27 Fascinating Facts About Porsche That Might Leave You Surprised

Joan Agie
Oct 11, 2023 By Joan Agie
Originally Published on Apr 05, 2022
Porsche 911 991 Carrera S cabrio

If you think of luxurious cars, sports cars, or race cars, there is one car that is bound to cross your mind and it is Porsche.

Porsche is a trademark in itself and it has such amazing features that cannot be found in other vehicles. However, this is one high-end car and can be very expensive.

Ferdinand Porsche changed the course of cars as its design proved that compact cars are faster than most powerful vehicles. This company was founded in 1931 and it provides other services too including automotive financial, investment management, and engineering services.

The revenue generated by the company as of 2020 was 28.695 billion euros. There are over 36,000 employees that work under Porsche and its parent company is Volkswagen AG, however, Porsche SE holds a major stake.

Some of the current models of Porsche are the Porsche 718 Boxter or Cayman, Macan, Panamera, Cayenne, and the most popular, the Taycan. Production first started in Germany and the price range goes above 96,000 Euros in this country.

To learn more about Porsche, continue reading until the end of the article so that you do not miss out on any of these intriguing facts.

Origin, History & Logo

Porsche cars have a unique origin, as this company offered consultation and development work of motor vehicles. This company was founded by Ferdinand Porsche along with Anton Piech and Adolf Rosenberger in 1931. Originally, they did not manufacture cars, and once they received an assignment to design a car for the mass market, Volkswagen was created.

In 1939, the Porsche 64 was manufactured and designed utilizing many elements from the Beetle.

Many people might not know but a Formula One Car was developed by Ferdinand Porsche. It was none other than the Porsche 360 Cisitalia, which had a top speed of 200 mph and possessed 385 hp. However, this car could never actually race as there was a lack of funding and certain rules were changed as well.

The Volkswagen Beetle was designed by Ferdinand Porsche and he is considered the father of the brand.

The Porsche 356 was not the first on-road sports car made by Porsche. It was a mid-engined sports car and the initial prototype was 356/1. The engine was positioned ahead of the rear axle for reasonable balance. This car even won an event that was held in Innsbruck.

The logo of Porsche is founded on the Free People's State of Wurttemberg’s coat of arms and thus, the crest. The logo of this race car is actually a tribute to Stuttgart which was established over a horse breeding farm and is why the black horse is the centerpiece.

Besides Stuttgart, the logo also pays tribute to Swabia, which is the second residence of the Porsche family.

Production & Sales

The production of Porsche depends on the models as although the main factory and headquarters are situated in Stuttgart, Porche models like the Panamera and Cayenne are manufactured in Germany and the SUVs are assembled in Slovakia. Porsche has an outstanding market as its sales have only increased over the years.

It was recorded to have total sales of 218,983 cars, out of which, 13.22% were sold in Germany and 86.78% were sold internationally in 2015.

The Porsche 911 is held as one of the most desirable sports cars in the world. It is also one of the luxury vehicles that are mass-produced. Due to this, approximately 110 models of the Porsche 911 are produced at the Stuttgart factory every day.

The Porche 911 that is produced has almost 5000 welds and an asymmetrical door mirror.

The most expensive Porsche that has ever been sold was done so for $14 million and it was the Porche 917 K.

In 2011, to celebrate the one-millionth 911 production, a Carrera S, which was Irish Green, was made.

The first country outside Europe that was selected by Porsche to establish a new production plant was Malayasia and this was confirmed in 2021.

A new record was made in the United States in 2016 as Porsche sales crossed 5,500 vehicles in November.

Models

Porsche has a wide range of models and it comprises some of the most amazing sports cars. Be it the Boxter Roadster or its most famous 911, every model is phenomenal in its own way.

The Cayman is comparatively similar to the Boxer, however, it is a coupe and the Cayenne can be deemed as a luxe SUV. The Panamera model is acknowledged as the luxury sedan.

One of the most expensive Porsche cars of all time is the Porsche 956 of 1982 and it is acknowledged for its amazing build quality. It is so extraordinary that it can withstand decades in its pristine condition. A Porche 956 was sold at an auction for $10.12 million.

The Porsche 911 was almost named the Porsche 901, however, this was stopped by Peugeot as the ‘0’ number is the traditional nomenclature of Peugeot.

