The History Of The Porsche

Ferdinand Porsche played an important role in the development of airplanes and racing cars, and the construction of tanks for the Wehrmacht. He is an automobile engineer with more than a thousand patents to his name. He was appointed chief engineer at Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart in the 1920s. Later on, he set up his own engineering workshop and designed among others the Volkswagen. At the plant where Volkswagen was made, Wolfsburg, he was chief of operations and at the end of the war he was interned by the Allies.

He was released a few years later and started building his first car with his son, Ferry Porsche. The car was named the Porsche 356 and it was a sports car and a reminiscent of the Volkswagen. It had the same four-cylinder boxer engine that was rear-mounted, just like the VW. It was far from being a powerful sports car, developing only 40 bhp and a maximum speed of 87 mph (140 km/h). First produced as a convertible and later as a hard top it distinguished by the very elegant and innovative body. It was developed in the workshop of Erwin Komenda, a master of restrained streamlining who had been in charge of sheet metal and design techniques at Porsche since the VW Beetle. The new style of closed coupe was designed by Komenda and it soon became the embodiment of the sports car, thanks to its fastback.

This tradition was continued by Komenda and Ferdinand "Butzi" Porsche, the founder's grandson, with the 911.

The 911 became easily recognizable: it had attractive sloping bonnet and what later became characteristic "frog eye" headlights, curves running from the top edge of the windscreen to the rear bumper and a straight waistline. From a functional and technical point of view it was more like BMW 1500, although it retained the stylistic features of the original Porsche. The new 911 will become the foundation stone of Porsche's identity, even though the design was not always appreciated. During the 1970`s and 1980`s, the designers attempts to distance Porsche from its legendary design brought the company to the edge of disaster. The more modern 924 model, "a people's Porsche", developed with Volkswagen, as well as the 928 were far from fulfilling the expectations.

In the 1990`s, the company realized that what for over twenty years was perceived as a straitjacket, it was in fact a market advantage. During the 1990`s, Porsche became highly profitable since they now knew that the typical Porsche features were timeless. Nearly forty people now worked in the design department on further developments of the long-running 911. These developments included the 911 GTI, a powerful combination of sports and racing car, put forward by the in-house designer Anthony R. Hatter. In 1999, chief designer proudly presented the new Boxster which enabled Porshe to establish a second independent range of models.

All About The Porsche 968

Porsche 968 is basically the successor of the Porsche 944. It has a low nose and wide wheel arches that helps accentuating the beautiful lines of this classic shape that in a Porsche Guards Red is a real head turner. It has also the classic GT front engine, rear wheel drive layout with the added advantage of a rear transaxle giving almost perfect weight distribution.

Instead of the hidden headlights of the 944, the 968 has visible pop up headlights, similar to the Porsche 928. This brings the look of the car inline with the new Porsche 997-911. This change has also a practical advantage: the headlights can be washed along with the rest of the car instead of having to pop them up to wash them.

As for the interior, it remains the same as produced in the 944, keeping the famous "oval dash". The designers used the same robust materials which have given all Porsche owners many years of trouble free motoring.

The exterior has a few differences: the door mirrors have been streamlined with the tear drop effect and the wheels have 5 spoke Cup design alloys. The rear bumper is more blended and with integral rear light clusters, making it almost indistinguishable from the bodywork. All these bodywork changes made the 968 look a lot like the 928, and added the engine heritage, some people have referred to it as "the daughter of 928".

The engine is a version of the one first used on the 944 S2: it is a 4 cylinder, 3 liter, 16 valve unit. And they added VarioCam for optimum power throughout the speed range. It has 240 HP at 6200 rpm and a torque of 305 Nm at 4100 rpm, given by the improved combustion chamber and inlet manifold design. At the time of production, it was a remarkable engine, having the highest displacement per cylinder of any car engine and also the highest torque output of any unblown 3 liter engine. Clearly, the result of Porsches investment in this engine paid off.

The rear-mounted gearbox is a 6-speed manual or 4 speed tiptronic. It is the first ever mounted on a production car. The chassis has almost perfect weight distribution and very stiff characteristics.

