They collect Porsche. History of Porsche. Car interior in recent years

13.07.2023

Extraordinary and stunning, unique and recognizable, and the character of its owner, stylish and pretentious, sporty and comfortable. Cars that cannot be confused with any other and cannot be forgotten. Cars with charisma and history. But what was it like, the Porsche story?

How it all started

This story might not have happened if a boy had not been born, who was given the name Ferdinand. The history of the Porsche brand began with this name Porsche. This happened in September 1875 in the city of Liberec. A baby was born into the family of Anton Porsche, a coppersmith who was considered the best in his difficult business in the city. Already at the age of 16, Ferdinand began to study electrical engineering seriously. The end of the 19th century, in general, was marked by a craze among the population for any type of technology. At that time, self-propelled carriages were already fully replacing horse teams. What other dream could a teenager have? Of course, design cars. He entered the university, graduating in 1898. And, without thinking twice, he began to try his hand at an invention bureau. The young specialist’s first place of work was the Loner automobile plant in Vienna. I had to work hard for seven years in a row. Ferdinand's first successful work - a wheel with an integrated motor - helped the engineer gain fame. Car companies simply could not miss such a star, and in 1906 Austro-Daimler got a new chief designer. This, of course, becomes Ferdinand Porsche. His next creation was an artillery tractor unit, the sight of which was active. But the design soul asks for speed and Ferdinand Porsche becomes a racer. Of course, the author must feel the power of his creations. In the Prince of Prussia auto race, the newly minted racing driver competes in an Austro-Daimler, which he built himself. In this race he comes second, but the next year he gets the palm. After more than ten years of hard work, thanks to the work of Porsche, the concern begins to assemble premium models AD-617 and ADM-1.

Work at Daimler-Benz

Ferdinand Porsche leaves to work for the Daimler-Benz concern. Of course, he gets the post of chief designer. Professionally, Porsche begins to devote a lot of time to developing engines. The compressor units captured his attention. He is engaged in their development and modernization. Creates them for both racing and production cars. In this corporation, he was the first among those who came up with Mercedes, which attracts the attention of people with a good level of income. After bringing his plans to life, Porsche also became involved with the legendary Mercedes K and S series. His ideas subsequently became the inspiration for the production of the flagship models of the SS, SSK and SSKL series. Ferdinand Porsche is invited to the main post of the design department of the Steyr corporation. He returns to his small homeland. And in 1928, two unique models rolled off the assembly line. The new products of that time were called Austria and Type XXX. True, these machines did not bring financial stability to the company. The designer feels an imminent collapse, and therefore decides not to stay long at Steyr and leaves the company.

On the way to a dream

Ferdinand Porsche was quite famous, and therefore in 1924 the Stuttgart Academy awarded the designer - no less than - the scientific degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences. At 56 years old, the famous automaker takes his first step towards his dream - he opens his own design bureau. April 25, 1931 can be marked in red on the calendar. And orders came immediately. They were all quite prestigious. For example, the Zündapp corporation wanted the famous engineer Porsche to create. Another well-known company at that time, Wanderer, placed an order to create an engine for a passenger car. Porsche not only carried out orders that were interesting to him, but also worked on other projects. So, in 1932, a talented designer produced a torsion bar suspension on trailing arms. This has become a new word in depreciation. The ambitious Ferdinand Porsche did not limit himself to this. The leadership of the Soviet Union even offered him the position of chief designer and, of course, all sorts of privileges. But the Austrian refuses and takes another position - the head of the design bureau of the Auto Union corporation. There he hatches the idea of a hitherto unknown racing car and it comes to life. From 1934 to 1937, this car “teared” everyone on the race tracks of Europe, setting records one after another. In the same years, Porsche informed the German Ministry of Transport about its desire to produce a “people's car” (“Volkswagen”).

First Porsche

During the war years, Ferdinand Porsche, with the help of the guys from his bureau, worked hard to produce not cars at all, but weapons: tanks and self-propelled guns. When the war ended, he spent 22 months in prison. Then he finds out that his brainchild, Volkswagen, is already being produced. But at the factory where his idea was brought to life, the designer was no longer useful, and therefore the inventor returned to his homeland. In 1945, he actively participated in the birth of his first child - a sports car with a Porsche badge. In 1948, the long-awaited firstborn with a numerical designation was born. Porsche 356 is the joint child of a son and father. The history of the creation of the brand began with this brainchild of Porsche. The engine, transmission and suspension of the Volkswagen Beetle were encased in an aluminum body. The motor was placed under the rear axle. Two years later, a black Porsche 356 Ferdinand coupe became a gift for the 75th anniversary of the talented automaker Ferdinand Porsche Sr. from his son. A year later, the founder of the company passed away, but this is only the beginning of history worldwide. His son headed the corporation. The first 50 copies of the Porsche 356 were released quickly and easily. Transport, simple and easy, was loved by consumers in post-war Europe. Moreover, at the first races the car won a landslide victory. Almost immediately after birth. The car was decent. Within a few years, the Porsche KG company settled in Zuffenhausen. And today the plant is located on this site. Serial production began precisely from the time the company moved. The Porsche and Volkswagen companies exchanged components and therefore sold cars through a single network. The cars entered production with a steel body, which turned out to be cheaper. And the engine was already moved behind the rear axle. The line was complemented by coupe and convertible bodies.

