Porsche is celebrating its 60th Anniversary
60 years ago, the cornerstone was laid for a family operated company that rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most important sports car manufacturers in the world. "It all started when I began looking around and just could not find my dream car. So I decided to build it myself," said Porsche. The first design to wear his name was the Volkswagen based 356 (VIN number 356-001) and the very first example of that car was approved for road registration on June 8, 1948. Those early cars established a dynamically sporting reputation for the fledgling company, but it was - and is - the 911 model - which cemented the company's reputation around the world. Porsche has not only experienced peaks in the past six decades, but also troughs. Yet thanks to efficient production methods, clear branding and innovative models, such as the 356 and the 911, Boxster and the Cayenne, the once small sports car specialist quickly transformed into one of the most successful and profitable automobile manufacturers in the world. "Today, Porsche is stronger than ever. We have the broadest and most appealing automobile model range in the history of our company.
We have our costs and our processes under control and thus ensured our independence for the long term. We have always seen ourselves as David who must stand up to the Goliaths in this industry. This self-image has shaped us throughout the years - but it has also made us successful," said Porsche CEO, Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking. When Wiedeking took over running of the company in 1992, Porsche had reached the depths of its most serious economic crisis. Porsche was suddenly ripe for take-over. Wiedeking made wide ranging changes to the way the company conducted its day-to-day operations and reinvigorated the company's quality control program. The Boxster was the first product range to be launched under his tenure and was an immediate success. It did not take long for the internal efforts to improve productivity and the newly developed model line to have a positive impact. As quickly as 1995, Porsche was back in the black. Since then, the company has rapidly returned to profit and has continued to surprise industry pundits with an unexpected series of twists and turns: investing in Volkswagen from September 2005, launching the Cayenne SUV and developing the imminent Panamera sedan.
In the last 15 years, Porsche has succeeded in reducing the fuel consumption in its new cars, and thereby also CO2 emissions, by an average of 1.7 per cent annually. With regard to engine performance, Porsche currently already ranks among manufacturers with the lowest CO2 emissions. And by 2012, the fuel consumption in Porsche vehicles is going to be reduced by a further 20 percent - new, innovative engine technologies and the hybrid drive for the Cayenne and Panamera Gran Turismo will make this possible. Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder once said: "Porsche is a model for Germany." By this, he was not only referring to the company's engineering ingenuity which the company stands for, he also meant the David principle by which Porsche, as a small automobile manufacturer, has been able to keep up with the Goliaths of its industry over the last 60 years. This includes the step by Porsche towards a new future in September 2005: its majority holding in Volkswagen AG.
With almost 31 per cent of the voting share capital, Porsche is now the largest shareholder in VW. During the course of this year, its share will be increased to over 50 per cent. The goal of this path is clear: under the umbrella of Porsche Automobil Holding SE, not only will growth for Porsche and Volkswagen be ensured thanks to their proven development and production partnership over the decades, but also the independence of both companies. And the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking promises that in the anniversary year of the Porsche sports car; "Porsche will remain Porsche in the future. Just as Volkswagen will remain Volkswagen. That is the recipe for success."
Porsche Milestones.
The origin:
_ On September 3, Ferdinand Porsche is born in the Bohemian town of Maffersdorf. In 1889 he enters his father's business as an apprentice plumber.
_ The Lohner-Porsche electric car is presented at the World Fair in Paris. The wheel hub engines of the young engineer Ferdinand Porsche bring him international attention. In the same year, he develops an all-wheel drive race car, as well as a hybrid petrol/electric vehicle - a world first.
_ Ferdinand Porsche becomes Technical Director at Austro-Daimler in Wiener Neustadt. At the age of only 31, he is responsible for the model range of one of Europe's largest automotive concerns.
_ Ferdinand Anton Ernst Porsche, later known as 'Ferry', is born on September 19 in Wiener Neustadt.
_ The Austro-Daimler touring car designed by Ferdinand Porsche scores a triple victory in the Prince Henry Trials. At the wheel of the winning car sits none other than Ferdinand Porsche himself.
_ As Technical Director and Board Member of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft in Stuttgart, Ferdinand Porsche designs the legendary Mercedes Compressor Sports Car. The following year, the 2-litre race car developed under his aegis wins the Targa Florio. The Mercedes-Benz S-Type models dominate international motorsport from 1927.
