History of Porsche. Car history - Porsche Who owns the Porsche brand

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (pronounced Porsche, full name Doktor Ingenieur honoris causa Ferdinand Porsche Aktiengesellschaft - Joint Stock Company of the Honorary Doctor of Engineering Sciences Ferdinand Porsche) is a German engineering company founded by the famous designer Ferdinand Porsche in 1931. The headquarters and manufactory are located in Stuttgart, Germany.

The company produces luxury sports cars and SUVs. Porsche production largely cooperates with Volkswagen. Side by side with participation in motorsport, work is underway to improve the design of the car (and its components) as such: over the years, synchronizers for manual transmissions, automatic transmissions with the ability to manually shift (later - with shift buttons on the steering wheel), and turbocharging for a production car have been developed , turbocharging with variable turbine impeller geometry in a gasoline engine, electronically controlled suspension, and so on.

50.1% of the company's shares belong to Porsche Automobil Holding SE; since December 2009, 49.9% of the shares belong to Volkswagen AG. Porsche is a public company, part of its shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on the worldwide electronic system Xetra. Large blocks of shares belong to the Porsche and Piech families.

The company’s emblem is a coat of arms containing the following information: black and red 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. The author of the logo is Franz Xavier Reimspiess. The logo first appeared in 1952, when the brand entered the US market, for better recognition. Before that, cars simply had the word “Porsche” on their hoods.

By the time the first car was released under his own name, Ferdinand Porsche had accumulated considerable experience. The company he founded on April 25, 1931, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche GmbH, under his leadership, has already worked on projects such as the 6-cylinder Auto Union racing car and the Volkswagen Käfer, which became one of the best-selling cars in history. In 1939, the company's first car was developed, the Porsche 64, which became the progenitor of all future Porsches. To build this example, Ferdinand Porsche used many components from Volkswagen Käfer.

During World War II, the company was engaged in the production of military products - staff vehicles and amphibians. Ferdinand Porsche took part in the development of the German heavy Tiger tanks.

In December 1945, he was arrested on charges of war crimes and placed in prison, where he spent 20 months. At the same time, his son Ferdinand (short name Ferry) Anton Ernst decides to start producing his own cars. In Gmünd, Ferry Porsche, together with several familiar engineers, assembled a prototype of the 356 with an engine in the base and an aluminum open body, and began preparations for its mass production. In June 1948, this example was certified for public roads. Like 9 years ago, units from Volkswagen Käfer were again used here, including a 4-cylinder air-cooled engine, suspension and gearbox. 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 designed body had very good aerodynamics - Cx was equal to 0.29. In 1950 the company returned to Stuttgart.

Porsche 356 - the first road-going Porsche

Since returning to Stuttgart, all body panels were made of steel, aluminum was abandoned. The plant started with coupes and convertibles and 1100 cc engines with only 40 horsepower, but soon the choice expanded: by 1954, versions 1100, 1300, 1300A, 1300S, 1500, and 1500S were sold. The design was constantly improved: the volume and power of engines continued to grow, disc brakes appeared on all wheels and a synchronized gearbox, and new body options were offered - hardtops and roadsters. Volkswagen units were gradually replaced with our own. For example, during the production period of the 356A series (1955-1959), it was already possible to order an engine with four camshafts, two ignition coils, and other original components. Series A was replaced by B (1959-1963), and it was replaced by C (1963-1965). The total production volume of all modifications was slightly more than 76 thousand.

At the same time, modifications for racing were created (550 Spyder, 718, etc.).

In 1951, Ferdinand Porsche died of a heart attack at the age of 75 - his health was undermined by his stay in prison.

At the end of the 1950s, a prototype of the Porsche 695 was made. The company's management did not have a unanimous opinion on this matter: the 356 had already earned a good reputation, so for the small family company Porsche, the transition to a new model was associated with increased risk. But the design of the 1948 model was becoming outdated more and more quickly and there were almost no reserves left for updating it. Therefore, in 1963, the Porsche 911 was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The main points in the design remained the same (rear-mounted boxer 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, eldest son of Ferry Porsche. Initially, instead of the index “911”, another one should have been used - “901”. But the combination of 3 digits with a zero in the middle was already reserved for Peugeot. The car began to be called 911, but the numbers 901 did not disappear anywhere: this is how the 911 model began to be called according to the in-plant nomenclature (1964-1973).

