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Special Issue 2006
Porsche Engineering Magazine
Porsche engineering
services
Porsche has placed its
extensive knowledge at the
disposal of external customers from the automotive
and other branches of industry for more than seventyfive years.
Complete vehicles
The complete vehicle development has always been a
strength and passion of
Porsche Engineering.
Excellent design
Turning design dreams into
reality for customers and for
Porsche: such as the 911.
Contents
Porsche Engineering is a Porsche
modular systems; we also take on
Whether you require a general
Group subsidiary specializing in
planning and implementation of
automobile developer or specialized
contract development services.
complete vehicles all the way to
system-provider, Porsche
When contracted to support car
series production. What makes our
Engineering can bring you the best
manufacturers or original equip-
offerings unique is our proven
of both worlds.
ment suppliers, we offer design and
expertise as a volume vehicle
development services, from in-
manufacturer.
dividual components to complex
Editorial
Page 4
Complete
Vehicle
Chassis
Testing
Insights
Engine
Decades of
engine power
Seventy-five years
Page 19
of Porsche
engineering
services
System Porsche
From theory to
Page 5
Page 13
confirmation
Page 16
Complete vehicle
competence at
Porsche
Page 10
Contents
The entire knowledge base of
If you would like to know more
Porsche Engineering converges in
about Porsche Engineering, please
Weissach, Germany. Yet it is avail-
send an e-mail requesting our
able globally. Which also means:
image brochure to the following
directly on-site with you. Wherever
address:
our competence is required, it’s
[email protected]
Special
Page 33
Milestones in Customer
always Porsche.
Development from
1931 – 2006
Styling
Electrics &
Electronics
Industrial
Engineering
Drivetrain
Body and
Safety
Production
Engineering
Unconventional ways
Expertise from auto-
for body concepts
motive development
Page 30
for other branches of
Hardware, softThe shape of
industry
ware and system
the future
Page 26
development
Page 22
from one source
Accelerated power
Page 24
of innovation
Page 28
From designing
to the start of
production
Page 32
Editorial
Dear Readers,
The secret to the success of the
managed centrally by the Porsche
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is based
Engineering Group GmbH (PEG),
on decades of experience that
founded in 2001 and based in
extends far beyond the develop-
Weissach. Thanks to the mature
ment of sports cars. Seventy-five
development network of Porsche,
years ago, Ferdinand Porsche
PEG can call on the services of
started his own independent engi-
other subsidiaries within the group.
neering office in Stuttgart, which
Where necessary, the resources of
The story of Porsche Engineering’s
success is based on decades of development experience in the automotive
sector. Porsche has the reputation of being
one of the world’s most versatile providers
Company founder Ferdinand Porsche with
his son Ferry at the drawing board with a
construction drawing of the Volkswagen
Porsche Type 60.
of engineering services since 1931.
was to become a cradle of automo-
the Porsche Research and
phase to series production, with the
bile technology. He used customer
Development Center in Weissach
customer continuing to receive cus-
orders to develop vehicles such as
are available for customer develop-
tomized solutions for his project.
the Auto Union racing car and the
ment work. By networking all its
VW Beetle and made the name of
locations and having a close
Porsche a synonym of technical
exchange of information between
excellence. Porsche has continued
its engineers, Porsche Engineering
the tradition established by com-
offers interface competence and
pany founder Ferdinand Porsche in
across-the-board thinking for the
1931 up to the present day, and
smooth and productive manage-
does not only develop sports cars,
ment of customer projects.
but also implements technical
projects for customers around the
The area of contract development
globe.
services gives Porsche a unique
position in the automobile sector.
4
Developing on behalf of car manu-
No other independent car manufac-
facturers, suppliers, and other
turer makes its know-how and test
industrial companies from around
facilities available to external in-
the world has always been an inte-
dustrial customers. Porsche
gral part of the services provided
Engineering also supports its con-
by the Porsche AG. All contract
tractors during the entire product
development projects worldwide are
creation process, from the concept
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
We wish you an enjoyable read.
The Editorial Team
From back then until today
Insights
Seventy-five years of Porsche engineering services
Long before sports cars bearing
The young Ferdinand Porsche had
the Porsche name caused a sensa-
already been occupied with con-
tion among car enthusiasts on
structing cars at the turn of the
roads and race tracks around the
century. On behalf of the Lohner
world, the name of Porsche was
Coach Factory in Vienna, a purvey-
already synonymous in specialist
or to the Austrian Royal Family, he
circles with innovation and technolo-
built cars with a combination of
gical competence. When Ferdinand
gasoline and electric drive – the
Porsche dared to go independent
first hybrid cars in the world. This
on April 25, 1931 with “Dr. Ing h.c.
was followed by pioneering activi-
F. Porsche GmbH, Konstruktion und
ties such as the all-wheel drive and
Beratung für Motoren- und Fahr-
the four-wheel brake, which he
zeugbau” (“Dr. Ing h.c. F. Porsche
introduced as innovations into the
GmbH, Construction and Consulting
world of automobile production.
Company for Engine and Vehicle
This technical prowess did not go
Production”), he had already many
undiscovered: In 1906, Ferdinand
years of experience as an automo-
Porsche was appointed Technical
tive engineer.
Director of Austro-Daimler, making
Ferdinand Porsche founded the construction
office in the Kronenstraße 24 in Stuttgart in
1935.
Porsche has a long tradition of providing development services
for other companies around the world. Regardless of whether these
developments concern cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles,
shipping technology, or agricultural machines.
him responsible at the age of just
31 for the entire model range at
one of Europe’s largest car makers.
Following the victorious launch of
his “Prinz Heinrich Car” at the race
named after the prince in 1910,
Porsche developed the “Sascha”,
a lightweight compact car that
made its international debut at the
Targa Florio in 1922. Just one year
later the by now well-known automotive engineer joined the DaimlerMotoren-Gesellschaft in Stuttgart.
There it was above all the superDoor plate of the Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche GmbH in 1931.
charged sports and racing cars
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
5
Insights
From back then until today
development of a sixteen-cylinder
racing car for the new 750 kg racing formula. The first test drives of
the P racing car (the “P” stands for
Porsche) were conducted as early
as January 1934, and the new car
wrote automobile history with its
numerous racing victories and
speed records.