Some of the most expensive models of Porsche are the Porsche 956, Porsche 917K, Porsche 550A Spyder of 1956, the Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion, and the Porsche 917/30 Spyder of 1973.

Some of the consumer models of Porsche are Porsche 356, Porsche 911 classic, 930, 964, 993, 992, 914, 918 Spyder, 959, 968, Cayman, Cayenne, Macan, Taycan, and Panamera.

Some popular racing models are Porsche 64, 550 Spyder, 360 Cisitalia, 718, 787, 804, 906, 907, 908, 909 Bergspyder, and 911 GT1

Porsche also manufactures hybrid cars such as the 2010 Porsche Cayenne S hybrid, Porsche 918 sports, and the Panamera S E- hybrid models that were launched in 2014 and 2013 respectively. Electric cars, such as the Boxter E, were developed in 2011.

Reputation

The reputation of the brand as a race car brand and a maker of luxury vehicles is crucial to making a mark and increasing the number of consumers. Porsche, without fail, has successfully maintained its reputation, which is very evident from various surveys.

One such survey was conducted by the Luxury Insitute and Porsche received the title of the most prestigious automobile brand.

The success of developing sports cars is unmatched when it comes to Porsche. Plus, it can demolish any tournament be it on the track or on road. The approximate number of races won by Porsche is over 24,000. It has even won the 24 Hours of Le Mans more than any other car manufacturer.

Some of the championships which Porsche has exceeded in include Formula One, World Rally Championships, The FIA World Endurance Championship, and other significant championships too.

Porsche has won the J.D Power and Associates IQS (Initial Quality Study) four times, in 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2014.

Other Miscellaneous Facts

Besides all the above facts which include its history, origin, production, sales, and reputation, here are some of the miscellaneous facts:

The 60 degrees overhead cam engine was designed by Porsche for Harley Davidson. Even some Harley Davidson bikes use Porsche engines.

The cockpit of the Airbus A300 is also designed by Porsche.

Porsche has worked with Auto Union as well as with Mercedes-Benz.

The Porsche 356 was driven by the Dutch Police.

Ferdinand Porsche also designed the Austro-Daimler Sascha.

Did You Know...?

Motorhead or not you might know plenty of facts about Porsche and how remarkable it is as a car, but did you know these facts?

The origin of the logo of Porsche is quite astonishing as the design was drawn on a napkin by the founder.

One of the legendary Auto Union P vehicles, which possesses 16 cylindrical engines, was designed by Porsche.

Lohner Porsche was the first mixed hybrid of gasoline and electric.

There are hub-mounted electric motors in the Lohner Porsche.

Porsche has won over 30,000 events in the past 50 years.

Porsche is one of the top choices of celebrities and numerous celebrities have been spotted driving their Porsche. A-list celebrity Porsche drivers include Jerry Seinfeld and Ralph Lauren.

FAQs

How did Porsche get its name?

The name of the brand Porsche is founded on the surname of the founder of the company, Ferdinand Porsche.

What is Porsche short for?

Porsche is not the full name of the company. It is actually Dr. Ing. H. C. F. Porsche AG. However, this long name is quite unusual for a race car company.

What made Porsche famous?

There are plenty of things that have made it one of the most powerful vehicles such as its production, build materials, pole positions, wins in championships, lap records, and more.

Who invented a Porsche?

Porsche was invented by Ferdinand Porsche.

What is Porsche's slogan?

The motto of Porsche is 'winning together'.

What is the oldest Porsche?

The oldest Porsche, according to data, is the 1939 Porsche Type 64 which was designed by Ferdinand Porsche himself.

Where is Porsche originally from?

Porsche was founded in Stuttgart, Germany almost 91 years ago.

Is Porsche a type of horse?

Yes, it is a black horse that can be seen on the logo.

Did Porsche buy Volkswagen?

Volkswagen and Porsche unified in 2011.

Editorial credit: Dmitry Eagle Orlov / Shutterstock.com

Editorial credit: Sklo Studio / Shutterstock.com

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Written by Joan Agie

Bachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

Joan Agie picture

Joan AgieBachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

With 3+ years of research and content writing experience across several niches, especially on education, technology, and business topics. Joan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Anatomy from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, and has worked as a researcher and writer for organizations across Nigeria, the US, the UK, and Germany. Joan enjoys meditation, watching movies, and learning new languages in her free time.

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