Development of the company

It is no coincidence that the rearing horse became the emblem of Porsche cars. This is a combination of the heraldic shield of the Ducal House of Württemberg and the coat of arms of Stuttgart. This badge became a reflection of Porsche. perfect sports car. For a PR company at that time, it was simply necessary to attract attention by participating in races. And the main thing is to win. For this purpose, Ferdinand Porsche Jr. creates a purely sports car. This happens in 1953. Then the Porsche 550 Spider saw the light of day. It was this representative of the line that more than once became a prize-winner in sports competitions, winning palms one after another. He was nicknamed “Carrera” because of his victory at the auto race of the same name in Mexico. From now on, the fastest models of the corporation began to be called that way. In 1954, numbers began to appear on the trunk that indicated the displacement. At the same time, the first Spider was born. Its distinctive feature was its unusually straight windshield, as well as its canvas roof.

Company success

The first Carrera flew out of Porsche's garage in 1955. Corporation employees came up with a new “engine” specifically for this project. It later became the heart of the 550 model. The company's success was enormous. In 1956, the 356 model was updated. This version entered the American market. The line has been expanded with the 550A model. A completely new externally and internally sports car, the Porsche 718, rolled off the assembly line in 1957. It was lighter than its predecessors. The headlight sockets were hidden under the glass. All this was aimed at improving aerodynamics. The beloved Spider was replaced in 1958 by another car - the powerful horse 356D. In 1960, Porsche created the 718/RS model. It is different from the previous dynasty of 550 models. The car was equipped with an unbreakable windshield and also added headlights. In mass production, Porsche played a major role with the 356B code. It could be easily recognized by the shape of the bumpers. Three trim levels were put up for sale. Super-90 became power in the flesh. In 1961, the fastest car in the Carrera line appeared - Carrera-2. In 1963, the 356C was born.

The unique “911” and others

For decades, the Porsche 356 has been the most prestigious car on the world stage. But the time came when the consumer wanted change. Ferdinand Porsche simply needed to create something completely new. Feeling the spirit of the times and realizing that further success depends on it, the mastermind of the company creates a car that many owners still dream of. This car was simply destined to become a masterpiece. This is a Porsche 911. The grandson of Porsche's founder, Ferdinand Alexander, took part in the creation of the car. In 1963, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the canopy was removed from a brand new Porsche car. The power is demonstrated by the six-cylinder engine. It accommodated 160 “horses”. Cooling was by air. The stunning and unique Porsche 911 car has won the hearts of motorists around the world. In the sports industry, the 904 GTS entered the arena. In 1965, a Porsche 912 with a four-cylinder Super 90 engine rolled off the assembly line. In 1967, motorists around the world began to dream of the Porsche 911 Targa convertible, which became the safest of its brothers. A few years later, the 911S underwent a change. The wheelbase was increased by moving the rear axle. The buyers were happy. The line of Porsche cars was replenished with new modifications. At the same time, a joint project of the mega-corporations of the automotive world, Porsche and Volkswagen, was created. But this work could not be called successful. Despite all the disadvantages, the 914/916 was sold under the Volkswagen-Porsche brand for almost ten years.

A new milestone in history

In 1972, three companies that had previously collaborated merged into one large corporation - the joint-stock company Porsche AG. It included: the design bureau, Porsche and Volkswagen-Porsche. Also in 1972, Carrera was revived. Received the name 911 RS, the car acquired a more than two-hundred-horsepower unit and a hitherto unseen spoiler. The wing pressed the car to the ground at high speed. In 1974, the concern introduced the 911 Turbo. Presentation takes place at the Paris Motor Show. A work of art appears on stage. A powerful 260 horsepower engine, a large spoiler and stunning appearance. Aggressiveness and elegance - in one bottle. The Porsche car was equipped with bumpers with a rubberized part for a small impact in the color of the body.

New design

Porsche had to move on; he did not want to stop at the success he had already achieved. The decision was prompted by the spirit of the times. A completely new car was invented. The engine was in the front. The axle and gearbox are located at the rear. This is what the Porsche 924 became. 125 horsepower in a light metal “package”; a body unlike its predecessors. The designers even hid the headlights in the body. Every effort was made to reduce resistance. The Porsche 924 Turbo entered the automotive arena three years later. 170 “horses” under the hood and, surprisingly, the lowest consumption among sports competitors. At the same time, the 928th model was released. 8 cylinders and 240 horsepower. Excellent aerodynamics, unique, always up-to-date appearance, Porsche character. Turning headlights, integrated bumper. All this in a coupe body earned this model the title of “Car of 1978”. He beat the rest of the Europeans. Thanks to this success, an even more powerful swallow appeared the next year. 928S. Almost 300 “horses” in a miniature car. It was capable of accelerating to 250 km/h. Three years later, the Porsche 944 rolled off the production line. The flared nostrils of the wings, inherited from the special version of the 924 Carrera GT, have become a new breath. The appearance was unforgettable. Yes, and other indicators have improved. Over 9 years, 160 thousand of these swallows were released. In various modifications. Among them are S, S2, Turbo, Convertible. The evolution of cars with an engine under the hood ended in 1992–1995. It was a 968 model.