Porsche 911

In the first 2 years of production there was only one engine - a 2-liter 130-horsepower. In 1966, the Targa modification (a type of open body with a glass roof) entered the assembly line; After the end of production of the 356 series convertibles in 1965, they did not appear as such in the company’s lineup until 1982. At the end of the 60s, the wheelbase of the car was increased and engines of increased volume began to be equipped with mechanical injection. The pinnacle of the evolution of the 901s were the “combat” modifications of the Carrera RS 2.7 and Carrera RSR of the early 1970s. The word Carrera appeared in the name of the sports versions of the 356 in the mid-1950s, to commemorate the victory in the '54 Carrera Panamericana race, after which the brand became widely known in North America.

At the end of the 1960s, another new model was launched into production - the Porsche 914. At that time, Volkswagen needed to add some kind of sports car to its lineup, and Porsche needed a successor to the 912 model (a cheaper 911 with an engine from 356- go). Therefore, it was decided to join forces, and in 1969 the production of a car began under the name VW-Porsche 914, a mid-engine Targa with 4- and 6-cylinder engines. The brainchild of the alliance did not live up to expectations - its rather unusual appearance and unsuccessful marketing policy (due to the “mixed” name VW-Porsche) negatively affected sales. In just 7 years of production, about 120 thousand of these machines were manufactured.

In 1972, the legal status of the company changed from a limited liability partnership to an open (public) partnership. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG ceased to be a family business and was now called Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG; The Porsche family lost direct control over the company's affairs, but Ferry and his sons' share of capital in it significantly exceeded that of the Piëch family. After the restructuring, F. A. Porsche and his brother Hans-Peter founded the Porsche Design company, which produces exclusive glasses, watches, bicycles and other prestigious things. F. Porsche's grandson, Ferdinand Piëch, moved to Audi and then to Volkswagen, where he later became the general director of the concern.

The first head of the company who was not from the Porsche family was 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 a classic sports car (front engine - rear wheel drive) - the 928 model with an 8-cylinder engine. During his reign, another front-engine car was put on the assembly line - the Porsche 924. After the debut of the Turbo modification at the Paris Motor Show in 1974, the development of the 911 line (by that time the modernized 930 series had gone into production (1973-1989)) actually stopped until the beginning of the 1980s. x, until Fuhrmann was removed from his post, but his projects continued to be produced: the last Porsche cars with a front engine left the factory in 1995.

The 914 of 1976 was replaced by two new cars at once - 924 and 912 (now with a Volkswagen 2.0 engine), which lasted only a year. The history of the 924 is similar to the 914 - Volkswagen did not give up the idea of ​​​​its own affordable sports car and invited Porsche engineers to develop a corresponding project. They were given complete freedom of action, except for the development of the engine and gearbox - these were supposed to be units from Audi. Even before the completion of the work, the new management of Volkswagen, led by Tony Schmücker, doubted the feasibility of producing such a car, since the oil crisis began in 1973. Then the project was purchased from Volkswagen.

Compared to the 911 model, it was a completely different design: modern appearance, classic layout and weight distribution, close to ideal, economical 4-cylinder water-cooled engines. The Porsche 924 was in demand and had good potential, as evidenced by the constant updating and addition to the line. Just 3 years after the start of sales, a turbocharged version appeared, and three years later they began to produce the 944, its successor. In general, the car remained the same, but the changes were evolutionary - many indicators improved, and in appearance the most noticeable difference was the extended wings, inherited from the special version of the 924 Carrera GT. These two lines were produced together for 6 years, until the model was discontinued in 1988 (almost 150 thousand were sold in total).

The design of the 944 was noticeably different from the 924: the engine was a “half” V8 from the 928 model, and other large components were also replaced with proprietary ones. Over 9 years, 160 thousand 944s were produced, many modifications appeared - S, S2, Turbo, Cabriolet, etc. The latest round of evolution of front-engine Porsches was the 968 model (1992-1995).