When Ferdinand Porsche began
designing an inexpensive compact
car on behalf of NSU in 1933, this
The Wanderer, the first contract development of Porsche (Type 7).
was already the seventh compact
car he had constructed in the
that continued to strengthen his
twelve people was enormous, even
course of his career. With the air-
reputation as a truly outstanding
by today’s standards. In its first
cooled four-cylinder horizontally
automotive engineer. Ferdinand
year the engineering office devel-
opposed engine in the rear and the
Porsche left the Daimler-Benz AG
oped a new midrange sedan and
Porsche torsion bar suspension
in 1929 and decided to crown his
an eight-cylinder engine for the
on the rear axle, the prototypes
career by establishing his own engi-
German car maker Wanderer. These
already showed clear leanings
neering office in December of
projects were followed by a com-
towards the later Volkswagen
1930.
pact car on behalf of Zündapp,
Beetle. In June 1934, Porsche offi-
which paved the way for the later
cially received the order from the
The pace of work initially endured
Volkswagen Beetle. Auto Union
“Reich Association of the German
by Ferdinand Porsche’s team of
commissioned the construction and
Automobile Industry” to design and
build the Volkswagen or “People’s
Car”. The first prototypes were
assembled in the garage of
Porsche’s private villa in the north
of Stuttgart in 1935. The decision
to build a special Volkswagen plant
was born in 1936, and Ferdinand
Porsche was given the assignment
to plan this new production facility.
The Type 64 with its aerodynamic
alloy body was created in 1938/39
for the long-distance race from
Berlin to Rome. Although the start
The Porsche Type 64 is considered the ancestor of all Porsche sports cars.
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Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
of the war prevented the Type 64
From back then until today
Insights
drive. The Porsche Engineering
Office was also requested by the
Armament Authority of the German
Army to develop tanks, but these
saw limited regular use in the war,
due to technical problems and
material bottlenecks.
Following the war, the Porsche
Engineering Office, which had
moved to the Austrian town of
Mercedes-Benz record-breaking racing car T 80 in 1939.
Gmünd in Carinthia in 1944, competed again for new orders from
from being used in motor racing,
the elegantly designed coupé is the
ancestor of all Porsche sports cars
created since 1948.
Alongside the extensive Volkswagen
project, the Porsche Engineering
Office, based in Stuttgart’s district
Zuffenhausen since 1938, had been
working on numerous other development orders. The Type 80 was a
high-speed record-breaking car produced for the Daimler-Benz AG. The
Type 110 compact tractor for farm
use set the foundation for the subsequent “People’s Tractor” and the
Porsche Type 60 (V3) at the exit of the Porsche-Villa in Stuttgart-Feuerbach around 1936.
Porsche diesel tractor built after
World War II.
Workshop cabin of the Porsche factory in
Gmünd/Carinthia (1944).
Following the outbreak of war in
the automotive industry. To begin
1939, further models based on the
with, however, the company was
Volkswagen were intended for mili-
only able to develop water turbines,
tary use. The company re-estab-
cable winches, ski-lifts, mowing
lished later in 1937 as Porsche KG
rods, and various agricultural trac-
now mainly developed off-road vehi-
tors that were now marketed for
cles such as the VW “Kübelwagen”
the first time under the name of
jeep and the VW “Schwimmwagen”
Porsche. In 1946 the Italian compa-
amphibian car fitted with all-wheel
ny Cisitalia entrusted Porsche KG,
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
7
Insights
From back then until today
Ferdinand Porsche at the drawing board of the Porsche Engineering Office in the Kronenstraße 24.
8
now under the management of
structed. This marked the birth of
remained an important part of the
Ferdinand Porsche’s son Ferry, with
the Porsche sports car brand, with
company’s overall range of activi-
a number of extensive development
production of the rear-engined
ties. Until the 1970s, Porsche’s
contracts. Apart from a small trac-
coupé and cabriolet versions of the
most significant customer was the
tor and a water turbine, the compa-
356 starting in the second half of
Volkswagen AG. The close coopera-
ny developed and built the all-wheel-
1948. After returning to Stuttgart in
tion of the two companies has been
drive Type 360 Cisitalia Grand Prix
1950, Porsche began regular
setting the pace in the development
racing car as well as a two-seater
series production of the 356 with a
process ever since 1948.
mid-engine sports car.
total production volume of some
78,000 units by the year 1965.
Numerous detailed improvements
In July 1947, the Porsche
The successor model, the Porsche
were therefore developed for the
Engineering Office started working
911, helped the company make its
VW Beetle built in Wolfsburg under
under its own steam on the Type
final breakthrough as one of the
a license fee paid to Porsche.
356 VW Sports Car. Based on the
leading manufacturers of sports
Porsche was also involved in the
Type 64 Berlin-Rome racing car, the
cars in the world not only in techni-
development of various successor
design concept bearing the internal
cal terms, but also in design.
models to the highly successful
construction number 356 became
Despite this successful start as a
Beetle. The company developed
reality in spring of 1948 and a
car manufacturer, development
numerous prototypes for the
ready-to-drive prototype was con-
assignments from customers
Volkswagen Group which set the
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
From back then until today
Insights
trend for the wide range of passenger cars coming out of Wolfsburg
for the coming years. The most
famous customer developments
were the VW-Porsche 914 presented in autumn 1969, and the Volkswagen Development Project EA
425, which made its appearance
in 1976 as the Porsche 924.
The wide range of development at
Porsche comprised nearly all areas
Technical drawing of the Cisitalia Grand Prix race car (Type 360).
of motorization over the last 75
years, including developments con-
Research and Technology. The cus-
The development on behalf of auto-
cerning cars, motorcycles, com-
tomer base also came from almost
mobile manufacturers, suppliers,
mercial vehicles, shipping technolo-
the entire worldwide automobile
and other industrial companies from
gy, aircraft, agricultural machines,
industry and used Porsche’s know-
around the world is still far from
agricultural vehicles, construction
how ranging from individual techni-
being finished, and this business
machinery as well as comprehen-
cal solutions to complete vehicle
field will continue to be an integral
sive projects such as automotive
developments.
component of Porsche in the
studies for the future on behalf of
future. This is ensured by some
the German Federal Ministry of
400 employees at the Porsche
Engineering offices. Porsche
Engineering also has access to the
full range of facilities and test
stands at the Weissach development centre, and can also rely on
the 2,400 employees in the development department.