Group "B"

Group B is known to everyone who is interested in auto racing and cannot imagine life without cars. This is a milestone in the history of motorsport. She brought changes to the lives of many people and automakers. The history of Porsche 959 began with it. This happened in 1980. The company was attracted by its liberal requirements. No restrictions, only release of 200 homologation copies. Porsches simply could not pass by. 6-liter engine, 450 horsepower, 4 shock absorbers per wheel, all-wheel drive, computer-controlled torque distribution between the axles, floating ground clearance, Kevlar body parts. This is not a car, this is a dream. In 1986 it was presented in the Dakar Rally. And she takes the first two places. Only group B did not exist for long. The tragic death of pilots and spectators forced the leadership of the motorsport federation to close the race. But the consumer liked the car, and therefore more than 200 of the required copies were produced. Production ended in 1988.

The ideas that formed the basis of the Porsche sports car began to be used to assemble production cars. The 964 and other versions were equipped with all-wheel drive, the turbocharging system was given to the cars of the Turbo line, and the body was modified for the 993. The proprietary PASM adaptive suspension, which is now equipped with all modern cars of the brand, is an analogue of the one that was first installed on the Porsche 959.

Change of years

The brand's flagships soon left the scene, replaced by completely innovative cars - the Boxster and 911 (996) Carrera. The latter was equipped with 4-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. Improved dynamics, new frame, larger rear spoiler, 3.6-liter engine. Carreras were also equipped with other drives. The turbocharged version was initially equipped with a proven engine with a displacement of 3.3 liters, and in 1993 a 3.6-liter version was also launched, with 360 horsepower. The 911 Turbo S semi-racing car and the 911 America Roadster were limited editions. The limited edition sold out very quickly.

911 Turbo, series 964

The modern appearance of the Porsche 911, aerodynamic bumpers, streamlined shapes, new lighting technology - all these are components of a huge step in the evolution of the famous model. The rear suspension has changed significantly, the engine has become more powerful. The Turbo version was equipped with all-wheel drive and a 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged engine. Larger intercoolers, a huge spoiler, 408 horsepower, wide rear fenders. Power in the flesh. The personification of auto aggression with an elegant cover. At 34 years old, the history of this model has turned another page. In 1997, Porsche designers gave the Turbo S an even more powerful engine. The pinnacle of sports production was the car that the craftsmen created for the BRP Global GT Series championship. The GT2 engine has become even more powerful. It got dual ignition, power was up to 450 hp. With. This happened in 1998. This version was nicknamed “leaving widows” due to frequent accidents. Also in 1998, in the summer, the last Porsche 911 with a naturally aspirated power unit rolled off the assembly line.

Legendary Boxter

In 1996, the Porsche company released the Porsche 986 Boxster central-engine roadster. This car has become the new personification of the legendary brand. The car was equipped with a 6-cylinder boxer engine with a volume of 2.5 liters. And only in 2000 it began to be equipped with another 3.2-liter engine, receiving the designation S. The car was well received by consumers for relatively little money.

"Porsche 996 GT3"

Today the Frankfurt Motor Show is one of the most famous in the world. All companies strive to present their new products at the event. This was the case in 1997. Then the Porsche company introduced the new Carrera. She was very similar to her predecessor both externally and internally. The design of the heart of the car, the exterior, the headlights - all this was done in this way to reduce production and development costs. The car became even more powerful, increased in size, but continued to win the hearts of not only car enthusiasts, but also various authoritative sources. The car has repeatedly become the best sports car according to many magazines. In 1998, a convertible and Carrera 4 saw the light of day. And a year later, two more new cars from the Porsche line. One of them was introduced for amateur competition - the GT3 (this additional nameplate replaced the RS) and the new 996 Turbo. The last two engines were very different from the previous ones. The basis for them was the design of the unit of the 1998 GT1 sports prototype. The Turbo version received a dual-supercharged version, while the GT3 version was equipped with an atmospheric one.

New breath

The most unusual car for Porsche was presented in 2002. It was an SUV called Cayenne. To produce this swallow, the corporation even erected a new conveyor belt in Leipzig. Already in 2003, production of this model was put into production. This is a joint project between Porsche and Volkswagen. In many ways it is similar to the Volkswagen Touareg model. Of course, consumers are divided into two teams; those who immediately fell in love with this car, and those who did not understand this step, because the car was not like other Porsches. There are several versions of the car: naturally aspirated V6 and V8, supercharged Turbo and Turbo S, as well as GTS and Turbo S with a 550-horsepower engine.

Legendary Porsches

The history of the Porsche company began a long time ago and will not end for a long time. No matter how the public encountered Porsche cars in different years of their existence, sooner or later they always won the hearts of consumers. These stunning and unforgettable shapes, powerful engines, bold design solutions. Porsche was and remains the dream of many, the goal of life, a manifestation of the status and character of its owner. Consumers just have to wait for the new legendary Porsches, and they will definitely come.

Enterprise Dr. ing. h. c. F. Porsche GmbH, originally engaged in the creation of components and assemblies for automobile companies, was founded in 1931. In those years, its founder Ferdinand Porsche had not yet thought about mass production of his own car. But he successfully began to do it for others. Before the outbreak of World War II, he worked on many third-party orders, creating, for example, such a legend as the KdF-Wagen (or, more simply, the “Beetle” - the legendary little car that formed the basis of the Volkswagen company). Porsche's very successful developments also include the so-called Type 22, a racing car commissioned by Auto Union AG. All the developments of that time later formed the basis of the legendary Porsche cars.

