Porsche History

Porsche Origins

Porsche began its origins back in 1948 with Ferdinand Porsche who was an engineer. With a small team, Ferdinand started producing the Type 356 and in 1952, it was succeeded by the Porsche 550 Spyder. The 550 Spyder is an important model in Porsche history thanks to its popularity.

From 1948 until now, Porsche has been known for providing high-performance vehicles that don't sacrifice performance for comfort. Whether you're driving around Alamo in a Porsche Cayenne or you're tackling your local racetrack in a Porsche 911, you can rest assured that you're piloting a vehicle with a rich history and exceptional engineering.

Porsche Design & Manufacturing

The Porsche Design and Development Center is located in Weissach, Germany. Every Porsche vehicle draws inspiration from the comfortable and high-performance Porsche 911, and for good reason. There's an in-house track that every Porsche vehicle gets tested on in Weissach, Germany, and each vehicle must live up to the design and engineering standards of Porsche before it's introduced to the market.

The main manufacturing facility for Porsche is located in Zuffenhausen which has been utilized by Porsche since 1944. With that being said, Porsche vehicles are manufactured all over the world with facilities in locations that include:

• Leipzig, Germany

• Bratislava, Slovakia

• Shanghai, China

• Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

Porsche Nomenclature & Logo

The history of the Porsche logo is a bit of a mystery however it's confirmed to be based on the Free People’s State of Württemberg’s coat of arms. So, how are Porsche vehicles named? You may have noticed that many Porsche vehicles began with a numerical nomenclature.

Vehicles like the Porsche 911 and the Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman continue to utilize numbers in their name but this isn't the case with all modern Porsche vehicles. Here's some information regarding Porsche nomenclature:

• Boxster: The Porsche 718 Boxster utilizes a boxer engine which is where the Boxster name comes from. Boxer engines are often praised for their stability and low center of gravity.

• Carrera: Carrera was first used in the Type 547 to name its engine. Carrera means racing in Spanish and it's now used in the Porsche lineup to designate some of the most powerful engines in its vehicle lineup.

• E-Hybrid: Porsche E-Hybrid vehicles are electrified vehicles that utilize an electric motor to aid the internal combustion engine with performance and efficiency.

• Executive: Porsche vehicles like the Porsche Panamera can feature the "Executive" nameplate which offers more rear space for passengers.

• GTS: Certain Porsche vehicles can feature the "GTS" nameplate which is reserved for some of the sportiest and exclusive models in the lineup. GTS stands for Gran Turismo Sport.

• RS: RS indicates RennSport and they're essentially road-ready racecars.

• RSR: RSR stands for RennSport Rennwagen which is a track-focused racecar.

• S: Porsche models with the "S" nomenclature are more performance-oriented as the S stands for Sport or Super.

• Spyder: Porsche Spyder vehicles have a convertible top for an open-air driving experience.

• Targa: Targa vehicles also offer an open-air driving experience in the Port Costa area but feature a recognizable roll-over protection bar.

• Turbo: Turbo Porsche models often feature a turbocharged engine or deliver more performance than the standard Porsche vehicle.

• 4: If a Porsche has the "4" designation in its model name, it likely features AWD for better performance when the roads get slippery around Pleasant Hill.

Own a Part of History With a Porsche from Porsche Walnut Creek

If the Porsche History interests you and you're ready to become a part of it, visit our team in Walnut Creek today. We can get you behind the wheel of a legendary Porsche vehicle so you can appreciate every drive. Let us know when you're ready to stop in.