_ Crowning his career, Ferdinand Porsche opens an office for 'engineering and consultation on engine and vehicle design' in Stuttgart on April 25. Created for such renowned manufacturers as Wanderer, Zundapp and NSU are not only entire vehicles, but such trend-setting detail solutions as the Porsche torsion bar suspension.
_ For Auto Union, Porsche develops a Grand Prix race car with a 16-cylinder engine in mid-ship configuration. The rear engine vehicle concept designed for the compact car (Type 32) developed for NSU is ultimately incorporated in the Volkswagen Beetle.
_ The company Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG receives an official order for the design and construction of a German Volkswagen. Only one year later, the VW prototype is test driven. The 'Ur Beetle' is assembled in the garage of the Porsche villa in Stuttgart.
_ Ferdinand Alexander Porsche is born on December 11 in Stuttgart as the eldest son of Ferry Porsche.
_ Parallel to road trials of the Type 60, production facilities are erected under the direction of Ferdinand Porsche for the Volkswagen renamed the 'KdF-Wagen'.
_ Under the direction of Ferdinand Porsche's son Ferry, design of an all-wheeldrive Grand Prix race car - the 'Cisitalia' (Type 360) - is begun for Italian industrialist Piero Dusio.
_ The 356 is the first sports car to bear the Porsche name. 'No. 1' is road certified in June. Only one month later, the lightweight mid-engine roadster wins its first class victory at the Innsbruck Stadtrennen.
The 50's and '60s:
_ Porsche KG returns to Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen and commences series production of the Porsche 356.
_ Company founder Ferdinand Porsche dies on 30 January at the age of 75.
_ The Porsche 550 Spyder debuts at the Paris Auto Show. Driven by an extremely powerful 4-camshaft engine, the light and agile race car scores many international triumphs.
_ Coinciding with the company's 25th anniversary celebrations, the 10,000th Porsche 356 leaves the factory. At the Targa Florio the Porsche 550 A Spyder for the first time logs an overall victory.
_ During its very first racing season, the Porsche 718 RS 60 scores overall victories at the Targa Florio and the 12 Hours of Sebring. In Formula 2, Porsche finishes first, second and third in the 150 Miles of Aintree, Great Britain, with the Type 718/2.
_ In April, the 50,000th Porsche, a 356 B, rolls off the assembly line. In Weissach, the first segment of the new test grounds becomes operational. In Formula 1, the Porsche 804 wins the French Grand Prix.
_ The Porsche 911 launched in the previous year as the '901' goes into series production. The Porsche 904 Carrera GTS likewise designed by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche is acclaimed for its exceptional design and outstanding performance.
_ Presented as the 'Safety Cabriolet', the Porsche 911Targa is introduced and enters series production in 1966.
_ Following the previous year's success of the Porsche 906 Carrera 6, the Zuffenhausen factory team scores a triple victory with the Porsche 910 at the Targa Florio. For the first time Porsche logs an overall victory in the legendary 1,000-kilometre race on the Nurburgring.
_ Porsche achieves its first overall victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona with the Type 907-8. The grand successes of the previous year at the 1,000-kilometre race on the Nurburgring and the Targa Florio are repeated. The 911T wins the Monte Carlo Rally.
_ At the Frankfurt Auto Show, the mid-engine VW-Porsche 914 sports car makes its debut. In addition to the Monte Carlo Rally and the Targa Florio, Porsche for the first time wins the World Championship of Makes with the 908/02 and the new 917.
The 70's and 80's:
_ With nine of ten possible victories, Porsche captures its second consecutive World Championship of Makes. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Hans Herrmann and Dickie Attwood chalk up a first overall win in the Porsche 917.
_ The new Porsche Development Centre in Weissach is inaugurated. In motorsport, Porsche again takes top honours in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Championship of Makes.
_ As a sporting top-of-line model, the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 reaches the market.
_ The 911 model range of the 'G Series' with safety bumpers is presented. In the Can-Am racing series, the Porsche 917/30 wins with ease.
_ At the Paris Auto Show during the height of the oil crisis, Porsche presents the 911Turbo - the world's first production sports car with exhaust turbocharger and pressure regulator.
_ With the 924, Porsche for the first time produces a front engine sports car in trans axle configuration. Porsche becomes the first car maker to employ a double sided galvanising process for body steel.
