AUTOMOBILE PORSCHE
dream machines The German sports car is a luxury icon synonymous with fame, wealth and success
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INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN IS THE ULTIMATE LUXURY
PRABIR BISWAS RAZOR-SHARP handling, amazing power, gut-wrenching speed and baffling resilience–these are expressions that have come to define cars from the Porsche stable, with the brand unquestionably ruling the sports-car category. Cars from Porsche have won the Le Mans 24 hours’ race 16 times; the Targa Florio and Paris-Dakar, several times; and the Formula 1 World Championship, three times. It is a legacy, but a very vital one. No wonder, Hollywood actor Robert Redford drives a Porsche 912 in the movie, Spy Game. A Porsche 911 has a prime role in the computer-animated feature, Cars, from the celebrated makers of Toy Story and Finding Nemo. The Canadian-American actor, Matthew Perry,
July 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in
PLAY IT UP, PORSCHE Porsche customers, shareholders and fans often expressed their wish for an inspiring place to display their corporate history, and in July 2004, Porsche’s management board responded by approving the construction of a new museum at Zuffenhausen’s Porscheplatz, Germany. The museum is an architectural emblem and reflects the ingenuity of the Porsche brand. The Porsche tradition will be preserved and displayed in the museum. The design by Viennese firm, Delugan Meissl, is an eye-catcher. The bold and dynamic architecture reflects the company’s philosophy and is designed to convey a sense of arrival and approachability, as well as guide the visitors smoothly from the basement level to the superstructure. In their design, the architects have created a showpiece that reflects the authenticity of Porsche products and services as well as the company’s character. Unlike many other museums, the new Porsche museum stands for joie de vivre and variety. It remains committed to the long-established philosophy of the “Museum on Wheels”. The museum has a central repository which showcases all the historical and contemporary knowledge about Porsche.
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AUTOMOBILE
PORSCHE drives a Porsche Convertible, while Tom Cruise moves around in a Porsche 911. And to top it all, Beckham junior drives an ultra-small Porsche sports car around in his house! The German luxury sports car maker emerged as the most prestigious automobile brand in a survey conducted few years ago by the Luxury Institute, New York. The survey also brought out the obvious: people with a gross annual income of $200,000 and above, and a net worth of at least $720,000 owned a Porsche. And that is not all. The brand was awarded the 2006 JD Power and Associates Award for the highest-ranked nameplate in its Initial Quality Study (IQS) of automobile brands. Porsche is not just about the price tag and the look. The engineering marvel of the cars has endeared itself to many other auto manufacturers, and the company, for many years, offered consultancy services to Audi, Studebaker, SEAT, Daewoo, Subaru and Yugo. With an
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enviable line-up in sports cars, such as 911, Boxster, Cayman; the fourdoor Panamera; and an SUV in Cayenne, the Porsche cars are considered one of the finest in terms of performance. Therefore, it is no surprise that Stuttgart’s sports car manufacturer has emerged as the world’s most profitable automaker. Although the history of Porsche sports cars began in 1948 with the legendary Type 356 No. 1, the foundation was laid by Professor Ferdinand Porsche, and continued by his son Ferry. Ferdinand set up an independent engineering office in Stuttgart in 1931 and pioneered developments for his client companies. Efficient production methods, distinctive positioning of the brand, and innovative models, such as the 356, 911, 914, 924, 944, 928, the Boxster and the Cayenne have made Porsche one of the world's most successful automobile manufacturers. The Porsche 911 is an icon, a legend and a venerable benchmark for car connoisseurs. It embodies a success formula that has been
INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN IS THE ULTIMATE LUXURY
Hollywood actor Robert Redford drives a Porsche 912 in the movie, Spy Game. A Porsche 911 has a prime role in the computer-animated feature, Cars, from the celebrated makers of Toy Story and Finding Nemo. The Canadian-American actor, Matthew Perry, drives a Porsche Convertible, while Tom Cruise moves around in a Porsche 911
July 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in
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AUTOMOBILE
PORSCHE tried and tested for more than 40 years, and stays timeless. But Porsche engineers have endowed every generation of the 911 with state-ofthe-art and meaningful technology, leaving the rear engine and rearwheel-drive intact. The Boxster boasts of the uncompromising, mid-engine concept that unveils agility and performance. The Boxster and Boxster S–with soft or hard top–is widely considered as an entry-level model. A fullfledged sports car, it is powerful and has endeared itself to people in the fast lane. The Cayman lies somewhere between the 911 and the Boxster. However, it takes into account the features of both. It leaps like an athlete, is arty in appearance and excels in quality and versatility. A perfect thoroughbred, indeed. Cayenne is a multipurpose vehicle with a front-engine configuration, plus enough space to comfortably accommodate five persons with loads of luggage. Although Cayenne took a break from the Porsche style–shocking the sports world–the world took notice when 100,000 vehicles were sold in less than three years. It offers
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safety, comfort, transportability, and is one size bigger than the 911 or the Boxster. The idea of the Carrera GT originated from the tracks of the Le Mans sports car race in France. The 16th overall victory inspired the engineers to work on the concept. The self-supporting, carbon-fibre body could effortlessly handle 612 horsepower and a speed of 330 kilometres per hour. By the time production was discontinued in April 2006, it had already become the world’s best-selling, highperformance sports car. Needless to say, Porsche has also caught the fancy of the rich and the famous in India. Bollywood stars Hrithik Roshan, Fardeen Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu can’t have enough of their Porsche Cayennes. Models such as 911, Boxster, Cayenne and Cayman are much sought after in India. In a national survey conducted by the productconsulting firm, AutoPacific, the 911 model line emerged as the most satisfying premium sports car among new car owners in India. The accolade becomes all the more special considering that the competition included some of the world’s most renowned nameplates.
INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN IS THE ULTIMATE LUXURY
Porsche emerged as the most prestigious automobile brand in a survey conducted few years ago by the Luxury Institute, New York. The survey also brought out the obvious: people with a gross annual income of $200,000 and above, and a net worth of at least $720,000 owned a Porsche
July 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in
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