Powered by the combined knowhow of Porsche in the background,
PEG is able to consistently focus
not only on the smallest components, but also on the complete
vehicle as a whole. The supreme
objective in the future is therefore
also to optimize the overall system,
Aerial photograph of the Porsche Development Centre in Weissach in autumn 2005.
ensuring satisfied customers at all
times.
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
I
9
Complete Vehicle
From concept to series production planning
Complete vehicle competence at Porsche
Four-door sedan by Porsche (Type 542) developed for the American car maker Studebaker.
Porsche has worked successfully on customer projects
since the 1930s – from the concept phase to
series production. The best example is the VW Beetle.
Since its beginnings in 1931, the
range of tasks performed by the
Porsche Engineering Office has
covered the entire bandwidth of
automotive technology. The work
done by Ferdinand Porsche’s handpicked team ranged from drivetrain
and suspension components to the
production-ready complete vehicle.
Even in the early 1930s, fully-functional prototypes of compact and
Alpine test drive in 1936 with two Volkswagen prototypes of the V3 range.
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Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
midrange models were being creat-
From concept to series production planning
Complete Vehicle
ing masters of their trade such as
Karl Rabe, Erwin Komenda and
Josef Mickl – placed the VW
Beetle’s characteristic air-cooled
four-cylinder flat engine in the rear
and divided the vehicle into base
plate and body. The potential of this
concept proved its reliability up to
the end of the Second World War in
numerous variants, such as the
“Kübelwagen” jeep and “Schwimmwagen” amphibious vehicle.
Test car of NSU (Type 32) in front of the Porsche Engineering Office at Kronenstraße 24 in
Stuttgart.
After the war, Porsche remained
linked to the Volkswagen AG as a
development partner for many
ed on behalf of renowned car manu-
vehicle would be built by 2003. The
decades. Apart from countless
facturers such as Zündapp, NSU
design that became known as the
detailed improvements to the VW
and Wanderer. Porsche Engineering
Beetle, due to its unmistakable
Beetle, the Stuttgart-based sports
still continues this inheritance from
shape, became a symbol of mass
car manufacturer repeatedly took
the first days of Porsche. This
motorization across the world.
on complete vehicle development
wealth of experience together with
When designing the vehicle known
projects from Wolfsburg, which
the combined know-how of a series
internally as the Type 60, Ferdinand
went as far as the prototype stage
manufacturer gives Porsche a
Porsche and his engineers – includ-
of whole model families.
unique status in the automotive sector. Porsche Engineering makes its
75 years worth of complete vehicle
knowledge available to its customers, and manages all areas of car
making: from conception to design,
prototype construction, testing,
production planning, procurement,
logistics, and production.
When Ferdinand Porsche presented
his ideas on the design of a
German “People’s Car” in an
exposé in January 1931, not even
the bravest optimists could predict
that over 21.5 million units of this
The VW 38 (Type 60) from 1938 already has the look of the later VW Beetle.
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
11
Complete Vehicle
From concept to series production planning
International customers, such as
the American automobile manufacturer Studebaker, also relied on
Porsche know-how. From 1952 to
1954, Porsche used the Type 542
to develop a modern four-door
sedan with an integral body-frame
that did not make it to series production only because of a lack of
capital of the American contractor.
The Soviet state-run Avto VAZ also
relied on the experiences of
Porsche when a complete compact
car was ordered in the form of the
Development of the robust compact car Lada “Samara” with front wheel drive for the Russian
state-run Avto VAZ in 1984.
Lada “Samara”, whose robustness
was specially designed to cope with
Soviet road conditions. For the
Chinese market Porsche used the
C88 family car to develop a vehicle
study adjusted to Chinese requirements, which was presented at the
Beijing World Trade Center in 1994
as part of an international presentation.
The specification manual of the C88 concept car demanded comfortable driving, even on
poor roads.
In 1994, Porsche Engineering
received an order from the Adam
Opel AG to start on the complete
vehicle development of the compact Opel Zafira van in line with a
given concept. Presented for the
first time at the Paris Motor Show
in 1998, the Opel Zafira A was produced from 1999 to 2005.
Opel Zafira – Complete vehicle development to a given concept for the Adam Opel AG.
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Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
I
From driving comfort to driving fun
Chassis
System Porsche
The first construction order for Porsche comes from Wanderer (Type 7).
From the start, the Porsche Engineering Office has pursued the objective of constantly improving automotive technology with trend-setting solutions. In its very first
year of work, Ferdinand Porsche’s team of technicians reached a milestone in the
history of technology: the torsion-bar suspension known as the “System Porsche”.
The innovative wheel suspension
about in connection with the
August 10, 1931. In early 1931 the
principle, which uses a torsion bar
Engineering Office’s first contract
German car maker Wanderer in
as a suspension element, came
development and was patented on
Chemnitz assigned Ferdinand
Porsche the project to construct
a midrange sedan that was to
become the Wanderer W21 and
W22. Apart from having a new sixcylinder alloy engine, the vehicle
known internally as Type 7 was
noted for its special swinging axle
system. The Porsche torsion bar
suspension used here for the first
time was to prove itself as one of
the most significant detailed developments in automobile production.
One special feature was the small
Drawing of the “System Porsche” torsion-bar suspension constructed under the Type 17
designation.
amount of space needed for the
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
13
Chassis
From driving comfort to driving fun
Test drive in 1937 with the W30 on the Katschberg.
torsion bar, which was arranged
body – an important advantage in
tem, the best known of these with-
transversely below the vehicle with-
cars without an integral body-frame.
out doubt being the Volkswagen
out affecting the size of the cabin –
Much of the development work car-
Beetle, which first demonstrated
unlike a coil spring. The damping
ried out by the Porsche Engineering
its qualities during long test drives
forces were also absorbed by the
Office in the years that followed
in the prototype phase in 1936.
platform framework and not by the
also had the new suspension sys-
The system proved itself in motor
racing in the Type 22 Grand Prix
racing car developed by Porsche for
Auto Union. After the war, the torsion bar suspension demonstrated
its performance on all the world’s
race tracks in the Porsche 356.
Since then, the “System Porsche”
torsion bar suspension has been
used worldwide by millions in countless variations, and is still used
today in passenger cars, commercial and special vehicles.
