mans where they have won 16 times (more than any other company), and in the Paris Dakar Rally. Many Porsche race cars have also been run successfully at Le Mans and in other races by "private" teams, financed and run without any factory support. Recently, 996-generation 911 GT3s have won in their class at Le Mans.
Porsche has also participated in Formula One racing, with mixed results; its first foray (as a constructor) from 1958 to 1964 produced just a single race win, claimed by Dan Gurney at the 1962 French Grand Prix. Porsche returned in 1983 after nearly two decades away, supplying engines badged as TAG units for the McLaren Team. Porsche powered cars took two constructor championships in 1984 and 1985 and three driver crowns in 1984, 1985 and 1986. Porsche returned to F1 again in 1991 as an engine supplier, however this time with disastrous results: Porsche-powered Footwork cars failed to score a single point, and failed to even qualify for over half the races that year; Porsche has not participated in Formula One since.
Models
See: Category:Porsche vehicles
Tractors
- Porsche Type 110
- Porsche AP Series
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Porsche Junior (14 hp)
- Porsche Standard (25 hp)
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Porsche Super (38 hp)
- Porsche Master (50 hp)
- Porsche 312
Consumer models
Racing models
Prototypes and concept cars
- Porsche 114
- Porsche 356/1
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Porsche 695 (911 prototype)
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Porsche 901 (911 prototype)
- Porsche 916 (flat-6 914)
- Porsche 959 Prototype
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Porsche 942
- Porsche 969
- Porsche Panamericana
- Porsche 989
- Porsche Varrera
- Porsche Boxster Concept
- Porsche Carrera GT Concept
- Porsche E2
Pronunciation of "Porsche"
In German "Porsche" is pronounced porsh-uh (IPA 'pɔrʃʌ). In English, the German form is often heard from official Porsche sources and from some Porsche owners and enthusiasts. Outside of these groups however, the pronunciation porsh (IPA pɔrʃ) is standard. There is a habit in American English towards over-compensating the e, which then results into pronouncing it as Pors-scha (IPA 'pɔrʃʃɑ).
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