Founded in 1931, Porsche is a German automaker famous for its high performance and aesthetically pleasing vehicles. For decades, it’s widely been regarded as a status symbol for the rich or celebrities. However, there’s probably tons of stuff you may not have known about the company. Here are a few things about Porsche that you’ll find awesome and interesting.
The Porsche 911
As well as being Porsche’s most popular model all 911’s have been manufactured and produced one place – Porsche’s factory in Stuttgart, Germany. Porsche also builds 16 versions of the 911 ranging anywhere from 375 horsepower to over 550 horsepower.
The Fastest Porsche Goes Over 200 Miles Per Hour
Because Porsche vehicles are synonymous with performance, it’s no surprise that the fastest Porsche ever made tops out at an astonishing 205 miles per hour. The 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS uses a 3.6 liter, turbocharged V-6 engine, capable of producing 620 horsepower. This is the reason the vehicle is able to travel at such blistering speeds. Acceleration is also amazing with a zero to 60 time of just 3.4 seconds. However, with a price tag of $245,000, it’s out of most people’s price range.
The World’s First Hybrid Car
Although hybrid vehicles have really only seen commercial success in the past 20 years, these vehicles have existed for over 100 years. In fact, the world’s first hybrid car was the Lohner-Porsche, which Ferdinand Porsche designed in 1899, despite having no formal education or training in engineering. The vehicle, which Porsche produced from 1900 to 1905, featured two electric motors which pushed the engine power to a whopping seven horsepower. However, the design of the vehicle was so ahead of its time that it took almost 90 years before car manufacturers began mass producing hybrids again.
Porsche Designs Tons of Other Stuff
Aside from vehicles, Porsche has a variety of other high-end luxury products it produces. Some of these include tractors, forklifts, and even watches. They also have a clothing line that produces shirts, jackets, shoes, gloves, and sunglasses. However, many of these products are very expensive. For example, a pair of Porsche running shoes is almost $500, a jacket is $800, and a pair of sunglasses goes for $600. If you can afford it though, they are definitely high-quality goods.
Porsche is definitely a company that has an interesting history and continues to develop its brand name through a number of side projects and innovations. Over the next hundred years, it’s mind-boggling to think what the next amazing thing this company will come up with next.