Fascination Porsche 911: How the longing model became the German design icon

The Porsche 911 is a German design model that captivates many of its fans. It is not only known for its performance and technology, but also for its unique design.

In this article you will learn more about the fascination of the Porsche 911 and how it became the German design model.

Introduction

The Porsche 911 is a car that has inspired people for decades. With its unique design and incomparable performance, he has secured a place in automotive history .

But how did the Porsche 911 become a German design role model? In this article we would like to deal with the fascination of the Porsche 911 and uncover the story behind its iconic design.

The history of Porsche 911 and its design evolution

The Porsche 911 car fans worldwide for more than 60 years. But how did this classic in automotive history come about?

The Porsche 911 was first presented at the Frankfurt automotive exhibition 1963 Porsche 356 . Supercars.net and the Porsche Newsroom provide us with almost complete constellations of the technological and design history history of this longing car for many generations. We have put together the most important milestones with the central key data for you:

1964: Porsche 356 as a forerunner for the introduction of the 901/911

With the commercial success of the 356 (in all its variants) in the previous decade, Porsche had acquired the call in the early 1960s to build high-quality high-performance vehicles that have proven themselves to be well on and off the racetrack. At the same time, Ferry Porsche realized that the 356, as far as it had developed, was fifteen years old and needed a comprehensive redesign.

In September 1963, Ferry Porsche presented the successor to the 356 as Porsche 901 at the international automotive exhibition in Frankfurt am Main. Similar to how his father had previously done it for him, Ferry transferred Porsche 901 to his eldest son, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (Fa).

When the design took shape, Ferry Porsche brought his son's drawings to the neighboring chassis manufacturer Reuter to produce the first prototypes of the Porsche 901 design.

The production of the new Porsche 901 began on September 14, 1964 and a total of 82 cars were produced the following week. One of the Porsche 901 prototypes was transported to the Parisian caralon and was again very well received by almost everyone-apart from the managers of the French automobile manufacturer Peugeot.

Peugeot rejected the term "901" because they too patented a three -digit numerical name for one of their cars, which contained a zero as the middle digit. They claimed that they were the owner of the name Convention and had already sold many models with the same name in several markets. Porsche solution? Change the middle "0" in "1" and call the Auto Porsche 911.

Officially, the 901 already built were used for tests and other exhibitions, and Porsche sold none of the originally 82 copies to private customers.

a sports car from the start and quickly became a cult car.

The design of the Porsche 911 was unique and groundbreaking from the start. The characteristic round headlights and the curved lines were revolutionary at the time and shaped the design of many sports cars of subsequent generations.

But not only the design, but also the technology of the Porsche 911 was groundbreaking. The air-cooled six-cylinder boxer engine and the rear drive concept ensured a unique driving dynamics and made the 911 one of the fastest and most agile sports cars of its time.

1967: Porsche 911 a

In August 1967, Porsche began producing the 911 A series, which included some remarkable improvements compared to the previous models. At the beginning, the 911 A had double brake circles and widened (5.5J-15) wheels paired with Pirelli Cinturato 165HR15 Ca67 tires.

The introduction of the Targa top version of the car was more important. The Targa top variant had a roll bar clad with stainless steel, which was intentionally introduced because the automotive manufacturers were generally convinced that the transfers' assistance requirements enforced by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would make it difficult for fully open convertibles to sell these regulations in the United States fulfill.

The name "Targa" comes from the sports car road race Targa Florio in Sicily, Italy. Porsche took part in this event for many years and won many victories in a number of racing variants of its series vehicles until the event was discontinued in 1973.

The last victory for Porsche was won in a 911 Carrera RS against prototypes, in which Porsche, as well as Ferrari and Alfa Romeo took part. The driving ready 911 Targa was equipped with a removable roof plate and a removable plastic rear window.

1968-1972: Porsche 911 Series B-F

The production of the Porsche 911 B series began in August 1968 and replaced the 911L model of the A series by the 911e, one of the first 911, which was introduced with fuel injection. It remained in production until July 1969. This was followed by the C to F series without too remarkable innovations.