The chassis of the Type 22 Grand Prix racing car developed for the Auto Union.
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Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
From driving comfort to driving fun
Chassis
selves as technological trendsetters
PASM is always active in the back-
in the development of vehicle sus-
ground and checks the style of driv-
pension.
ing in the currently selected program. This system gives the sporty
The variable suspension system on
multi-purpose vehicle outstanding
the Porsche Cayenne actively and
driving properties for its class.
continuously regulates the damping
force by using acceleration sensors
Besides the Porsche Cayenne, the
to determine the conditions of the
Porsche 911, Porsche Boxster, and
roadway and the individual style of
Porsche Cayman models have also
driving. For example, PASM kicks in
benefited from this new suspension
during very dynamic driving with
technology since 2004. Thanks to
heavy phases of acceleration and
PASM, the sports cars from
braking or on particularly uneven
Zuffenhausen combine two suspen-
All suspension developers hope
terrain, in order to balance the
sions in one: one with equal meas-
to achieve the ideal adjustment of
rolling and pitching movements by
ures of sportiness and comfort for
the car to the current driving situa-
stabilizing the individual shock
long-distance driving and a tighter,
tion. Porsche engineers have
absorbers. PASM also enables the
markedly sporty one for the circuit.
moved a step closer to this goal
Cayenne driver to perform individ-
This achieves additional active driv-
with Porsche Active Suspension
ual shock absorber adjustments
ing safety in all situations with a
Management (PASM) introduced in
while driving. The driver can select
tangible increase in the level of
the air-sprung Porsche Cayenne in
one of three basic programs:
comfort.
2002, and have again proven them-
“Comfort”, “Normal” and “Sport”.
The Porsche Active Suspension
Management (PASM) electronic damping
system actively and continuously regulates
the damping force depending on the driving style and situation.
Excellent driving dynamics are a
feature of all Porsche sports cars.
Porsche Engineering makes this
core competence available to its
customers and develops project
solutions from conception to start
of production in order to develop
and optimize the handling of the
vehicle in line with customer expectations. Porsche Engineering develops complete chassis, including all
components such as steering,
brakes, suspension and control systems, wheels, tires, pedals as well
All suspension components in the Cayenne are 100% adapted to the Third Porsche,
in order to enable the typical handling of a Porsche on all roads.
as axle and engine components.
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
I
15
Testing
The desire to test is in our genes
From theory to confirmation
Cayman S in the climate wind tunnel at the R & D Center in Weissach. Real stretches of road can be simulated here under real climate
conditions, such as the Townes Pass in the USA.
The Porsche Research and Development Center offers
an incomparable range of services. State-of-the-art
test benches, workshops and laboratories can also
be used by customers.
The “idea factory” of the Porsche
measurement center, a wind tunnel,
AG has been located in Weissach
and the safety test stands including
25 kilometers west of Stuttgart
a crash-test facility. The second
since 1971. Alongside the skid pad
phase of the development center in
and test track – whose construction
Weissach was finished in September
started in 1961 – Porsche succes-
1974, and the new test stands,
sively expanded the Research and
workshops and laboratories official-
Development Center with additional
ly opened.
large technical facilities such as a
16
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
Ferry Porsche (center) with Helmuth Bott,
Ghislaine Kaes and Hans Tomala (from left)
on a visit of inspection of the test track in
Weissach in 1962.
The desire to test is in our genes
Testing
Crash test of a Porsche 904 Carrera GTS
in 1966.
The new Development Center in Weissach was built in 1971. The test track is in the
background.
For example, the Porsche emis-
the worldwide development cus-
work environment with ultra-modern
sions testing department has been
tomers from the automotive indus-
test stands was created for the
testing the export vehicles of other
try were calling for greater capacity
emissions technicians over an area
manufacturers on behalf of the
to measure and improve emissions,
of 5,500 square meters. Here, the
American Environmental Protection
the “Measuring Center for Environ-
current emissions rolling test
Agency on its own rolling test stand
mental Protection”, which has its
stands determine the real driving
since 1967. As not only the
own test building, was officially
resistance of the respective car at
Porsche engineers, but above all
opened in late fall of 1982. An ideal
any given moment using microprocessor-controlled systems, while
the vehicles are driven automatically using statistically guaranteed
measurement accuracy and various
country-specific emission test
cycles that can be reproduced at
any time.
A climate center with three test
chambers and a climate tunnel with
an all-wheel rolling test stand allow
emissions and consumption tests,
as well as many other development
Porsche Type 911 T driving through the asphalt-patch curve on the test track at the
Weissach Development Center in 1970.
tests, to be performed across a
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
17
Testing
The desire to test is in our genes
tomers. Other trendsetting, detailed
and safety-conscious solutions from
the house of Porsche included automatic three-point seat belts, head
restraints integrated in the seats
and a safety steering wheel with a
crumple section.
In 1987, the Weissach Development
Center was expanded by adding a
modern crash facility with permanently installed control and monitoring technology. Apart from Porsche
Porsche vehicles in the climate pressure chamber at the Emissions Center of the
Development Center in Weissach.
sports cars, vehicles and components of other manufacturers are
tested for their crash behaviors and
wide range of climates and altitudes.
from the outset as a safety cabrio-
The high level of emissions research
let, thereby meeting the enhanced
at the Porsche Development Center
safety requirements of Porsche cus-
improved by Porsche engineers. I
was also a reason behind the
decision of Porsche, Audi, BMW,
DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen to
found a joint “Automotive Industry
Emissions Center” (ADA) at Porsche
in Weissach, which began operating
in January 1996.
Investigations into the passive safety of automobiles using crash tests
has a long tradition at Porsche
which reaches back to the 1960s.
The knowledge accrued in countless tests flowed directly into vehicle development, so that by 1964
Porsche was able to introduce a
split safety steering system in the
new Type 911. The Porsche 911
Targa presented in 1965 with its
fixed roll-over bar was designed
18
Porsche Study C88 for the Chinese market in the wind tunnel of the Development Center in
Weissach.
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
Powerful
Engine
Decades of engine power
As the smallest independent
German car manufacturer, Porsche
has special competence when it
comes to building engines. Porsche
Engineering makes the experience
it has gained over decades of
series production and motor racing
exclusively available to its customers. Since its early days as an
independent engineering office,
Porsche has written automobile
history with its engines.