Fuhrmann's decision to replace the 911 model turned out to be unsuccessful: From 78 to 95, about 60 thousand copies of 928s were produced, and 911s during this period were several times more. The car's sluggish commercial launch made it clear that the Porsche 911 was irreplaceable.

During the period 1974-1982, when the main priority was given to the development of the 924 and 928 models, there was an almost complete lull in the 911 series. With the change of generations, the 930 received new energy-absorbing bumpers and a 2.7 liter base engine. In 1976 it became a 3-liter. The following year, the line was simplified - instead of modifications 911, 911S and 911 Carrera, a single one was introduced, called 911SC and with reduced power. At the same time, the 911 Turbo received a new engine - 3.3 liters, 300 hp. With. The Porsche 911 Turbo was one of the most dynamic cars of those years, it accelerated to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds and reached a top speed of 254 km/h.

Ferry Porsche sacks Fuhrmann and is replaced by Peter Schutz, Porsche's American manager. Under him, the 911 models returned to the unofficial status of the company's main car. In 1982, a convertible appeared, and a year later the 911 Carrera with a 231-horsepower power plant became the base model. New for 1985 - the Turbo-look version (aka Supersport), which was a regular Carrera with the chassis and body of the Turbo model, which in turn had wider rear fenders and a large spoiler (sometimes called a “picnic table”, “tray” or "whale tail"). The Turbo model itself, a year later, became available in the SE version, or the so-called Slantnose with a sloping front end and retractable headlights. At the same time, the lightweight 911 Carrera Clubsport appears, the successor to the Carrera RS of the 1970s and the predecessor of the modern GT3.

The history of the Porsche 959 began in 1980, when the new “Group B” was approved in the World Rally Championship. A number of companies were attracted by the liberal requirements - there were almost no restrictions, except for the release of 200 homologation copies. Porsche also decided to take part. Schutz came to the conclusion that it was necessary to show the full engineering potential of the company. The technical stuffing was at a high level: the power of the 6-cylinder engine (2.8 liters, two turbochargers) was 450 hp. With.; each wheel of the all-wheel drive transmission had 4 shock absorbers controlled by a computer (it also distributed torque between the axles and could change the ground clearance); The body parts were made of Kevlar, a lightweight and durable plastic composite material. At the fine-tuning stage, the Porsche 959 participated twice in the Dakar Rally and in 1986 took 2 first places in the overall category.

Meanwhile, it turned out that Group B no longer existed: the tragic death of several pilots and spectators at the rally prompted the FISA motorsport federation to close it. In the period from 1986-1988, more than the planned 200 units were produced.

The 959 project turned out to be unprofitable, but the ideas contained in it were useful for the development of racing technologies in production cars: the 964s (1989-1993) and subsequent versions were equipped with a simplified transmission with all drives; the Turbo line (964/993) received a modern turbocharging system. ), the 993s (1993–1998) had a similar front part of the body with headlights and air ducts; the air intakes of the 996 Turbo version (2000–2006) in the front bumper and rear wings also resemble those of the 959. The proprietary PASM adaptive suspension (installed on all current Porsche cars) is a modern analogue of the complex system that was first tested on the Porsche 959.

During these ten years, the company's veterans - front-engine cars and classic 911s - left the scene. Instead, they introduced the completely new Boxster and 911 (996) Carrera.

They produced the 901 for nine years and the 930 for sixteen years, but now Porsche could not afford such a thing; because of this, 964 lived only 4 years. This was the final period for the Targa in its classic form, as well as for the Turbo, and to some extent for the Carrera. The latter could now be equipped with all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. The body was changed more than it might seem at first glance: a new frame was developed, aerodynamics were seriously improved (Cx decreased from 0.40 to 0.32) and an active rear spoiler was added. They abandoned the archaic torsion bar suspension. The engine was bored to 3.6 liters. Rear- and all-wheel drive versions were called Carrera 2 and Carrera 4, respectively; the sporty Clubsport has been renamed back to RS. Turbo, for the first 3 years, was equipped with a proven 3.3 liter engine, and in 1993 it also received a 3.6 liter version (360 hp). Special versions of the 911 America Roadster and the semi-racing 911 Turbo S were sold in limited editions. In total, about 62 thousand 964s were produced. The total volume of its contemporaries (968, 1992-1995 and 928 GTS, 1991-1995) did not exceed 15.

