The imprint left by porsche in automotive history is of a level that few manufacturers can rely on. Symbol of sportsmanship, robustness, innovation, passion and dreams, Porsche has lived through the decades, giving birth to some of the most desirable cars ever designed.
Today, after difficult periods (and in particular in 2009, when the firm was unable to repay a loan) and daring strategic reorientations, Porsche is doing better than ever, thanks in particular to the models cayenne and Macan.
In 2022, the brand delivered more than 310,000 vehicles, an increase of nearly 4% compared to the previous year.
2023 is an opportunity to celebrate the 75th birthday of the firm and the presentation of the first Porsche: the 356.
A perfect opportunity to evoke the past, recall the fundamental values of Porsche... and project yourself into The future of the car.
The story of porsche is written in two stages. It starts with the 20th century when Ferdinand Porsche, a young engineer at Lohner, completed the first model of its design, a front-wheel drive electric car presented at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900.
Later, technical director at Mercedes, he was behind the fabulous supercharged models. In 1931, he set up his own business, with his son Ferry, and designed the fearsome Auto-Union of mid-engined Grand Prix but especially the Type 60 KDF-Wagen Who is none other than the famous Volkswagen Beetle.
A model intended for competition was extrapolated from it in 1938-39, the Type 60k10 Also called Type 64 (of which only one copy remains out of the three made), which we tend to consider as the first Porsche as the shape of its body announces the Future 356 of 1948.
In fact, 1948 saw the commercialization of first production car bearing the Porsche brand: the 356. And this first car is naturally a sports car, although it was developed from VW mechanical components. The company porsche, as a car manufacturer, was founded the year before by Ferry Porsche and then settles in Gmünd in Austria.
In these difficult post-war times, the Porsche 356, although noticed when it was released, Start modestly. The car was mainly aimed at a limited number of car enthusiasts and the brand only sold them. 52 copies over the first two years of marketing.
However, of numerous and rapid successes in competition (including the class victory at 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours) brought the 356 a certain international reputation and encouraged its marketing on the other side of the Atlantic where it would experience a successful commercial career. Americans are in fact very keen on small European sports cars and particularly appreciate the 356, in particular due to the quality of its manufacture, its handling and the high performances achieved thanks to good aerodynamics and a contained weight.
Quickly, the Porsche 356 stands out as a sports car reference. The constant evolution and systematic improvement of everything that can be improved will guarantee a level of development and quality rarely achieved.
At the same time, more and more powerful and sporty versions are offered offering technical solutions proven in racing.
This is the case of the complex but powerful “4 overhead camshafts” engine that will be offered on 356 Carrera. Carrera means nothing other than “race” in Spanish and pays tribute to the participations of the 356 in the Carrera Panamericana, a famous open road race across Mexico bringing together the most prestigious manufacturers of the time.
The engine of the 356 is arranged cantilever at the rear giving it traction and maneuverability. During the long career of the model, the power of the engines, from 40 hp at the beginning, reached 130 hp on the Carrera2. The body was modified and improved numerous times but without affecting the general line and regardless of the year of manufacture, we immediately recognize a 356. In 1965, the year production stopped, Porsche had assembled nearly 76,000 copies of 356.
Today, the Porsche 356 Enjoys a established reputation among car enthusiasts and collectors, so much so that it is regularly ranked in the Top 10 best sports cars of the 1960s.
In this year 2023, Porsche celebrates 75 years. The celebration of this anniversary is an opportunity to organize several events, including a major temporary exhibition at DRIVE Volkswagen Group Forum in Berlin and the presentation of the concept car Porsche Vision 357.
Celebrating an anniversary is an opportunity to create a link between the past and the present and that is precisely the role of the Porsche Vision 357 concept.
Unveiled on January 25 on the occasion of the exhibition” Driven by Dreams, 75 years of Porsche sports cars ”, the concept Vision 357 pays a strong tribute to the very first Porsche, the only Prototype 356/001, whose iconic design codes she uses while adding a stylized vision of the future. The perfect opportunity for Porsche to deliver a modern interpretation of the 356.
Indeed, if we find the smooth silhouette, the rounded shapes and the curved wings of the The very first Porsche created in Gmünd in 1948, 20-inch wheels, cameras as rear-view mirrors, the use of NFRP plastics including natural fibers or carbon wheel flanges, among others, are representative of our time or of the near future.
Developed based on the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS, the Vision 357 It uses the naturally aspirated 6-cylinder boxer engine developing 500 horsepower combined with a torque of 449 Nm. Placed in a central position, as on the first 356/001 roadster prototype, this engine capable of speeds of up to 9000 rpm is also designed to work with synthetic fuels.
Beyond affirming the continuity of the typical Porsche design, the presentation of this new concept car gives pride of place to the memory of another aspect of the firm's DNA: the sporty character that has always been asserted by its models through engines brimming with temperament.
It is interesting to note, in this respect, that the Vision 357 does not offer any electrical hybridization and remains a thermal machine only, perhaps implying that, for some time to come, electrification will remain at porsche the preserve of family models, while sports car enthusiasts will be offered models with internal combustion engines, as long as possible.
Sometimes chance makes things right. And for good reason: the year 2023 is not only the 75th anniversary of the brand, but also coincides with the Sixtieth anniversary of 911, another iconic model of the firm... as well as with the Centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
A great opportunity to remind the whole world that porsche remains, today, the brand that won the most trophies at this motor race.
So everything suggests that Porsche will never stop surprising us, promising great prospects for sports car enthusiasts.
The Porsche 911 is the archetype of the sports car and its 60-year history is a novel. The first serial 911 left the assembly line in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen on September 14, 1964. It is an entirely new car, propelled by a new 6-cylinder flat 6-cylinder air-cooled by air, with dry sump lubrication, of 2 liters and 130 hp allowing 210 km/h at a peak. It does not use any elements from its big sister, the 356. The 911 Turbo series, type 930, was presented at the 1974 Paris Motor Show...
The body of the 144, extended by ten centimeters with a redesigned front and a new in-line 6-cylinder engine: this is how, in 1968, Volvo created its first post-war grand tourer.
So beautiful, to the point of being considered a milestone in automotive design, and to have integrated the collections of one of the largest museums of contemporary art in the world. So daring, that Enzo Ferrari himself, although usually so quiet, would have made a rave comment about it when it was released. So desirable, that those who did not have the chance to drive it invent faults. So rare, and yet 77,000 copies were produced in its various versions.
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