Back in 1931, it was a Porsche
six-cylinder alloy engine with a displacement of 1.7 or 2 liters that
powered the newly developed
Wanderer sedan W21/22 as well as
the well-known “Audi Front”. The sixcylinder compressor engine of the
Type 22 Auto Union P racing car
The Porsche Type 550 Spyder with the Type 547 “Fuhrmann engine” constructed as a racing
engine (1953).
Porsche Engineering offers all areas of modern engine
development and develops units from the single-cylinder
engine to the multi-cylinder, high-performance engine.
From the application to the completely new development.
had a legendary reputation. During
fewer than 30 Grand Prix victories
air-cooled four-cylinder flatengine
its first racing season in 1934, the
and 15 world records between
that was not only used in millions
V-shaped 4.36-liter engine of the
1934 and 1937.
of VW Beetles, but was also to
Grand Prix racing car generated
serve as the basis for the engine
295 bhp and a powerful torque of
When Ferdinand Porsche received
of the subsequent Porsche 356.
55 mkg at just 2,700 rpm. Driven
the order to develop the Volks-
With a double carburetor system
by motor racing legends such as
wagen in 1934, designing a new
and enhanced compression, the
Hans Stuck, Bernd Rosemeyer and
engine was also part of the project.
Porsche engineers helped the
Achille Varzi, the Auto Union P rac-
Following extensive tests, the
1,100 cc unit of the first Porsche
ing car (P for Porsche) achieved no
Porsche engineers developed an
356 achieve an output of 40 bhp.
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
19
Engine
Powerful
became a permanent standard in
Another high-powered engine was
international motor sports, in partic-
created in 1988 for the American
ular in the Porsche 550 Spyder, but
CART racing series. In the Indy-
also in the Carrera versions of the
Porsche, the methanol-fuelled V8
Porsche 356.
racing engine was placed among
the top four in eight out of nine
With the launch of the Porsche
races in 1989, and won the 200
911 Turbo in 1974, Porsche
Miles Mid-Ohio. Porsche developed
became a pioneer of engine charg-
a 3.5-liter 12-cylinder naturally
ing using turbochargers. The tech-
aspirated engine for the Footwork
nology, which was previously tested
Arrows racing team, which was
in the racing car types 917/10,
used during the 1991 Formula 1
Over the years, Porsche constantly
917/30 and the 911 Carrera RSR
season. However, financial difficul-
increased the potential of the flat
Turbo 2.1, reached a highpoint in
ties at the end of the season result-
engine that would eventually be
the 1977 Porsche 935/78 “Moby
ed in a premature end to the coop-
used in the Porsche 912 until 1968
Dick”, whose 6-cylinder flat engine
eration.
by making numerous modifications
was fitted with water-cooled four-
and improvements. The engine in
valve cylinder heads for the first
Porsche engines not only made a
the racing version, described as
time. Aspirated by two turbocharg-
name for themselves on roads and
the “Fuhrmann engine”, was ulti-
ers, the 3.2-liter engine generated
race tracks – the compact units
mately enlarged to have a two-liter
up to 845 bhp. These comprehen-
also convinced in the air, thanks to
displacement and was fitted with a
sive experiences became the basis
their excellent power-to-weight
four-camshaft control driven by a
of one of the most important cus-
ratio. Porsche presented an entire
vertical shaft. The lively flat engine
tomer development projects at
range of aero engines in 1959. The
Porsche Engineering: On behalf of
units were used in light aircraft and
the Saudi Arabian businessman
helicopters and had an initial power
Mansour Ojjeh, the engineers in
output of up to 75 bhp.
Technical drawing of the four-cylinder
engine with four overhead camshafts
(Type 547).
Weissach developed the “TAG-Turbo
made by Porsche” for the British
racing team McLaren. This Formula
1 engine generated over 1,000 bhp
from a mere 1.5 liter displacement.
The Porsche engine dominated the
supercar class of racing sport from
1984 to 1986, and helped McLaren
win three World Championship
titles.
Ferdinand Porsche next to the Auto Union
P-racing car (Type 22) in 1936.
20
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
The Formula 1 engine “TAG-Turbo made by
Porsche” was used for McLaren racing
cars.
Powerful
Engine
The 12-cylinder-suction engine was exclusively developed by Porsche for the FootworkArrows racing team.
Considerably more powerful was
simple handling and long mainte-
the PFM 3200 aero engine devel-
nance intervals.
oped on the basis of the Porsche
Harley-Davidson V-Rod V2 engine with
115 bhp.
of a cooperation that reached back
911 flat engine. The 3.2-liter unit
As a development partner, Porsche
to the 1970s, the Porsche engi-
drew public attention when it
Engineering developed a new V2
neers constructed a water-cooled,
proved its reliability during a round-
engine under the development
1,131 cc unit based on a racing
the-world flight in 1985. Used in
name “Revolution Engine” for the
engine, whose power and engine
sports planes and airships, the PFM
“V-Rod” model of the American
sound enthused discriminating
3200 was noted for low fuel con-
motorcycle manufacturer Harley-
Harley-Davidson customers in equal
sumption, low noise emissions,
Davidson. Against the background
measure. Another focus of the
development project was the highly
dynamic drivetrain relationship
between the crankshaft and drive
wheel. Of course, the productionside improvement was part of the
order, as the engine was produced
under common responsibility in a
joint venture between HarleyDavidson and Porsche.
I
Porsche Type 3200 aero engine with 3.2-liter capacity.
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
21
Styling
From vision to form
The shape of the future
The Porsche 911, a unique and unmistakable design feature.
Design has been one of the core competences of Porsche ever
since it started building sports cars. Porsche Engineering makes
the skills of its stylists in the area of Automotive and Transportation
Design available to its customers.
22
The styling that is so typical of
design, thanks to its clear basic
Porsche has evolved over decades.
design concepts. The shape of this
Sports cars such as the Porsche
classic sports car has been careful-
356, the 550 Spyder and the 904
ly enhanced and interpreted in a
Carrera GTS have written the histo-
contemporary fashion by Porsche
ry of design and exerted repeated
stylists for more than four decades.
influence on international car pro-
The highest maxim of the in-house
duction. The Porsche 911 in partic-
designers has been and remains
ular is considered an icon of classic
the visualization of the innovative
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
Porsche 356 Coupé in the year 1951.