Usually, most cars start to fail when it comes to breaks and the reason is that it doesn't matter how fast the car is in a straight line if you can't take a bend (turn) at the right safe speed. But Porsche brakes have always been the envy of most road sports car manufacturers. You will notice little or no or no discernable fatigue even under harsh use of Porsche 968. ABS adds even more safety to the already excellent braking system. Also, what makes the brakes so effective is that the wheels themselves are designed to prevent the tire from coming off the rim in the event of a sudden pressure loss.

With a Porsche Classic, you Can be Sure That People Will Turn Their Heads

For sports car enthusiasts all over the world, and in particular for Porsche fans all over the world the numbers 356 hold a special meaning. The reason for this lies in the chronicles of history, and a date that would forever live on in the memory of all Porsche fans. The year was 1948 and the date was the 8th of June. This was the birth year of the Porsche classic Type 356 sports car.

It weighed in at a modest 650kg, had a 1.1 liter capacity center engine and had an immodest (at the time) 40HP under its hood. Difficult to even find one of these original Porsche classic cars, if you do across them you will not be surprised to learn that they are considered priceless. With all good reason of course.

Besides being the first ever Porsche classic cars to come into existence there were only a total of 50 made and they were all without exception hand built, and that’s saying a lot. These penultimate Porsche classic cars were the harbingers of the 356 that we can still see today.

Unfortunately for all concerned the 356 Porsche classic car line was discontinued after 17 years in April of 1965. To that date just over 81,000 356 Porsche classic cars had left the assembly line. In the beginning no more than 500 were expected to sell.

This was a happy mistake on the part of the “father” of the Porsche classic car, Ferry Porsche, because by March of 1954 ten times the initial estimated amount of 356 Porsche classic cars had been sold.

The discontinuation of the 365 line however was not the end of the Porsche name or the car. A new concept Porsche classic was in the makings and by 1963 – two years before the 356 was discontinued – the Porsche classic 911 had become a reality.

This Porsche classic was the foundation for many a sports car to come and indeed still lives on to this day. On June 15th of 1996, Porsche reached another milestone and the one millionth Porsche was delivered from the assembly line.

And when all is said and done, the Porsche classic still lives on in the classic Porsche design and logo, and if you own a Porsche classic, you can be sure that people will turn their heads to look you. Even in this day and age of sports supercars a classic lives on.

Porsche 911 Strikes Again in 2007

The Porsche 911 was a series of cars that made history for the great Porsche AG car manufacturers. The Porsche was first produced in 1964, but it was recurrently improved and made more competitive and better looking.
There are several models of 911 that Porsche has to offer: the 911 Carrera, the 911 Carrera S, the 911Carrera Cabriolet, the 911 Targa, 911 Turbo, the 911 GT3 RS, to name but a few.

Basically, the Porsche 911, which is pronounced nine eleven, is a rear engined car and it has a 2-door coupe body style. It is available also in 2-door Convertible or 2-door Targa.

The transmission of the nine eleven is in 4-5 automatic speeds or 5-6 speeds if you prefer the manual handling. The transmission is helped by the dual-mass flywheel and the hydraulic clutch, which is present at the majority of the Porsche 911 newer models. The technology used in almost all models of Porsche 911 is the intelligent all wheel drive, which transfers the power to the road.

Most 911s are endowed with PSM Plus system (Porsche Stability Management), helping the vigorous braking system to make you feel safe at all times, no matter what speed you're in. this PSM system gives the models a great stability.

The braking system of the most recent models is based on the PCCB, which means Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake. There is also the anti lock braking system.
There are front airbags, head and thorax airbags as well. Plus, the passengers can feel safe due to the airbags that are placed for them in the latest models.
The interior of the car is covered in leather.
The 911s feature also a standard exterior and an interior alarm, which makes it difficult for burglar to even come close to this sturdy car.

The air conditioning is a standard feature of Porches, having an automatic climate control with carbon filters.

The consumption of a Porsche of 911 series is on average of 17mpg in the city and approximately 25 mpg on the highway.