During the same years, the Type 64 racing car (also known as the Volkswagen Aerocoupe) was created by order of the Nazi government, especially for the Berlin - Rome race held in 1939. A total of three Type 64s were created, of which only one survived - the first died at the very beginning of the war, and the second was “ridden” by American soldiers, intoxicated by victory and looking for entertainment. The surviving copy even managed to take part in post-war races, and successfully. It is now in a private collection, so the company museum in Stuttgart houses only a recreated copy of the body. When creating the Type 64, the designer actively used the same solutions as in the “Beetle” - the appearance is recognizable. All this gives reason to believe that the Type 64 became the first prototype for future Porsches.

During World War II, the brilliant designer was involved in the creation of military equipment. He participated in the development of the Tiger, Panther tanks and other types of military equipment. One of the most successful self-propelled artillery units (self-propelled guns) of that time, the Ferdinand, was developed by none other than Ferdinand Porsche; it is believed that it was named after him. Not so many of them were produced, but our soldiers called any German self-propelled guns “Ferdinands,” as a result of which many people formed the opinion that this “self-propelled gun” was one of the most popular.

After the end of the war, Porsche was accused of conspiring with the Nazis and sent to prison, where he spent 22 months. Having been freed, the designer was left virtually out of work. At the Volkswagen factories, where he applied first, other specialists were already working and did not need his services. And they didn’t really want to hire a person branded with the labels “unreliable” and “collaborated with the Nazis.” It is not known how everything would have ended if not for the engineer’s son, Ferdinand Porsche Jr. (in the family circle, simply Ferry). It was he who took on the revival of the company, completely building it on the foundation laid by his father.

In 1948, the 356 model appeared, many elements of which were borrowed from previous designs, especially the Type 64 and the Beetle. Many components of the Porsche 356 were produced by Volkswagen, specifically to save money and simplify production. An exceptionally successful design has won the respect of many active driving enthusiasts.

In 1950, the company moved again. To Stuttgart, Germany, where it remains to this day. Porsche 356s were produced for quite a long time, until 1965. During this time, many modifications were introduced. Many of those models are still on the road today. In general, it is no coincidence that Porsche cars are recognized as the most reliable - it is believed that more than 75% of the entire fleet produced over the years is still on the road.

And in 1951, Ferdinand Porsche dies. Death was the result of a heart attack. It is believed that it was caused by the years the inventor spent in prison. He lived to be 75 years old.

One of the most important events in the history of Porsche took place in 1963 - the Porsche 911 was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The design of the car, which was destined to become legendary, was developed by Ferry Porsche's eldest son, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. The story has been preserved that initially the model was supposed to be called 901, but this was opposed by the French Peugeot, which owned the right to names of three digits with a zero in the middle. The new product was created in such a way as to have an updated design, but at the same time not deviate too much from the company’s usual canons. The result was recognizable forms that are successfully used to this day.

Interestingly, the creators themselves hoped to keep the 911 model on the market for at least 15 years. But more than 50 years have passed since the model appeared, and it is still extremely popular. Moreover, according to Forbes magazine, the Porsche 911 is one of the cars that managed to change the world. Subsequently, the company created many more successful and very successful models, but not one of them has yet managed to repeat the success of the 911. But in general, it should be noted that over the years of its existence the company has presented many very interesting models, a detailed description of which requires a separate book.

The beginning of the 21st century was marked by the start of work in new directions. The company began to produce not only classic sports cars, the principle of which was laid down back in 1948, after the appearance of the 356 model, but also fundamentally new solutions. Such as the Porsche Cayenne sports crossover and the Porsche Panamera five-door sports car.

Since 2012, the Porsche brand has been fully owned by the German automaker Volkswagen, the emergence of which was once also made possible thanks to the genius of Ferdinand Porsche. The transaction value was just under 4.5 billion euros. Interestingly, it was Porsche who initially wanted to absorb Volkswagen. But this was not possible; the company simply did not calculate its strength, as a result of which its financial position suffered.

For Porsche cars, the ignition key is located on the left. This was originally made for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Thus, the driver could start the car even before he was completely seated and buckled up. Thanks to this, it was possible to gain a few precious seconds.

Porsche has historically not only created cars, but also offered the services of its engineers and designers to other manufacturers. It is quite well known that they took part in the creation of the VAZ 2108.

April 15, 2013, Category:

Considering the peculiarity of the name of this car brand, many attribute its history to France, placing emphasis on the last syllable. In fact, the Porsche company is historically a German company that has always operated in Stuttgart. Its main shareholders to this day are the Porsche family - the descendants of the founder and ideological leader of the company, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche.

Today, the controlling stake and the right to manage the company's commercial activities belong to the Audi-Volkswagen AG concern. Porsche is known for being the world's most profitable brand based on company revenue per vehicle sold. The brand has a fascinating history and rapid development surrounded by European market leaders.

History and main events in the life of the Porsche brand

The company was founded in 1931, and at that time the founder had already managed to take part in the development of one of the most successful cars in history - the Volkswagen Käfer. The first model of the corporation was a car with a single production - Porsche 64. The model was produced in several copies, but was of great importance for the future development of the company.