From vision to form
Styling
offers international customers from
machinery to agricultural machinery
the automotive industry and various
or aircraft and commercial vehicles.
industrial sectors extensive experi-
Porsche styling lends products their
ence in the field of automotive and
own personality through clear design.
transportation design.
A focal point of the company’s competence lies in the area of ergo-
Designing in unfamiliar territory has
nomics. Even in the early 1980s,
long been one of the focal points of
Porsche engineers helped design
the work performed by Porsche
the cockpit layout for Airbus pas-
stylists. The transfer of automotive
senger jets in cooperation with the
technology found in the Porsche
designs to other vehicles often
Airbus industry, and set a trend by
model family through its exterior
results in completely new aesthetic
using displays instead of conven-
design.
concepts. Consequently, the
tional instruments.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche working at
the drawing board.
I
Porsche designers consider feasiPorsche sets a high design and
bility and the necessary manufactur-
quality benchmark for its customers
ing processes right at the design
and develops cars for them with
stage.
the same passion as it does its
own vehicles. As a design partner,
Pursuing new ways that go beyond
Porsche Engineering Styling repre-
the mainstream is a tradition at
sents far more than just pure prod-
Porsche. The diversity of the range
uct design. The significance of
of products Porsche designs is
strategic design has long been
almost unsurpassable: from cars to
known, and Porsche Engineering
motorcycles, from construction
Porsche engineers designed the cockpit of
the Airbus A 310 from an ergonomic perspective.
Apart from designing cars, Porsche stylists work on everything that moves.
The range of designs is covering commercial vehicles, motorcycles and boats for example.
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
23
Electrics & Electronics
From architecture to intelligence
Hardware, software and system development from one source
A fully networked system takes care of all electronic data exchange in the Cayenne.
In terms of complete vehicle development, automotive electronics
are among the most important aspects of Porsche Engineering.
No other area of automotive tech-
in the vehicle and the possibilities
In the past the innovative power of
nology has such a high rate of in-
this presents, Porsche Engineering
Porsche in the area of electronics
novation that lets us talk about a
is occupied with the development
has manifested itself time and
“smart revolution”. In particular, the
and integration of electrical and
again in its own sports and racing
intelligent networking of compo-
electronic systems for the body,
cars. In 1985 the sports car manu-
nents and systems has a special
drivetrain and chassis. Other areas
facturer from Stuttgart showed
significance that will continue to
cover software and telematics, con-
what was possible when it present-
increase as time goes by. The core
trol and display components, the
ed the Porsche 959 with an elec-
competence of the Electrics &
development of vehicle electrical
tronically controlled chassis and
Electronics area therefore lies in
systems and networking, multime-
program-controlled all-wheel drive.
the system integration of electronic
dia, HMI (human-machine interface)
The technology platform 959 is still
components and the exploitation of
and EMC (electromagnetic compati-
setting trends, as the drive man-
their potentials. Given the constant-
bility).
agement system of the current
ly increasing quantity of electronics
24
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
Porsche 911 Turbo shows.
From architecture to intelligence
Electrics & Electronics
by the gears can be changed fully
automatically as well as manually.
With the “Tiptronic S” Porsche customers now also have the option to
choose between manual operation
and automatic mode. In automatic
operation the shift points of the
5-speed converter are defined and
controlled electronically, depending
on the style of driving: A basic
gearshift program supports economical driving and a sports program maximum driving performance.
Porsche Communication Management (PCM) in the Cayman S.
Porsche is also a pioneer when it
The redeveloped, controlled all-
controlled multi-disk clutch that pro-
comes to electronic driver informa-
wheel drive enables the immense
vides the ideal distribution of power
tion systems: The first electronic
engine power of the 911 Turbo to
between the front and rear axles
instrument cluster with an informa-
be converted into propulsive power
within fractions of a second. In
tion and diagnosis system world-
as the situation demands. The
1989, Porsche offered a new, elec-
wide was introduced in the Porsche
Porsche Traction Management
tronically controlled shift system
928 S4 in 1988. The current
(PTM) has an electromagnetically
under the name “Tiptronic”, where-
Porsche Communication Management (PCM) is the central control
unit for the radio, CD player, sound
settings, on-board computer, navigation, telephone and electronic
logbook. Data transfer within the
PCM takes place at the speed of
light. A MOST data bus (Media
Oriented Systems Transport) transports the data at high speed
between the individual components
via optical cables without loss of
signal.
I
Porsche Traction Management (PTM) of the 911 Turbo with electronically controlled multipledisk clutch.
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
25
Industrial Engineering
Free-thinking solutions
Expertise from automotive development
for other branches of industry
The original of all tractors developed by Porsche: the “Volkstraktor” (Type 110).
Porsche has always been known for innovative and often
unconventional solutions for non-automotive requirements.
The area of Industrial Engineering
mercial vehicles and agricultural
the “Volkstraktor” (People’s Tractor)
has also a long tradition as a key
machinery and, in former times,
project ranged from the design of
element of contract development
military engineering.
agricultural machinery to the plan-
services at Porsche. Since the first
26
ning of its own tractor factory
days of the company’s existence,
As for the Volkswagen, Porsche
which was not realized due to the
Porsche has served numerous
engineers constructed small agri-
war. In the post-war years the trac-
branches of industry, which have
cultural tractors since 1937 (Types
tor types 312 and 313 developed
benefited from the automotive
110, 111, 112 and 113), which
on the basis of the Type 113 were
know-how of this sports car manu-
were noted for their low price, tech-
to become an important building
facturer. These customer projects
nical sturdiness and exceptional
block in the reconstruction of the
focus mainly on the areas of com-
range of application. The scope of
Porsche KG, as it was called at the
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
Free-thinking solutions
Industrial Engineering
Ferdinand Porsche (second from right) and
his son Ferry (right) assess a trial wind
power system in 1940.