If you like speed, the 911s are probably what you are looking for. The top speed that can be reached is of 180 mph!

Besides being a very popular sports car, the Porsche 911 series cars made it to famous races as well, being very strong and highly suitable for competitions of great prestige.

The cost of a 911 varies according to the model, but all in all, the 911 series qualifies in the class of expensive cars. The price range starts from $72,000 and can go up till $124,000.

However, the Porsche 911 will offer you all the features you need in a sports car being a classic series with a great tradition combined with state of the art improvements that will simply convince you to adore the nine eleven.

Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia in Detail

Porsche AG has released the rally racing version of its popular Cayenne mid size luxury SUV. Named as the Cayenne S Transsyberia, the German automaker said the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia "is a car tailored specifically to the requirements of long distance rally racing" and "has been modified on a number of points enhancing both safety and the car's racing performance."

Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia retains the bold, aggressive, and rugged body styling of the Porsche Cayenne S base model, with new features that adapts into the world of rally racing. Two exterior color options are available: Basalt Black Metallic and Chrystal Silver Metallic. The overall body appearance is highlighted by the vehicle's aerodynamic parts and other exterior auto parts including extra large air intake scoops, roof spoiler with a double-wing profile mounted on the tail gate, stainless steel front air dams, stainless steel rear air dams, and 18inch “Cayenne S II” light-alloy wheels and the rim hubs are finished in orange color.

In addition, the exterior side view mirrors, the rear wing, wheel rims, left and right air intake, and the additional headlights for the Cayenne S Transsyberia are also finished in orange color. Moreover, the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia also comes with extra four headlights mounted on the roof to provide additional lighting when taking on different terrains. The orange colored stripes on the side with the name "Cayenne S Transsyberia 2007" complete the vehicle's exclusivity.

Moving inside, the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia comes with a standard navigation system. This special Cayenne S model retains some of its interior features, but the glove compartment has been replaced with a Tripmaster computer. The typical foot operated brake on the Cayenne S is also replaced with a hand brake. The rally team aboard this special edition model can use the 20 liter luggage space and two transport boxes for their tools. The Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia also comes with safety features to give both the driver and passenger an effective protection against injuries. The Cayenne S Transsyberia comes with air bag system and a safety cage that complies with the standards of the FIA Motorsport Authority. In addition, Porsche AG said: "To set off the extra weight of the safety cage and rally equipment, and to further lower the vehicle's centre of gravity, the rear seat bench, interior body panels and cound proofing material have all been removed from the car."

The and suspension system on the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia has been modified to cope up with the most extreme terrains like rough and rocky surfaces as well as muddy tracks. The German automaker also installed their patented Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). These two systems works in conjunction with the air suspension to provide vehicle dynamics and further enhance the vehicle's traction. Moreover, PDCC features a Special Offroad Mode that gives the Cayenne S Transsyberia 75 cm of maximum depth when crossing rivers or streams.

Powering the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia is a 4.8-liter V8 engine capable of delivering 385 bhp (283kW) at 6200 rpm. The engine comes with a direct gasoline injection system, and can be able to run on 25 percent ethanol fuel mixed with gasoline. This feature gives the Cayenne S Transsyberia lower fuel consumption by about 15 percent compared to the base Cayenne S model. A six-speed automatic transmission powering the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) permanent all wheel drive system completes the vehicle's powertrain package. The vehicle also comes with quality cooling system, which also features water pump like the Jeep Wrangler off-road model with quality Jeep water pump.

All About The Porsche 365

The Porsche 356 is the first Porsche production automobile and it was sold from 1948 through 1965. Although many consider Porsche 64 as being the first automobile produced by the German company, the 64 was never mass-produced and it was only a drivable test-mule. The 364 was created by Ferdinand Porsche and his son, Ferry Porsche, designed by Erwin Komenda and its engine features derived from the Volkswagen Beetle, deigned by Mr. Porsche Senior.