In the post-war years, the corporation resumed work on passenger cars, implementing the first production project - Porsche 356. Since 1951, the course of the history of the brand has changed, because the founder of the company passes away. Only in the early 60s did the company come to its senses and continue working, and over the next ten years many important things happened:

in 1963, the legendary Porsche 911 was introduced to the world with its sporty characteristics and design, which is still visible in today’s cars;
the VW-Porsche 914 model was also released in this decade, but did not live up to expectations;
Cooperation between Porsche and Volkswagen began, close cooperation continued for many years until the takeover;
The convertible class was founded - the first car, the Targa, had a glass roof.

The development of the brand continued with varying success until the 1990s, when the company began close cooperation with Volkswagen and focused its activities exclusively on the field of sports cars with excellent design and interesting characteristics. This became the basis of today's image of the company.

In recent years, the corporation has been delighting its fans with incredible technology, which has become one of the important moments in the development of the technical part of the corporation. There have been light and dark periods in the history of the Porsche company, but it was the first car produced by Ferdinand Porsche that led the company to its current success.

Modern activities of the Porsche Corporation

Considering the fact that the core of the company’s activities is the production of sports cars, today Porsche is actively working to create various sports clubs and closed meetings of lovers of powerful cars with incredible functions. The company participates in all kinds of rallies and sports events.

Porsche is the developer of a host of performance technologies, turbines, automatic and manual transmissions, and all-wheel drive systems. The company owns hundreds of patents, each of which continues to be used in car design. The lineup today is represented by the following classes:

serial sports cars - Boxster, Cayman and the legendary Porsche 911;
sports cars with a V-engine - Porsche Panamera in a three-door version;
executive class - powerful four-door sedan Porsche Panamera;
crossovers and SUVs - Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Macan.

With such a model range, you can safely conquer any market, which is what the corporation is successfully doing today. Also, the model offer often includes cars that have a limited edition and cost incredible money. These are sports cars based on developments for motorsport. Their sale is often of an auction nature and is associated with the company’s participation in various rallies.

It is interesting that to this day the style and design of the corporation’s models have not changed from the very first developments. It is updated, it becomes more modern, but the concept remains the same. This is why the Porsche brand is so famous all over the world.

Attitude to Porsche cars and the future of the brand

Since 2009, the Porsche Corporation has come under the wing of Volkswagen. Discord in the Porsche and Piech families, which officially own 50.1 percent of the company's shares, makes the German automobile corporation actually the decisive shareholder, which builds the brand promotion policy and makes all important decisions in the life of the company.

The transition to the protection of a German company had a positive effect on Porsche sales around the world, technologies were significantly updated, and new models appeared. But the company's image suffered somewhat. Previously, each Porsche car was unique, produced virtually by hand by craftsmen from Stuttgart. Today these are production cars with the following features:

large-scale production using robotic manufacturing;
introduction of advanced technologies instead of traditional sports solutions;
cooperation of developments with other concerns - transfer of some technologies to Audi sports cars;
loss of technological uniqueness and originality of brand cars.

Volkswagen may have breathed new life into the Porsche corporation, but it took away the authenticity for which this concern was respected by all buyers. Today the brand has gained new momentum, found a new audience and is actively promoting in all countries of the world. But Porsche cars no longer win the 24 Hours of Le Mans rally and do not surprise with the manual assembly of their models.

But there is another side to the coin: perhaps, if not for the participation of the “people's concern”, the Porsche company would have ceased to exist. We invite you to watch a detailed review of the company's latest development - the new Porsche Macan model:

Let's sum it up

The incredible history of the Porsche corporation turned out to be amazing and unusual, like every car produced by this company throughout its existence. Despite 80 years of various events in the life of the corporation, the company managed to preserve all the charms of its cars, its charm and uniqueness.

The style provided by Porsche will forever remain in the history of automobiles. Many of the company's models were decades ahead of their time, amazing the world community with their modernity, unique technology, and unique designs. What is your attitude towards the proposals of the Porsche Corporation today?

Porsche is a brand that needs no introduction. This family business continues to gain momentum to this day, although it originated many years ago. Many generations have watched the changes of this manufacturer. Their history is full of interesting facts that few people know about. In this article you can find out who is the founder of the Porsche company? Who produces this brand, what country of origin? What does it have to do with and who runs this huge corporation? We will try to answer all these and similar questions in the article.

Country of origin of the Porsche brand

During its existence, the company changed its location, but often production returned to its homeland, the name, by the way, which can be seen on the emblem of the Porsche car. The German manufacturer of these cars has the highest ratings among SUVs, sedans and, of course, sports cars. Germany became the birthplace of Porsche. A manufacturing country whose brand itself is already synonymous with high-quality cars.

Ferdinand Porsche founded the Porsche automobile company in 1931. Previously, he led the development of the Mercedes compressor car, and later designed and engineered the first Volkswagen models together with his son Ferry Porsche. But let's start in order with the fascinating life story of Ferdinand Porsche.

Where did the long-term history begin?

Ferdinand Porsche was born in a small town in Austria - Maffersdorf (now the city is called Vratislavica), on September 3, 1875. The family was small, father Anton Porsche owned a workshop, was a professional in his field, and even spent some time as mayor of Maffersdorf. Since childhood, Ferdinand was familiar with his father’s craft, he even thought that he would continue his business, but he actively delved into the study of electricity and his views on work changed.