ACGO GmbH also makes use of Porsche know-how for its Fendt tractor.
time. The refined design was
Claas, Porsche has developed tech-
tems in the 1950s: On behalf of
acquired in 1949 by agricultural
nical solutions in transmission de-
DeWind AG from Lübeck, Porsche
machinery manufacturer Allgaier in
velopment as well as in the areas
Engineering created the design for
Göpping, and more than 25,000
of acoustics and vibration technolo-
a two megawatt wind power sta-
units were produced between 1949
gy for harvesting machinery.
tion.
and 1956. Constantly improved
Tractor manufacturer Fendt has
from 1956 to 1963 as the Porsche
passed its styling projects to
To mark the milestone of the devel-
diesel tractor, more than 120,000
Weissach since the 1990s.
opment of industrial vehicles, fork-
Porsche tractors in various levels
American manufacturer John Deere
lift truck manufacturer Linde award-
were built at the Porsche-Diesel-
also places its trust in the many
ed the order to design a new gener-
Motorenbau GmbH in Friedrichs-
years of Porsche Engineering expe-
ation of ground conveyors to
hafen. Development orders from
rience in agricultural technology.
Porsche in 1981. A new family of
the area of agricultural technology
forklift trucks was created which
still form a fixed part of the work
At the same time of the orders
marked the beginning of a long
done by Porsche Engineering. For
coming from the area of vehicle
cooperation. To this day Porsche
agricultural machinery manufacturer
technology, the Porsche Enginee-
Engineering develops trendsetting
ring Office developed a series of
designs for industrial vehicles on
wind power systems for generating
behalf of the Linde AG. However,
electricity in the early 1940s. Three
the convincing design is not a
wind turbines were created in three
means to an end, but remains func-
power categories: 130 watt
tional and combines the latest in
(Type 135), 736 watt (Type 136)
technology and innovative ergonom-
and 4,500 watt (Type 137). In
ics.
The lift truck designed by Porsche
Engineering for Linde AG was awarded the
“red dot: best of the best” in 2005.
I
2001 Porsche referred to the basic
research done into wind power sysPorsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
27
Drivetrain
Transmitting Power
Accelerated power of innovation
The Porsche 962 C with Porsche double-clutch transmission was used successfully in racing in 1987.
The Drivetrain section at Porsche Engineering
customers and the trade in equal
offers its customers the broad knowledge of a
measure. The Cayenne series is the
complete vehicle developer with decades of
competence.
highpoint of the competence in the
all-wheel drive sector which Porsche
has built over decades. At the turn
of the last century Ferdinand Porsche
was the first automobile engineer
The drivetrain technology is one of
tions of individual components to
to work on the four-wheel drive and
the most decisive technologies of
the complete development of a new
even introduced the drive concept
the modern automotive industry.
drivetrain and its electronic control
into series production. In the 1930s
While a host of significant innova-
systems.
and 1940s Porsche technicians
tions have enhanced the perform-
28
worked on the off-road military
ance of and possibilities for using
The scope of application of vehicle
vehicles such as the VW “Schwimm-
the technologies, the engineering
projects undertaken by Porsche is
wagen” amphibious vehicle and the
demands placed on vehicle and
not limited only to roads, but also
VW “Kommandeurwagen” command
component developers have
covers the development of capable
vehicle, which were developed on
increased constantly. The Drivetrain
all-wheel systems for off-road driv-
the basis of the Volkswagen Beetle.
section makes this accumulated
ing. In 2003 Porsche presented a
The Porsche engineers made refer-
knowledge available for customer
multi-purpose vehicle suitable for
ence to these designs at the end of
projects. The spectrum of orders
off-road use in the form of the
1953 in the development of the
ranges from the technical modifica-
Cayenne, whose technology amazed
Porsche “Jagdwagen” or Hunting Car.
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
Transmitting Power
Drivetrain
was technically feasible in car making at the time.
Porsche has also been a pioneer in
the field of transmission technology
for decades. In 1952, Porsche presented a fully-synchronized transmission with ring synchronization
at the Geneva Motor Show which
was to set the trend for automotive
construction. The synchronous
transmission from Zuffenhausen not
only helped Porsche sports cars
achieve dynamic driving properties;
The Porsche transmission with ring synchronization was to set the trend for automotive construction.
more than a million units were also
built under license for other car
manufacturers until 1968. The
This amphibious all-wheel drive vehi-
fitted with a switchable all-wheel
patented Porsche design was also
cle was created as part of a tender
drive. Porsche tested the drive
used in Formula 1, when Mercedes-
for the German Army and went into
technology of the Porsche 959 in
Benz used synchronous rings of the
small-scale civil production in 1954.
the Porsche 911 Carrera 4x4 used
“System Porsche” for the transmis-
in rallies in 1983 and 1984.
sion of the legendary W 196 racing
Porsche is also a pioneer of all-
Electronically controlled, the all-
car.
wheel technology in motor sports.
wheel system which was fitted as
The Type 360 Cisitalia Grand Prix
standard in the 959 showed what
racing car completed in 1948 was
Another technological highlight was
the Porsche double-clutch transmission (PDC) developed in Weissach.
This first sequential transmission
with two countershafts and doubleclutch was initially tested in a
Porsche Type 956 in 1983. For the
first time the PDC allowed gears to
be changed without a loss of acceleration, and is considered the technical forerunner of future generations of transmission, which can
also be used in series production
thanks to modern control technology.
I
The drive of the Type 360 Cisitalia Grand Prix racing car with an output of 385 bhp (1948).
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
29
Body & Safety
From form to function
Unconventional ways for body concepts
The Auto Union P-Racing car (Type 22) on the Nürburgring in 1936.
Developing the body is an important part of modern car production.
At Porsche, individual concepts are guarantees of success for
developing its own and its customers’ cars.
The special interfacing competence
1930s. The shape of the VW Beetle
attached to the A-pillar for safety
of Porsche Engineering lies in the
came about from the fashion for
reasons.
merging of styling, integration,
streamlining and from the require-
packaging and functionality. As a
ment in the specification to provide
series car manufacturer, Porsche
seats for four people. Unique
also has years of experience in
design elements were engineered
integrating components and sub-
for the individual body areas, which
systems perfectly in the develop-
formed an organic whole together.
ment and production of the com-
Even at that time, construction
plete vehicle.
work was so clean that the Volkswagen had no welded seams that
30
Porsche already exhibited trend-
had to be concealed with solder.
setting engineering thinking during
The VW Beetle was also one of the
the ‘Volkswagen’ project in the
first cars to have the door hinges
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
The targeted speed of the T 80 of more
than 600 km/h necessitated special body
geometry which was based on aircraft construction.