1973-1988: G-Series and 911 Turbo

A decade after the beginning of the 911 life Porsche decided that a basic update was necessary and gave the 911 a large makeover. The 911 sold as a “G-model” sold almost 200,000 vehicles and was the longest running 911 series, which was produced from 1973 to 1989.

In addition to a coupé and a Targa version, a convertible was also available.

In the course of this, there were significant design changes on 911, in particular a new increased bumper design with black plastic balls. Between the rear lights of the G models there is a red aperture and a Porsche logo that is red or black depending on the model year.

The rear license plate is flanked by two large rubber cycling with integrated license plate lighting. Inside, the G-Series 911 was equipped with additional safety functions, including as standard built-in three-point security belts and seats with integrated headrests.

The formative 911 of this era came in 1974 and was the original 911 Turbo . The 930 911 Turbo had a 260 hp engine (and the coolest rear spoiler ever). His advanced 3-liter turbo engine had technologies such as the charging pressure control on the exhaust side (previously only available in racing cars), the undesirable overpressure in partial load or thrust was prevented.

When boost pressure was needed again during an acceleration phase, the bypass valve closed and the turbine was able to perform its full performance in the exhaust gas flow. With its unique combination of luxury and impressive performance, the "Turbo" a synonym for the Porsche brand.

The turbo received in 1977 when the performance of a larger 3.3-liter engine rose to 300 hp. It was by far the most powerful and powerful car in its class and continued to grow the legend of the 911. In terms of innovation, the new turbo had a charge air cooler.

In 1983 the 911 Carrera with a suction engine replaced the SC; With a 3.2-liter six-cylinder boxer engine, which made 231 hp, but was even more important that the 911 could also be ordered without a roof. Yuppies gathered everywhere and a new love for Porsche was created among them.

As a special model, the 911 Carrera Speedster onto the market in 1989, the unique look of which was a tribute to the 356 Speedster of the 1950s.

1994-1998: Porsche 911 (Type 993)

The iconic Porsche 911 (type 993) was developed by Porsche AG as the successor to the Porsche 964 model.

From many Porsche enthusiasts as "ultimate 911" , the type 993 embodied a unique mix of strength and simple elegance .

The car had integrated bumper, which underlined the new, more streamlined look of the Porsche 911. The car's front section is "deeper" than earlier versions of the 911, which is largely due to the polyellipsoid form of the newly designed headlights. These headlights, which have become an integral part of the iconic and immediately recognizable brand 911, represent the integration of design elements that have made the type 993 into such a sophisticated automobile.

Even before its commercial introduction in 1995, the Porsche 911/Type 993 obtained the call of its extraordinary reliability. The air-cooled engine was combined with a standard six-speed manual transmission-which made the 993 the first generation of the 911, which had a six-speed gear (all previous variants had either 4 or 5-speed gear).

The optional all-wheel drive system of type 993 has been revised, whereby the three-differential setup used in type 964 has been removed and replaced by a revised setup that is reminiscent of that of the Porsche 959 super sports car.

The 993 also received a newly designed suspension system. This new suspension system was specially developed to improve the driving characteristics in bad weather and at the same time maintain the stability of the above -mentioned all -wheel drive system. The revisions made on the suspension system led to a total weight reduction of the vehicle.

The latest 911 was praised by critics for his incredible agility , which is due to the overall reduction of the empty weight compared to the previous model 911 (type 964). The Porsche 911/Type 993 was sold between January 1994 and early 1998.

1999-2002: The 996 Turbo, the GT2/GT3 platforms and the Carrera 4S

The Porsche 911 (Type 996) Turbo debut in September 1999 at the Frankfurt automotive exhibition.

In contrast to its counterpart with a suction engine, the 996 Turbo had a water-cooled 3.6-liter engine with a double-gurbo load and charging air cooling, which was derived from 1998 in Le Mans victorious GT-1-Porsche 911. This new engine made 415 hp at 6,000 rpm 415 LB-FT torque.

The 996 turbo had all-wheel drive and was either equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed tiptronic automatic transmission.

The 996 Turbo also had a revised body design and a broader appearance than its other 911 Carrera counterparts. He was also equipped with new BI-Xenon headlights.