Already at the age of eighteen, Ferdinand Porsche was hired by the Austrian design company Lonner. During this period of work, Porsche had the idea of creating and developing a car. The goal was to design a car that would be compact, move quickly, and most importantly, run on electric power.

From idea to action - the car was created and drove at a record speed for that time - 40 km/h. There was one drawback - the heavy weight of lead batteries, because of this the car could drive for no more than an hour. It was a successful startup at the time, and Ferdinand was offered the position of chief engineer of the company.

The first car is a hybrid

Lonner liked the car so much that he presented it at a world-class exhibition in Paris in 1900. The Porsche car, produced by Lonner's company, was recognized as the best development at the exhibition. It’s not surprising, because it was the world’s first car, the Phaeton, also known as the P1, which:

It had an engine capacity of 2.5 horsepower.
It reached a speed of 40 km/h.
It was front-wheel drive and did not have a manual transmission.
It had 2 electric motors located on the front wheels of the car.
At the same time, the car remained not only electric, but also had a third - gasoline engine, which rotated the generator.

On the morning after the Paris exhibition, Porsche Ferdinand became famous. Later in 1900 he contributed his engine to the Semmering race and won. Although the creator considered the car unfinished, Lonner loved the car very much and often drove it.

In 1906, Ferdinand Porsche began working with Austro-Daimler, arriving as a technical manager. In 1923, he was invited to the Stuttgart Daimler company as technical manager and member of the board. In Stuttgart, his ideas focused on the creation of a compressor racing car for the Mercedes S and SS class.

Founding of the Ferdinand Porsche company

During his time at Daimler, Ferdinand Porsche worked not only on the automotive industry, but also specialized in the tank and aircraft industries. When visiting the USSR in 1930, he was offered a job as a heavy industry designer; the great engineer refused, but added mystery to his persona. Looking ahead, I would like to say that later during the Second World War, Ferdinand was often interrogated about the reasons for his trip to the USSR.

In 1931, having finished working with Daimler, Ferdinand thought about creating his own company for the manufacture and design of cars. And in 1934 he was invited to participate in Adolf Hitler's Volkswagen project. The name "Volks-wagen" translated means "People's Car", later Hitler renamed it Kraft durch Freude-Wagen (translated from German - the power of joy).

The year was quite busy, and Ferdinand Porsche, together with his son Ferry, developed a model of the Volkswagen Beetle. Since this project, the father and his son have constantly worked together.

Due to the fact that Porsche had previously taken part in the development of one of Hitler's favorite cars - Mercedes-Benz, he was chosen as the chief designer and designer of Volkswagen cars. Thus began mysterious and dark times in the history of this concern. German officials increasingly interfered with the work of the car creator. They first demanded changes to the original 1931 design to make it more suitable for the working man, then they were involved in the development of the engine's operation and even wanted to add a swastika to the WV emblem.

First sports car

In the spring of 1933, Ferdinand Porsche was given the task by Auto Union in Saxony to develop a 16-cylinder racing car weighing 750 kg. Immediately after the contract was concluded, the Porsche team (who is the manufacturer and idea generator, we found out) led by senior engineer Karl Rabe began work on the Auto Union P racing car (“P” stands for Porsche). In the future, this project will give birth to the era of the Audi concern.

The project progressed rapidly and the first test runs of the Auto Union P were already in January 1934, and in the first racing season the new car not only created three world records, but also won three international Grand Prix races. With drivers such as Bernd Rosemeyer, Hans Stuck and Tazio Nuvolari, the Auto Union racing car, improved over time, became one of the most successful racing cars of the pre-war era. The mid-engine concept soon set the trend for all racing cars and is still used in Formula 1.

The impact of the war on the Porsche concern

Despite the fact that Hitler's relationship with the Porsche family seemed mutual and friendly, in reality the situation was different. The family of Austrian Ferdinand Porsche was pacifist and often disagreed with Nazi ideals. Hitler took into account the fact that Ferdinand helped a Jewish company employee escape from Germany during the war.

Volkswagen received its distinctive round shape and an air-cooled, flat-plate, four-stroke engine. Before the start of the war, Porsche, the manufacturer of the brand that is still popular today, invented the Wind-tunnel technology, using it in the development of the ultra-thin Volkswagen Aerocoupe model. But with the onset of hostilities, interest in passenger cars decreased, and Hitler demanded that the plant be re-equipped during martial law in the country.

The war had begun, and Hitler encouraged Ferdinand Porsche to create military vehicles for use on the battlefield. Together with their son, they began developing models for both the automotive and tank industries. A heavy tank was developed for the Tiger program, a prototype with an improved drive system. True, on paper this seemed like a great idea, but during military operations the tank never showed good results. Breakdowns and shortcomings in development led to the contract for the production of tank equipment being awarded to a competitor (Henschel und Sohn) of the Porsche company. Who was the manufacturer of the additional Ferdinand and Mouse tanks during the war? Still the same company "Henschel".

Birth of the Porsche 356

After the war, Ferdinand Porsche was arrested by French soldiers (for his Nazi affiliation) and was forced to serve a 22-month prison sentence. During this period, the automobile manufacturer Porsche decided to move its operations to another location. The city was chosen It was in Carinthia that his son Ferdinand developed the new Porsche car. Austria was already listed as its producing country.