_The Porsche 935 and 936 race cars win the double World Championship in Sports Car and Make rankings.
_ Conceived as successor to the 911, the Porsche 928 takes new paths in technology and design. Serving as power plant of the luxurious high performance sports car is a light metal alloy V8 engine. In addition to successfully defending its title in the World Championship of Makes with the Type 935, Porsche once again wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Type 936.
_ The Porsche 944 with a 163hp, 4-cylinder engine rounds out the transaxle model line. In Le Mans an overall victory of the Porsche 936/81 crowns the company's 50th anniversary.
_ With the 911 SC Cabriolet, Porsche offers an open version of its sports car classic. With the Types 956/962, Porsche wins five Team, Constructor and Driver World Championships between 1982 and 1989.
_ The 'TAG-Turbo' Formula 1 power plant built by Porsche celebrates the first of its three World Championships. Besides the World Championship of Makes title, Porsche with the 911 Carrera 4x4 marks its first victory in the Paris-Dakar Rally.
_ The high performance, high tech Porsche 959 is presented at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Shortly thereafter, it wins the Pharaoh's Rally. In the following year, the 959 is likewise victorious in the Paris-Dakar Rally.
_ In the 25th anniversary year of the 911, Porsche introduces the newly developed 911 Carrera 4 with all-wheel drive.
_ The Porsche 911 Carrera appears for the first time with the novel 'Tiptronic' automatic gearbox system. Body versions offer a choice of Coupé, Cabriolet and Targa.
The 90's:
_ Porsche equips all production models with an airbag for driver and front passenger as standard equipment.
_ At the Detroit Motor Show, Porsche displays the study for a roadster with boxer mid-engine named the Boxster. The totally revised 911 Carrera premieres at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
_ With Emission Control System OBD II, the 911 Turbo becomes the world's lowest emission production car. In addition to the 911 Carrera 4S, the 911 Targa with power glass roof expands the model range. The Porsche 911 GT2, which can also compete in motorsport, is launched in a limited series.
_ After only 3 1/2 years development time, production starts on the Porsche Boxster. The 1 millionth Porsche rolls off the assembly line on July 15.
_ Under the motto 'Evolution 911' a new generation of the Porsche 911 Carrera is presented. For the first time, it is powered by a water-cooled four-valve 6-cylinder horizontally opposed engine.
_ On 27 March, Ferry Porsche dies at the age of 88. The decision to initiate production of the third series is announced - the Cayenne is on its way. With the 911 GT1, Porsche logs a double victory in Le Mans and can now chalk up a total of 16 wins.
_ With the 911 GT3, Porsche rounds out the 911 series with an exceptionally sporty version. The Boxster S, a higher performance version of the mid-engine roadster is available.
The present:
_ At the Louvre in Paris, Porsche celebrates the world premiere of the high performance Carrera GT sports car. The concept car features a carbonfibre chassis, as well as a 10-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. In Leipzig construction begins on a new Porsche assembly plant for the multi-purpose Cayenne SUV.
_ The new 911 GT2 is equipped with the PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake as standard and generates 462 hp. The new generation of the 911 Carrera receives a 3.6-litre engine with variable valve lift. Available as new versions are the 911 Carrera 4S and 911Targa.
_ Porsche presents its third series: the sporty and off-road Cayenne SUV.
_ Series production of the Porsche Carrera GT starts up in Leipzig. By 2006, a total of 1,270 units of the fast (up to 330 km/h) high-performance sports car are built. In addition to the new Porsche 911 GT3 and 911 GT3 RS, the 911 Turbo Cabriolet and the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet further expand the product line.
_The new generations of the 911 and Boxster sports car series are introduced in both Basic and S versions.
_ At the Frankfurt Auto Show, the Porsche Cayman S with 6-cylinder boxer mid-engine is presented for the first time. Additionally, the model range is extended with the 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4S in Coupé and Cabriolet versions. Porsche becomes the largest Volkswagen shareholder.
_ Alongside the new 911 GT3, the 521 hp Cayenne Turbo S marks a new power peak. In Geneva, the new 911 Turbo with Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG) is introduced. The Cayman with 245 hp rounds out the model range. Further new entries are the 911 GT3 RS and the 911 Targa 4 models.
_ Expansion of production facilities begins in Leipzig. There assembly of the Panamera will commence in 2009.