The models available were initially coupe, cabriolet (luxury convertible) and then roadster (a stripped down convertible). Before being withdrawn in 1965, it went through several changes. The most desirable versions were 356 "Carrera" (often sold for well over $150,000), "Super 90" and "Speedster". In the late 50`s, the original selling price for a Porsche was $4,000.

In 1954, Max Hoffman, the only importer of Porsches into United States needed a lower cost, racier version for the American marker. Therefore, the company created 356 "Speedster" that became a instant hit thanks to the low, raked windshield (easily removable for weekend racing), bucket seats, and minimal folding top. These days, this car is still very appreciated as it is sold for over $100,000 and it has been used in several films, including 48 Hours, its sequel - Another 48 Hours and Top Gun. In 1957, the production of Speedster peaked at 1,171 cars. In 1959 it was replaced by the Convertible D model, which featured a taller, more practical windshield, glass side windows, and more comfortable seats.

Year after year, the basic shape of Porsche 356 remained the same and was easily recognized and remarked, even though changes were made, especially in the mechanical area. Coupe and cabriolet models were produced every year up to 1965, with the last 356B Roadster built in early 1963. The final model build was 356 C that featured disc brakes and the most powerful pushrod engine Porsche so far: the 95HP "SC".

In the year that Porsche launched 911, 1964, Porsche 356 production peaked at 14,151 cars. Still, the company continued to sell the 356C in North America through the end of 1965 as a lower-cost vehicle. When the customers complained the price for 911 was too high (almost twice the price of the 356), Porsche started producing the 912, using the 356 engine. The 912model was sold between 1965 and 1969. 56 years after the beginning of the production, Sports Car

International named 356C number ten on the list of Top Sports cars of the 60`s. Today, the 356 is a respected car among the collectors, as it stood the test of time. Worldwide, thousands of 356 owners maintain the tradition, preserving their cars and driving them regularly.

How to Choose Porsche Wheels

Porsche wheels should be chosen as carefully as the high performance car they are going on. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind when choosing wheels for your Porsche.

A beautiful car deserves beautiful wheels, which is probably the biggest reason why aftermarket Porsche wheels are so popular. When you drive a car like a Porsche, it just does not make sense to leave the stock Porsche wheels on the car.

Aftermarket wheels for a performance car need to be chosen carefully, however. In order to get the most performance and enjoyment out of your wheels, here are several things to consider when you are shopping for Porsche wheels.

Wheel size: Porsche wheels are sized in two different ways; diameter and width. The diameter is the measurement from rim to rim across the middle of the wheel, while the width of the wheel is measured across the part where the tires go. Larger wheels are typically popular for performance cars. The larger the diameter, the smaller the sidewall of the tire that goes on it, which tends to improve the car's handling. Likewise, a wider wheel width takes a wider tire, which also improves a car's handling.

If you are thinking about buying Porsche wheels that are larger than your stock wheels, it is important to keep in mind how this will affect your speedometer and odometer. You should be able to find a tire that fits the new wheel, but that has the same outside circumference as the original size tire for the car.

Finish: Porsche wheels come in a variety of different finishes. The most popular finish is most likely chrome, but chrome also tends to be the most expensive. Aftermarket wheels also come in painted finishes, usually silver or black.

Regardless of which finish you get, it is important to keep your wheels clean and dry. Water can cause the wheels to rust, and dirt will also help to hold water in and encourage rust. Generally, the smoother the finish the easier it will be to keep clean. Unless you are willing to devote a considerable amount of time to cleaning and polishing your wheels, you will probably want to avoid any kind of a porous finish.

Construction and design: Construction and design are also important when choosing Porsche wheels. Wheels with a more open design allow for better air circulation and help to keep your brakes cool, not to mention they offer a more striking appearance! Aftermarket wheels also can be made out of a variety of different materials, which have benefits such as lightness or superior strength.

The importance of Porsche wheels: Few accessories add as much to your Porsche as aftermarket wheels. When chosen correctly, Porsche wheels can both increase performance, such as handling, and add to the appearance of your car. As much as is riding on your wheels (pun intended), it is important to consider your options carefully before selecting Porsche wheels on your car.