The Cisitalia model was equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and had a volume of 35 hp. This car with the name Porsche was registered on June 8, 1948 - model 356 No.1 "Roadster". It's the birthday of the Porsche brand.

This model was classified as a sports car and was very popular among wealthy clients. It was manufactured until 1965, and the number of cars sold approached 78,000 units.

For fast speed and aerodynamics, Porsche began experimenting with lightening its cars. Deciding to save a few ounces, they decided against painting the car. Since the cars were made of aluminum, they were all silver in color. When competitors appeared in the automobile market, a tendency arose to highlight the car with the color of their country. For example, the German racing color is silver, the British is green, the Italian is red, and the French and American are blue.

This sports model was followed by a whole series of cars of this type. According to Ferdinand Porsche Jr., when meeting this model, the Porsche founder said: “I would build it exactly the same, right down to the last screw.” The father and son team continued to pursue automotive history until 1950.

Porsche was already a separate automobile corporation, both as a dealer and as a manufacturer, but was still very much associated with Volkswagen. Now these two brands are considered to be separate companies, but very closely related.

The legend of the concern - the Porsche 911 model

Ferdinand Jr.'s son created the styling of Porsche's most famous model, the 911. It was the world's first turbocharged sports car and was designed as an improved replacement for the 356, the company's first sports car. The 911 was originally designated as Porsche (an internal project number), but Peugeot protested on the grounds that they owned the trademark for all car names using three digits and a zero in the middle. So, before the start of production, it was decided to change the name of the new Porsche from 901 to 911. In 1964, sales of this country of origin are already considered to be Germany.

“Although the Porsche 911 has been updated and enlarged many times over the past decades thanks to modern technology, no other car has been able to preserve its original creation as well as this model,” says Porsche CEO Oliver Bloom. “The models currently being developed and planned for the future are based on this sports car. The 911 has become a dream sports car, capturing the hearts of fans around the world.”

Futuristic Porsche, or what awaits us in the near future

"Mission E" is a new electric car model from the Porsche concern, whose manufacturer is already approaching the starting line. This concept car with technology from Zuffenhausen combines distinctive Porsche design, excellent handling and future-proof functionality.

The four-door model provides system performance of more than 600 hp. with a travel range of more than 500 km. Mission E accelerates to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds, and charging time will take only 15 minutes. Porsche has invested more than a billion euros in this project. Some 1,100 additional jobs have been created at the headquarters in Stuttgart (Germany), where Mission E will be built. Frequently asked question: Whose brand, country, manufacturer is Porsche? The answer will always be the same - Germany!

Of course, there won't be a quick transition from gasoline to electric, although by 2020 it is predicted that one in ten cars will be hybrid or electric. Porsche plans to release its last diesel car in 2030.

Interesting facts you didn't know about

The famous designer Ferdinand Porsche worked as the personal driver of the Prince of Hungary and Bohemia.
The German company develops and produces Porsche cars, motorcycles, and engines of all types.
The first Porsche passenger car in 1939 was called the Porsche 64. This model became the basis for all future ones, despite the fact that only three cars were released from the factory.
In total, more than 76,000 Porsche 356s were produced. The staggering fact is that more than half of them have survived to this day, and they continue to function.
It is interesting that the Porsche company (whose car, country of origin, we examined in the article) began to actively use its official logo only in 1952 after the brand entered the American market. Before this, the company simply used a Porsche stamp on the hoods of its cars.
Over the course of 50 years, Porsche cars have achieved more than 28,000 victories in various speed racing categories! Other car manufacturers can only dream of such amazing success in motorsport.
The Porsche Panamera got its name from the Porsche team's successful performance in the Carrera Panamericana race.
The 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS is a legendary car, as evidenced by its specifications. It has a height of only 1067 mm, weighs 640 kg, and its power is 155 hp. The Porsche 904 is a truly remarkable car, even by today's standards. It can easily compete with modern supercars.
The most commercially successful model is the Porsche Cayenne. The manufacturer named this model in honor of the city of Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana. Additionally, cayenne is a type of red pepper (Guinea spice, cow pepper, and red chili pepper). Some of the new generation Porsche Cayenne cars are produced in North America.
The Porsche 911 has one of the most recognizable designs in the supercar world. It has had continuous updates over the years, although the basic concept has remained virtually unchanged. Its distinctive visual style and technological superiority remained constant for 48 years. In addition, this supercar model is the most mass-produced in the world.
The founder of Porsche made the world's first hybrid car back in 1899. The Semper Vivus was an electric vehicle, and the generator was created using an internal combustion engine. Moreover, the Semper Vivus had brakes on all four wheels.
Ferdinand Porsche was also the designer of Auto Union cars. The collection also featured the Auto Union P, which featured a mid-level 16-cylinder engine.
The horses on the Porsche and Ferrari badges are really similar. However, for Porsche it makes much more sense, since the horse is a symbol of Stuttgart. This is a significant nuance in the Porsche logo, whose country of origin is depicted on the coat of arms.
The Porsche 365 was used in Dutch police work.
The Porsche 917 can outperform any racing car available today with 1,100 hp. and a speed of 386 km/h.
The concern was also involved in the design of tractors for agriculture. History has shown that Porsche not only produces high-quality tractors for farming, but even developed special ones for coffee farming. They were equipped with a gasoline engine, therefore, diesel fumes did not affect the taste of the coffee.
The cabin of the Airbus A300 was built by Porsche! Along with several advancements, they also added digital screens to the cockpit rather than analog ones.
Porsche has demonstrated its special efforts and dedication to technological progress and performance. was another product of the company that can rightfully be classified as the most technically advanced sports car, accelerating up to 320 km/h. This model not only won Le Mans, but was the champion of the Paris-Dakar Rally, which, due to the difficult route in this area, is considered the most brutal car race.
The 944 was developed as the first Porsche worldwide to add passenger airbags, and the first country to purchase such a feature was America. Before this introduction, airbags were only on the steering wheel.
Porsche and Harley Davidson are an amazing combination, right? Some of them use a Porsche engine.
Another fascinating fact - Porsche designed the grill!