The economic crisis of the early 90s found the brand not in the best shape. During these years, production volumes decreased and the company suffered losses. In 1993, Wendelin Wiedeking was appointed the next head of Porsche, replacing Heinz Branicki (he became director after Arno Bohn, and he, in turn, after Schutz). In the same year, the fourth generation of its flagship, called 993, went on sale.

Only now has a significant step been taken in the evolution of the model. Integrated aerodynamic bumpers, new lighting technology and smoother body shapes give the Porsche 911 a modern look. The engine was once again slightly boosted, but the rear suspension was seriously improved. Turbo-look was now simply designated Carrera S/4S. The Targa became a regular coupe, only with a sliding panoramic roof, and the Turbo got all-wheel drive and a seriously upgraded 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged engine. Its traditional differences from regular 911s - wide rear fenders and tires - were still noticeable, and the large rear spoiler grew even larger, as the increased power (408 hp) forced the use of larger intercoolers. The 1997 Turbo S version, with an even more powerful engine and minor changes to the exterior, became the latest innovation in the 34-year history of the company's main sports car.

Since its introduction, the 911 Turbo has always been the pinnacle of the 911 range. However, the fastest and most expensive of the 993s was its road racing version, the GT2 (now called the RSR racing cars). This car was created for the newly formed BRP Global GT Series championship, where, among other things, the use of turbocharging was allowed. Therefore, the standard engine did not undergo major modifications, unlike the rest: the engineers abandoned the “ballast” in the form of a drive to the front axle and made improvements to the body necessary for racing. In 1998, the GT2 engine was improved - dual ignition was added and power was increased to 450 hp. With. The 993 GT2 often flew off the road, earning it the nickname widowmaker.

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, Ferdinand Anton Ernst (Ferry) Porsche died at the age of 88. He has had almost no involvement in the company's affairs since he settled on an Austrian farm in Zell am See in 1989.

Wiedeking's efforts became evident at the end of 1996, when the mid-engine Porsche 986 Boxster roadster went on sale, becoming the bearer of the new face of the brand. The author of its design is Harm Lagaay (Dutch), who led the work on the exteriors of all Porsches of the 1990s and the first half of the 2000s, when creating the appearance he was based on the company’s early cars - the open 550 Spyder and 356 Speedster. The name of the model is formed from two words - boxer (that is, boxer engine) and roadster. Unlike its predecessors, whose open versions were converted from closed ones, the 986 was designed from the very beginning as an open car. The only option in the range was a roadster with a 2.5-litre flat-6 engine until it was joined by the 986 Boxster S (3.2L) in 2000. The new compact sports car at a relatively low price was very warmly received by the market and topped Porsche's annual sales results until 2003, until it was overtaken by the Porsche 955 Cayenne, which debuted a year earlier. The production capacity of the single plant was not enough, and some of the components for the cars were assembled in Finland, by the Valmet Automotive company.

After the Boxster, all eyes were on the 911. The new Carrera was unveiled at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show, and it became clear that it had a lot in common with its little brother, from the almost identical front end, with teardrop headlights, and similar interiors, to the overall 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.

The 996 Carrera added more power and size, but remained a top-notch sports car. For example, the British magazine Evo has named the 911 (and 996 and 997) “Sports Car of the Year” 6 times since its inception (1998).

In 1998, a convertible and Carrera 4 appeared, and the following year there were two important new products: the GT3 intended for amateur competitions (this name replaced the RS) and the new flagship of the series, the 996 Turbo. The engines of the latter two were significantly different from the standard ones, as they were based on the design of the unit of the 1998 GT1 sports prototype. The naturally aspirated version went to the GT3, and the twin-supercharged version went to the Turbo. In addition, the flagship became the owner of not only the most powerful engine, but also a special appearance: specially for it, changes were made to the bumpers and lighting equipment, and this does not take into account the distinctive features of Porsche - a spoiler and a wide body, which this time had holes in the rear wings The new 3.6L liquid-cooled engine did not require large radiators, eliminating the need for a Whale-tail rear spoiler. The new design has become noticeably more compact. The GT3 was not equipped with anything like that, although it also had its own features, such as a lightweight body, lowered suspension and the absence of rear seats.