Models exported to the USA had a rear spoiler that automatically moved at 76 MPH (122 km/h) and lowered at 36 MPH (58 km/h). While the spoiler supposedly contributed to reducing the buoyancy at higher speeds, the size and width of the spoiler were considered too small to create an advantageous outcome.

In view of the earlier successes of the 911 in the GT-1 class in Le Mans, the Porsche 996 platform used as the basis for two light, racing variants of the car. The first of these variants was the GT3 .

The GT3 was based on the standard 996 Carrera, but was freed from any additional equipment to reduce the total weight of the car. The car had a stiffer but adjustable suspension platform and improved brakes. The choice fell on the body, which was developed for the all -wheel drive version of the 996 because it made it possible to stiffen the front.

The second version of the Porsche 911 of the type 996 racing class was given the name GT2 .

Like the GT3, the GT2 was a rear-wheel drive variant of the current 911 platform. The GT2 996 received additional aerodynamic modeling on many of its body parts. He also received a newly coordinated version of the 3.6-liter engine with two turbochargers of the 996 Turbo, which included larger turbochargers and charge air coolers, a revised inlet and exhaust system as well as a newly programmed engine control software.

Both the GT2 and the GT3 variant of the 996 were only equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.

The Porsche 911 GT3 became one of the highlights of the 996 era in 1999. He was celebrated by Porsche enthusiasts to "keep the tradition of Carrera RS alive" .

Conversely, the Porsche 911 GT2, the first car, which was equipped with ceramic brakes, was specifically marketed as an extreme sports car with performance at the level of the race track. It was launched in autumn 2000.

In 2002, Porsche presented the Targa based on the 996, which had a glass sliding roof, which was reminiscent of that of the type 993 of 911. In the same year, Porsche also presented the Carrera 4S . The C4S, as they are called today, had the same wide construction design as the 996 Turbo and the same braking and suspension systems that were previously introduced in this model.

2004-2016: Type 997 and the maximum consideration of individual preferences

In July 2004, Porsche once again presented another iteration of the 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S models. The car, known as Porsche type 997, had the same classic silhouette as all previous variants of the Porsche 911 and contained subtle design features-in particular a return to the clear, oval headlights with separate indicators-that were found in older 911 models.

While the Porsche 911 Type 997 had a refined appearance inspired by racing, the car was celebrated as a real high -performance vehicle. The basic carrera was equipped with a 3.6-liter boxer engine, which made an impressive 325 hp, while the new 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine of the Carrera S made an incredible 355 hp.

At the Geneva Motor Show in 2006, Porsche presented the 911 Turbo, the first petrol -powered series automobile with a turbocharger with a variable turbine geometry, a technology that made it possible to adapt the aspect ratio of the turbo to changed conditions.

They also presented the Porsche 911 GT3 of the next generation. The Porsche engineers further improved the fuel efficiency of the car by introducing a direct injection and a double clutch transmission.

Never in the long history of Porsche in the construction of unbelievable driving machines, the company had approved as many preferences that can be selected by the owner as in type 997 and in the special models Carrera, Targa, Cabriolet, rear or all-wheel drive, turbo, GTS In addition to models and street versions of the GT racing car, the Porsche 911 stable now included 24 different model versions .

2015-2019: Type 991.2 and the rule of the turbocharger

The year 2015 marked a new milestone in Porsche history with the development of a turbo boxer engine , which gave the world's best-selling sports car in the world a significant increase in performance and significantly lower fuel consumption. Porsche missed the Carrera and Carrera S models these six-cylinder turbo engines, which were previously only sold as suction engines. There were initial resistance on the part of the enthusiasts, who now seems to have evaporated.

There were not many changes on the 991.2 series. Something different bumpers with larger air inlets, new rims and other ventilation slots on the rear bonnet, the slots are now arranged in the longitudinal direction, and other taillights. The interior remains largely the same, but has a new touchscreen infotainment system that is also compatible with Apple CarPlay. In addition to the additional performance and the better fuel consumption through the two small turbos, the 911 Carrera mechanically mechanically has wider wheels, new shock absorbers and standard active PASM suspension.

2019 today: Type 992

In 2019 the last series of the 911 came onto the market. The eighth generation of Porsche 911 ( BauCode 992 ) is another reinterpretation of the legendary sports car. Porsche has equipped the model with modern infotainment and many comfort extras.