For his achievements in mechanical engineering and development, Ferdinand Porsche was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Imperial Technical University at the age of 37. At 62, Ferdinand Porsche was awarded the German National Prize for his contributions to art and science.

We found out who produces Porsche, the country of origin.

History of development

The company’s emblem is a coat of arms containing the following information: red and black stripes and deer antlers are symbols of the German state of Baden-Württemberg (the capital of Baden-Württemberg is the city of Stuttgart), and the inscription “Porsche” and a prancing stallion in the center of the emblem remind The brand's native Stuttgart was founded as a horse farm in 950. This logo first appeared in 1952, when the brand entered the US market, for better recognition. Before this, the 356 simply had "Porsche" written on its hood.

HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT

1931-1948: from ideas to mass production
By the time the first car was released under his own name, Ferdinand Porsche had accumulated considerable experience.
In 1931 the enterprise Dr. ing. h. c. F. Porsche GmbH, of which he was the founder and leader, had already worked on projects such as the 16-cylinder Auto Union racing car and the Beetle, which became one of the best-selling cars in history.
In 1939, on the eve of the Second World War, the very first Porsche 64 was developed, in which the features of the future Porsche 356 model were already discernible. To build this example, Ferdinand Porsche used many components from the famous Beetle.
Ferdinand Porsche Jr. continued his father's business. Having received his education and the first skills of independent work, he moved to Stuttgart to work in the company that his father had just created.
During World War II, the company was engaged in the production of military products - staff vehicles and amphibians. Porsche also took part in the development of the Tiger tanks.

1948-1965: first steps

Since the end of 1945, when his father was imprisoned in France, Ferdinand Jr. moved the family business to the Austrian city of Gmünd, and also independently headed the production.
Together with Karl Rabe, Ferdinand assembled a prototype of the Porsche 356 and began preparing the model for its mass production. In June 1948, this example was certified for public roads. Like nine years ago, units from the VW Beetle were again used here.
The first production cars had a fundamental difference - the engine was moved behind the rear axle, which made it possible to reduce the cost of production and free up space for two additional seats in the cabin.

The main points in the design remained the same (rear-engine and rear-wheel drive), but it was already a modern sports car with classic body lines in the spirit of the Porsche 356. The author of the design was Ferdinand Alexander "Butzi" Porsche, Ferry's eldest son. Initially, instead of the 911 index, another one was supposed to be used - 901. But the combination of three digits with a zero in the middle was reserved for Peugeot. The car began to be called 911, but the numbers 901 did not disappear anywhere: this is how the 911 began to be called according to the in-plant nomenclature (1964-1973).

In 1966, a modification of the Porsche 911S Targa entered the production line.
After production of the 356 series convertibles ended in 1965, they did not appear in the company’s lineup until 1982.

1972-1981: reign of Ernst FuhrmannIn 1972, the legal status of the company changed from a limited liability partnership to an open (public) one. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG ceased to be a family business, and was now called Dr. ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG(full name Doktor Ingenieur honoris causa Ferdinand Porsche Aktiengesellschaft - Joint Stock Company of the Honorary Doctor of Engineering Sciences Ferdinand Porsche) is a German automobile manufacturing concern.
After the restructuring, F. Porsche's grandson, Ferdinand Piech, moved to Audi, and then to Volkswagen, where he eventually rose to the position of general director of the concern.
First President Porsche AG became Ernst Fuhrmann, who had previously worked in the engine development department. One of his first decisions in his new position was to replace the 911 series with the 928, a classic layout with an 8-cylinder engine. During his reign, another front-engine car was put on the assembly line - the Porsche 924.
After its debut at the 1974 Paris Motor Show. modifications of the "Turbo", the development of the 911 line (by that time the modernized 930 series had gone into production) (1973-1989) actually stopped until the early 80s, until Fuhrmann was removed from his position. But cars continued to be produced: the last front-engine models left the plant in 1995.

At the same time, the Porsche 911 Carrera model, somewhat lighter in price, appeared. In 1997, it was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and it became clear that it had a lot in common with its younger brother, from the almost identical front ends with teardrop headlights and similar interiors to the common engine design. Such decisions made it possible to reduce the cost of development and production, since in those years the financial resources of the brand were still very limited.
1998 was a year of losses and gains. In the summer, the last “air” 911 left the gates of the Zuffenhausen plant. Over the entire history, 410 thousand of these were produced; the contribution to this figure of the 993rd is 69 thousand. At the same time, Porsche celebrated its 50th anniversary. And in the same year, in March, at the age of 88, Ferdinand Anton Ernst (Ferry) Porsche died. Porsche Cayenne