The Porsche 996 GT3 was produced from 1999 to 2004, and its improved modification, the GT3 RS, was produced from 2003 to 2005. The Turbo model was produced from 2000 to 2005; in the last 2 years, the Turbo Cabriolet and Turbo S (X50 in the USA) with a 450 hp engine were on sale. With.

The new GT2 (2001) was ideologically more like a slightly modified Turbo than its road racing version, as in the previous generation. The reason for this is the discrepancy with world motorsport regulations, since turbocharging was already banned. Structurally, it’s the same Turbo, only with rear-wheel drive, a different front bumper and a large rear wing. At first it was equipped with a 462-horsepower engine, later - with a 483-horsepower engine.

The most unusual car in the history of the brand was presented in 2002. This is a “sporty-utilitarian” Cayenne SUV, developed jointly with Volkswagen and in many ways similar to the Volkswagen Touareg. To produce it, the company built a new plant in Leipzig. Production began the following year, and the Cayenne immediately became the brand's most sought-after product, although reactions to the controversial design and the very fact of such a car's existence were mixed. Half of sales and the main profit still come from the Cayenne, which was updated in 2007. In addition to naturally aspirated versions with V6 and V8, there are supercharged Turbo and Turbo S. The model range after modernization has been expanded with the introduction of 2 new modifications: GTS and Turbo S with a 550-horsepower engine.

Until 2002, the Carrera was criticized for being too similar in the nose to the smaller Boxster, so during the modernization, all atmospheric variants received lighting technology from the Turbo, and it became easier to distinguish them. Once again, the power plants were modified (from 300 to 320 hp; from 3.4 to 3.6 liters) and changed the bumpers, wheels, etc. A version similar to the Turbo model appeared in the line again, this time exclusively all-wheel drive Carrera 4S. Its new distinctive feature is the red stripe between the lights.

At the 2000 Geneva Motor Show, one of the most significant premieres was the presentation of the Carrera GT concept supercar, and it became serial only 4 years later. In fact, the history of this project is even longer, and it all started with a racing engine developed for one of the Formula 1 teams in 1992. Porsche's financial difficulties forced them to suspend work in this direction. Then it was redesigned to comply with the regulations of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2000) and abandoned again. In the end, Wiedeking decided that this engine had a place in the future Carrera GT. This is a 5.7 liter V10 with a capacity of 612 hp. With. Everything else matched its potential: a 6-speed gearbox with a ceramic clutch, carbon-ceramic brakes and some power body elements made of carbon fiber composite.

Over the two years that it was produced at the Leipzig factory, 1,270 copies were assembled, although previously it was planned to make 1,500. The reason was the introduction of new vehicle safety requirements in the United States, which made further production or modernization of this supercar pointless.

Through the efforts of Walter Röhrl, the brand's factory test driver and rally champion, the Carrera GT became for some time the fastest production car on the Nürburgring Nordschleife - only the 2007 Pagani Zonda F with Marc Basseng behind the wheel could improve 7 minutes 28 seconds by half a second.

In the summer of 2004, the 6th generation of the 911 with the index 997 was introduced. This time there were no revolutionary changes (for the 911): the sports car largely retained the appearance of its predecessor and interior design, but minor changes affected almost the entire body - the headlights (they became round again ) and lights, bumpers, mirrors, rims, etc. Inside there is a slightly modified dashboard with classic dials. On the technical side, the most important news is the ability to install PASM adaptive suspension on all versions.

The structure of the model range remained the same - Carrera, Targa, GT2, GT3, Turbo. There were no more road-going GT1s as the 911 retired from that category in motorsport.