Although the body of the new has grown somewhat compared to the previous model (991), the basic shape of the 911 remains unmistakable. The rear engine concept and the six-cylinder boxer were retained. In the Autobild Check you will find everything you need to know about dimensions, prices, equipment and engines of the Porsche 911 (992).

It is the combination of tradition and innovation that has made the 911 a timeless classic for decades. Every new 911 builds on the strengths of the predecessor and further improves them. At the same time, the 911 of its DNA remains loyal and preserves the characteristic design features that have made it one of the most famous cars in the world.

Today the Porsche 911 is considered a design model and international ambassador for German engineering art.

The future: J 1 and e-mobility

What does the future have in store? According to an assessment of the Süddeutsche Zeitung , there is probably no inexpensive lightweight-pans that could shine with a weight reduction of 1000 kilos and an output of 350 hp as a puristic masterpiece.

Instead, the company has decided to invest the profit in environmentally friendly drive technologies , even if this is currently still associated with difficulties in battery weight and space requirement. Porsche is pre-dumpled with an e-concept , which is characterized by an architecture called J 1 and should also be available for Audi and Bentley in the future.

The new concept will be debut in the five -door Taycan Coupé next year and will also be offered as a crossover from autumn 2020. The extent to which e-mobility also becomes the 911 forms remains unclear.

How the revolutionary sports car became a German design model

The Porsche 911 was first presented in 1963 and has experienced numerous design and technology updates since then.

But despite the changes, the 911 still kept its iconic shape and silhouette , which distinguishes it from other sports cars. The success of the 911 is based on its combination of performance, reliability and a distinctive design.

The car is a masterpiece of engineering and has shaped and inspired the German automotive industry. Today the Porsche 911 is a symbol of German quality and design excellence and is valued by lovers around the world.

Influence on the automotive industry

The fascination of the Porsche 911 goes far beyond its impressive performance and its iconic design. As one of the most famous German sports cars, the Porsche 911 has also had a significant impact on the automotive industry.

The technology and innovations that were introduced in the various generations of 911 have set the standards for other automobile manufacturers . For example, the Porsche 911 was one of the first sports cars, which was equipped with an ABS system that later became a standard in the entire industry.

In addition, the Porsche 911 also advanced the development of powerful and efficient engines, which can be found in many other vehicles today. Overall, the Porsche 911 has significantly influenced the automotive industry and will continue to play an important role in the future.

Technical innovations of the Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 is undoubtedly a cult car that has conquered the hearts of auto enthusiasts around the world for decades. But what makes this car so special? An answer to this question lies in the numerous technical innovations that make the Porsche 911 a technical masterpiece.

Starting with the use of aluminum for body car up to the introduction of all -wheel drive and turbo loading , Porsche has repeatedly set new standards and continuously developed the 911.

The latest generation of the Porsche 911 , the 992 series , is also packed with innovative technologies such as a progressive chassis , a digital cockpit and an adaptive aerodynamic system .

Porsche 911 (992) Turbo S by Techart

All of these innovations contribute to the fact that the Porsche 911 is still considered a design model and the fascination for this car is unbroken.

Exclusive novelty (2023) for well-heeled Porsche enthusiasts: The Porsche 911 Turbo S Stinger GTR BY TOPCAR Design

The Porsche 911 as a status symbol and epitome of success

The Porsche 911 is a symbol of success and exclusivity. Since his introduction in 1963, he has developed into one of the most famous and most coveted sports cars in the world.

The 911 is a masterpiece of German design and embodies the perfect combination of elegance and performance. Many prominent and successful people chose the Porsche 911 as a status symbol and it is no wonder that it is often seen as the ultimate car of success.

The 911 is a milestone in the history of the automotive industry and has a loyal fan base around the world.

Final words

In summary, it can be said that the Porsche 911 is not only a cult car, but also a design model for the German automotive industry. His timeless design and technical innovations have made the 911 an unmistakable symbol for German engineering art.

The fascination for the 911 continues to this day and will continue to exist in the future. The Porsche 911 not only shaped the history of automotive history, but also influenced people and will continue to be a sought -after object in the future.