Porsche (pronounced as "por·shuh") is a German manufacturer known for building sports cars that easily rival the best in the world. Established in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche, the company started out as an engineering consultancy before moving on to car manufacturing. In fact, Ferdinand Porsche is well known as the designer of the legendary Volkswagen.
Porsche's first foray into the car industry was through their Porsche 356 in 1948 - an impressively designed sports car considered a collector's item today. The company never looked back and has focused its attention on building incredible sports cars.
Who Owns Porsche?
Answering the question "Who owns the Porsche company?" can be a bit technical.
Let's try to break it down…
Volkswagen group owns 75% of Porsche AG. However, the controlling interest in Volkswagen Group is held by Porsche Automobil Holding SE, which is controlled by the Porsche-Piëch family. This means that the Porsche-Piëch family has significant influence over both Porsche AG and the Volkswagen Group.
Porsche & Their Iconic Models
Let's take a look at Porsche's iconic models:
Porsche 550 Spyder
Introduced after the Porsche 356, the company was able to impress the public by following up the already incredible 356 with this model. Powered by a 1.5L DOHC flat-four engine, the 550 Spyder was built for racing, with its engine mounted in the rear. While reaping rewards by winning races, the car is unfortunately remembered as the one James Dean was driving when he was involved in a car crash resulting in his death.
Porsche 917
By the time the 917 was introduced in 1969, the company had already established itself as a powerhouse in racing circles but the 917 sealed that reputation by winning the 1970 and 1971 Le Mans. Powerful as it is, it even has a more powerful version - the 1,100 horsepower (820 kW) Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Series.
Porsche 959
Unveiled in 1986, the 959 was not your average speedster because the upgrades were under the hood. Powered by a 2.8L engine, the 959 featured impressive upgrades such as Twin-Turbo AWD and adjustable suspension. This particular design won the 1986 Paris-Dakar Rally, and its racing counterpart won the 1986 Le Mans as the Porsche 961.
Porsche Carrera GT
First introduced to the public in 2003, the Carrera GT was not your average sports car. Coming in with a 5.7L V10 engine, it was incredibly fast while providing challenge for its drivers - it only comes in manual with six speed transmission. It is a challenge for drivers but for those who can handle it, experiencing 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds is a possibility.
The Evolution Of The Porsche 911
Porsche has produced many supercars since it first rolled out the 356 but out of these sports cars, the Porsche 911 stands outs since it rolled out of the production line in 1964. Porsche has produced the following impressive models of the 911:
Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7
In 1972 Porsche unveiled this incredibly lightweight vehicle built for speed. Weighing 2,150 lbs, the car was equipped with a 2.7L Flat-6 rear-mounted engine, producing a top speed of 150 mph. This lightweight vehicle was also known for its incredibly efficient use of the ducktail spoiler - making it easier to handle by creating downforce even at high speed. Only 1,580 cars were made which makes it a collector's item.
Porsche 911 Turbo or the 930
The first of its kind since it came with a turbocharged engine, the 930 is also known as the "widowmaker" because of its difficulty in handling that led to numerous crashes. In terms of size, it was the same length as the 911 Carrera in terms of length (168.9 inches) but a bit wider (69.9 inches compared to 65.0 inches).
Porsche 911 GT3 RS or the 997
Tthe 930 is known for its fatal crashes but Porsche 997 marked Porsche's move towards a more driver friendly model. Size also improved with 175.6 inches in length and 72.9 inches in width. It was also a lightweight vehicle as it was built with carbon fiber components. The addition of a large rear wing helped with stability and control. The sports car came with a rear mounted 3.8L Flat 6 engine, up to 450 horsepower and 317 lb-ft torque.
Porsche 911 GT2 RS or the 991
997 had the reputation of delivering a smooth ride, Porsche took it to the next level with the 991. This time unparalleled speed was the focus. The 3.8L Twin-Turbo Flat-6 engine came with a massive 700 horsepower and 553 lb-ft torque. It's top speed: 211 mph and could go from 0-60 mph in just 2.7 seconds.
Porsche 911 Turbo S
Since its 2020 debut, the Porsche 911 Turbo S is highly regarded as the ultimate daily driver. But it's not your run of the mill car. It's still a Porsche supercar and it comes with a 3.8L Twin-Turbo Flat-6 engine that can go from 0-60 mph in just 2.4 seconds. Loaded with the latest in car technology, it also comes with dual-clutch transmission and advanced suspension.
The Future - Design, Size and Speed
Porsche cars are unique especially in the US market because of the rear mounted engines. In their 911 line of cars, the last front mounted vehicle was the 968 and which they stopped making since 1995. In terms of size, Porsche does not necessarily push for bigger as the next upgrade. For example, the Turbo 6 is shorter (178.5 in) compared to the GT2 RS (179.1 in). Its design however, is built for only one thing: speed.