The Turbo version received a seriously modified engine (480 hp; 620 Nm) with variable turbine impeller geometry (brand designation VTG). Its peculiarity is the combination of the thrust of small turbines at low speeds (their low inertia compensates for the lack of revolutions) and the thrust of larger ones at high speeds, which also reduces the effect of the turbo pit. Such a turbine has been used in diesel engines for several years, but has not yet appeared in gasoline engines due to difficulties associated with higher operating temperatures. The all-wheel drive system has become new - it is not based on a viscous coupling, as before, but on an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch (PTM), which controls the distribution of torque. The Sport Chrono Package option allows you to increase engine torque to 680 Nm by pressing the corresponding button for 10 seconds. The progress in top speed is small - 310 km/h versus 305 for the 996 Turbo, but in acceleration dynamics it is more noticeable - 3.9 s in the 0-100 km/h cycle with a manual transmission and 3.7 s with an automatic transmission, according to official Porsche data. Although American journalists, who traditionally organize acceleration races on racing straights (drag-strip) with a special coating, achieved even more impressive results (for example, employees of the Motor Trend publication managed to reach 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds).

The GT3 (2006) with a naturally aspirated 415 hp engine is almost as fast as the Turbo, but at the top of the line again is the GT2 (2007), debuting at the Frankfurt Motor Show. As usual, it has an improved 530-horsepower engine from Turbo and uses a rear-wheel drive transmission with a launch control system. The advantage in weight is 100 kg compared to its all-wheel drive counterpart. The exterior is distinguished by a special wing, modified bumpers and wheels like those of the GT3.

The series of new products was temporarily interrupted in 2005, after the premiere of the new Boxster and a coupe based on it, the Cayman (officially Porsche considers it an independent car). In addition to updating and replenishing the lines of existing cars, the company's main efforts since then have actually been aimed at one goal - preparing for the release of the 4-door Panamera model, which was officially presented in April 2009 at the Shanghai Motor Show.

After the 980, the Carrera GT is the fastest production Porsche on the Nordschleife until 2010, with a time of 7 minutes 32 seconds.

In 2008, after restyling, the 997 series received new lighting equipment, bumpers, and a PDK transmission with two clutches and a power increase (Carrera 350 hp, Carrera S 385 hp, GT3 415 hp).

And in 2009, the updated GT3 RS (450 hp), Turbo (500 hp) and racing GT3R already appeared.

In the same 2009, the production Panamera S and Panamera Turbo were introduced with a power of 400 and 500 hp, respectively.

In 2010 they showed the standard Panamera (300 hp), 911 Turbo S and the revolutionary racing GT3R Hybrid with 640 hp.

Later, the GT2 RS, which is the fastest road-going 911 other than the 996 GT1 Strassenversion, and the 918, a new hybrid concept with 886 hp, were shown to the public.

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.

PORSCHE (Dr. Ing. h. c. Ferry Porsche AG), German automobile company. The headquarters is located in Stuttgart.

The company was founded by the famous designer Ferdinand Porsche Sr. as a design bureau in 1931 in Germany. The Type 22 racing car was developed for the Auto-Union company in 1936. After the successful racing Auto-Union, the first versions of the future “people's car” for all times were born - the famous Volkswagen Beetle, which had other name -Type 60.

In 1937, the “Third Reich” needed a racing car to participate and, of course, win in the Berlin-Rome marathon, scheduled for September 1939. It was then that the Porsche project received the support of the National Sports Committee. Work was in full swing.

It was for this event that on the same “Beetle” base, or rather “KdF” (name before 1945), three Porsche prototypes “Type-60K-10” were built with an engine boosted to 50 “horses” ( instead of the standard 24 hp). But the war prevented the release of this model.

The war years were devoted to the fulfillment of government orders - the production of staff vehicles, amphibians, tanks and self-propelled guns.

In post-war Germany in 1948, the company launched the first car under the name “Porsche” - a small sports Porsche 356 with a forced Volkswagen engine and a streamlined coupe. Without having time to take its first steps, the car was able to win the race just a week after its “birth”. Production Porsche 356 cars were already rear-engine. "356" was produced until 1965 and served as the basis for the Carrera model.

Considering the advantages and good results shown in 1951 by the “356” model, Ferry is trying to build a pure sports car. It became the Porsche 550 Spider in 1953. It was this car that repeatedly won one victory after another. Thanks to his participation (and victory) at the Carrera Panamericana auto race in Mexico in 1953, the custom began to call the company’s fastest models by this name.

By 1954, the first Spider appeared with a straight windshield and a soft top.

The very first Porsche Carrera was released in 1955. In addition, this modification received a power plant entirely developed by Porsche specialists. The same “heart” was transplanted into the “550” model. After which laurels began to fall on the creators of the machine.

The coming year 1956 brought two events at once: an updated version of the “356th” appeared - model “356A”; a more “calm” modification “550A” appeared in the sports series.

Two years later, a completely new racing model, the Porsche 718, was born, both externally and internally. At the end of 1958, the much-loved Spider came to an end. Its place was taken by the more powerful model “356D”.

In 1960, the last version of the “550s” dynasty was released - the “718/RS” model. In parallel, there was a closed version of the joint development of Porsche and the Italian Abart.

As for production cars, the most important step in the development of the range of models was the Porsche 356B, which was easily recognizable by its high bumpers with large vertical “bulls”. The car had three modifications. The most powerful is “Super 90”.

In 1961, the 356 GS Carrera model successfully competed in the Gran Turismo class. In the spring, the last and fastest car from the Carrera family appeared - Carrera-2.

In 1963, a few more changes were made, resulting in the 356C model.

For about 15 years, the Porsche 356 was one of the most prestigious sports cars in the world. However, over time, it also became less and less consistent with modern requirements. Something completely new was needed, to match the times. This car turned out to be another masterpiece of Ferdinand Porsche - the world famous Porsche 911. Ferry's son, Ferdinand Alexander, took part in the creation of this car. The new car was first shown to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963.

In the world of sports, there has also been a worthy replacement. The successor to the RS Spider and 356 GS Carrera models was the 904 GTS, which had the features of a racing car. These features were continued in the next model - “906”, created in 1966. In turn, it was the ancestor of a large series of cars that achieved many successes in prototype competitions in the late 60s (models “907”, “908” and “917”) and were distinguished by exceptional reliability and good style.

In 1965, a cheaper modification of the Porsche 912 with a 4-cylinder Super 90 engine was released.

In 1967, the Porsche 911 Targa finally went on sale. Buyers were now offered a coupe, a “Targa” model (index “T” in the model name), a luxury model labeled “E” and a modification “S” - especially for the USA, where the company returned again after a year-long absence.

In 1975, the Porsche 924 model was released, which was considered the most economical sports car in the world.

In March 1977, the “928” model was released (already with an “8-cylinder” engine of 240 hp), which also managed to become the “Car of 1978” in Europe.

In 1979, a more powerful model “928S” appeared with a 300 hp engine. The speed of the car reached 250 km/h, which was 20 km/h higher than the maximum speed of the “924th” model.

In 1981, the Porsche 944 became a further development of the 924 model. 220 hp also affected the speed - 250 km/h.

Three years later, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, a prototype of another masterpiece of minds was presented - the “959” model. Having collected everything possible and impossible, it personified the most modern sports car from Porsche.

Throughout the decade, the class of prototypes was replenished with new successful models: “936”, “956” and “962”, which repeatedly collected laurels in the “24 Hours of Le Mans” race, “959” reigned in the “Paris - Dakar” marathon. .

To add variety and, to an even greater extent, to increase popularity, the Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet was introduced to the auto community in 1988.

At the end of the 80s, the 911 Spider model appeared. Three decades passed before the name “spider” was revived. As for the turbo version, it saw the light of day already in the new decade, or rather in 1991.

In 1992, the Porsche family was replenished with another model with a front engine - the 968. It replaced the entire 944 range, which had ceased production by this time.

Another gift from the Porsche designers was the debut in 1993 at the Frankfurt Motor Show of a new generation of the 911 model - type 993. Two years later, a Porsche appeared with a 408-horsepower boxer turbo engine. In the same year, the “928” and “968” models, which did not live up to expectations, completed their journey.

In 1995, the Porsche model range was replenished with the unusual at first glance Porsche 911 Targa with a glass roof that retracts electrically under the rear window.

In order to consolidate its post-crisis position in the sports car market and in the class of “inexpensive” cars, Porsche introduced a completely new type of car in 1996 - the Boxster model. The model has a soft (automatically folding) top. If desired, you can get the option with a hard top. Finally, a “cheap” competitor to the great “911” has appeared.

July 15, 1996 was a significant day in the history of the company: the millionth Porsche was produced. It was “911 Carrera” in police performance.

As for the company's experimental development area, its concept cars, there were very few of them. Firstly, this is the Porsche Panamericana (1989) with a completely new body “a la Targa”, which has found its application in the modern 911 model with the same body, then the Porsche Boxster ( 1993), which subsequently influenced the birth of the production version, and the “C88” project (1994), which personified yet another idea of ​​a “people’s car” for the PRC.

The “highlight” of 1999 is the GT3 (in the 996 body), which replaced the spartan RS. The GT3 now dominates all road car and club racing. In terms of dynamics, this model comes close to the great “turbo” - 4.8s.

Next year is the triumph of the new turbo based on the 996 model. With a modest 420 hp. it reaches “hundreds” in 4.2 s. And it confirms its direct relationship to the rank of supercars.

The latest new product is the Carrera GT. It's more of a prototype like the 959. The ten-cylinder V-twin engine made of light alloy accelerates to hundreds in less than four seconds, and to 200 km/h in ten seconds. Think about these numbers for a second!

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Ferdinand Porsche founded a company called "Dr. Ing. HC F. Porsche AG" in Austria in 1931. Initially, the company offered technical development of cars, but did not produce them themselves. However, at the direction of the German government, she was forced to take part in the development of a “car for the people,” which led to the creation of the Volkswagen Beetle, one of the best-selling automobiles of all time. The company's firstborn, the Porsche 64, was released in 1939, and in many ways resembled the Beetle.

The first post-war car, the 356, also initially had many components in common with the Volkswagen Beetle. This was due to a lack of components in post-war Germany. However, gradually, as production was established, Porsche replaced borrowed components with parts of its own production. By 1954, the car began to be equipped with completely original components.

Ten years later, after several race victories and with the need to replace the aging Porsche Roadster 356 model, the company released the Porsche 911, a sports car with a rear-mounted, air-cooled six-cylinder engine.

The 911 has become Porsche's most popular and iconic car – successful on both the race track and the highway. Far more than any other car, the 911 determined the fate of the Porsche brand. The 911 is still in production, but after several generations of modifications, all that remains of the original car is the basic configuration of a coupe with a rear-mounted six-cylinder engine and a similar silhouette to the 1964 car.

Ferdinand Piech, responsible for developing the powertrains of Porsche cars (including the very successful 911, 908 and 917), created his own design office. This division developed the five-cylinder in-line diesel engine that later appeared in Audi cars.

Porsche AG CEO Dr. Ernst Fuhrmann planned to discontinue the 911 model during the 1970s and replace it with the 928 sports wagon. However, the popularity of the 911 model helped it survive much longer than planned. In 1990, Porsche entered into a cooperation agreement with Toyota to study and apply the Japanese method of production management. In addition, Toyota assisted Porsche in the development of hybrid technologies.

The companies joined forces in 1969 to produce the 914 and 914-6 models. In 1976, the 912E and 924 contained a number of Audi components. The Cayenne shares its entire chassis with the 2015 Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7.

Corporate restructuring

In August 2009, Porsche and Volkswagen reached an agreement under which the two companies' automotive technology businesses would merge to create the "Integrated Automotive Group."

Production and sales

The company is at the top of its game and claims to have the highest profit per unit of any car company in the world.

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:

1. It had an engine capacity of 2.5 horsepower.
2. It reached a speed of 40 km/h.
3. It was front-wheel drive and did not have a manual transmission.
4. It had 2 electric motors located on the front wheels of the car.
5. 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 a more advanced 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

1. The famous designer Ferdinand Porsche worked as the personal driver of the Prince of Hungary and Bohemia.
2. The German company develops and produces Porsche cars, motorcycles, and engines of all types.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. The Porsche Panamera got its name from the Porsche team's successful performance in the Carrera Panamericana race.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. The Porsche 365 was used in Dutch police work.
15. The Porsche 917 can outperform any racing car available today with 1,100 hp. and a speed of 386 km/h.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. Porsche and Harley Davidson are an amazing combination, right? Some of them use a Porsche engine.
21. 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.