From form to function
Body & Safety
Porsche again exhibited technical
farsightedness with the Auto Union
P-racing car, which was developed
alongside the Volkswagen, and
showed how the technical conception of a vehicle could also have a
positive influence on the external
form. The mid-engine layout of the
racing car did not only ensure an
ideal distribution of weight and
excellent centre of gravity, but also
became a technological model for
First aerodynamic tests were carried out on the Porsche 356 using pasted woolen threads.
generations of motor sports vehicles. The high-speed record-breaking T 80 constructed by Porsche
sparkled with a cd value of
Carrera GT also has excellent safe-
engineers on behalf of Daimler-Benz
just 0.296.
ty potentials.
Powered by a 3,500 bhp aircraft
Innovative concepts and combina-
To achieve the highest possible
engine, the T 80 should have bro-
tions of materials have been a
negative lift coefficients, the
ken the speed record for land vehi-
special element of Porsche`s body
Carrera GT has a floor geometry
cles, but this was prevented by the
development from the very begin-
usually found in racing cars. The
outbreak of war. The seat position
ning. The objective is the synthesis
fully clad underbody made from car-
of the pilot was located between
of maximum light-weight construc-
bon has a rear diffuser and flow
two side rudders that were sup-
tion for the body and components,
ducts that provide an unusually high
posed to provide directional stabili-
and maximum demands on safety
suction effect for road vehicles.
ty. Anhedral side wings generated
and rigidity. The best example is
the necessary down force.
the Porsche Carrera GT. For the
AG was built from 1937 until 1939.
I
first time in a production vehicle
Vehicle aerodynamics and wind
you find a monocoque chassis and
tunnel tests were already a fixed
the super-sports car’s engine mount
part of Porsche`s development
made from carbon-fiber reinforced
work in the 1930s. Ferry Porsche
plastic (CFRP). The material carbon
and Erwin Komenda used the test
creates after complex processing
results obtained before the war
the ideal conditions for combining
when they designed the shape of
superb handling and driving dynam-
the Porsche 356 in 1948. There-
ics with minimal weight. Apart from
fore it was no surprise that the early
ideal performance the Porsche
Apart from the monocoque and engine
mount of the Carrera GT, numerous other
components were made from carbon-fiber
reinforced plastic (CFRP).
coupé version of the Porsche 356
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
31
Production Engineering
From production planning to quality assurance
From designing to the start of production
Leipzig are the result of a production process that has undergone
decades of constant evolution. The
company first moved into the
Zuffenhausen factory in 1938, but
the war forced a relocation to the
Austrian town of Gmünd in Carinthia
in 1944, where a total of 53 Type
356 cars were assembled by hand
up to 1950. Since July of that year
the production of Porsche sports
cars has taken place in ZuffenBuilding the engine for the Porsche 356 in 1953.
hausen. Due to the expansion of
capacity needed for the construc-
The services offered by Porsche Engineering
tion of the Porsche Cayenne, a new
production site was built in Leipzig
range from the initial design sketches to the
in 2000, which meets the very lat-
start of production.
est requirements. Apart from the
high-performance Carrera GT sports
car produced until 2006, the four-
The constantly increasing rate of
over many years has given Porsche
door Panamera sports coupé will
innovation cycles and the accompa-
unique competence in the manage-
roll off the production line there
nying diversity of products and vari-
ment of production, quality and
starting in 2009.
ants are linked with development
logistics. Porsche Engineering
and product launch times becoming
offers this comprehensive know-
shorter and shorter. Through its
how to its customers.
I
Production Engineering area,
32
Porsche Engineering makes the
This area of performance is also
experience it has gathered on the
based on a gamut of experience
production lines in Zuffenhausen
amassed over decades at Porsche.
and Leipzig available to its cus-
For the Porsche Engineering Office
tomers as a management service.
the order to build the Volkswagen
As the most profitable car maker in
contained not only the vehicle-relat-
the world, Porsche AG is consid-
ed development, but also covered
ered the epitome in the planning of
the planning of an independent
production processes and tech-
plant from 1936 on, which exists to
niques for large and small-scale
this day as the main VW plant in
series production. A continuous
Wolfsburg. The production methods
process of improvement to tech-
used in the current Porsche facto-
nologies and processes carried out
ries in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen and
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
A total of 1,270 Porsche Carrera GT high
performance sports cars were produced at
the Leipzig site up to May 2006.
Milestones
Special
Milestones in Customer Development from 1931 – 2006
1931
1933
1934
1937
1939
Under the model
The Type 32
compact car built on
Daimler-Benz AG
designation Type 64
gives the Porsche
and, respectively,
Working on behalf of
behalf of NSU-Werke
The Porsche
Engineering Office
Type 60K10,
Zündapp GmbH, the
features an air-
Engineering Office
the assignment to
Porsche develops a
Porsche Engineering
cooled flat-four fitted
receives the official
build the T 80 World
racing coupé with an
Office develops the
at the rear and uses
assignment from the
Speed Record Car.
aerodynamic alumini-
Type 12 compact
Porsche’s torsion
“Reichsverband der
Powered by a 3500-
um body for the
car with many techni-
bar suspension con-
Deutschen Auto-
bhp aircraft engine,
Berlin-Rome long-
cal features paving
cept.
mobilindustrie”
the T 80 is to break
distance race.
(“Reich Association
the world land speed
sequent Volkswagen
The Auto Union P
of the German
record. But the
Based on the “KdF
Beetle.
Type 22 racing car
Automotive Industry”)
record attempt for
Car”, Porsche builds
powered by a 16-
(RDA) to design and
1939 had to be can-
further models for
Developing torsion
cylinder mid-engine
build the Volks-
celled due to the
military use such as
bar suspension,
is built by Porsche
wagen. The design
War.
the Type 82 VW
Porsche creates a
en-gineers according
and construction
new sus-pension con-
to the rules and reg-
work for the Type 60
The Type 110 small
all-wheel-drive Type
cept destined for
ulations of the new
model, as it is
farming tractor sets
87 “Kommandeur-
successful use over
750-kg Grand Prix
called, is based on
the foundation for
wagen” or “Com-
many decades in
racing formula.
Ferdi-nand Porsche’s
the subsequent
mander’s Car”.
“Study for the
“People’s Tractor”
Construction of a
and the Porsche
German Peo-ple’s
diesel tractor.
the way for the sub-
international automobile production.
“Kübelwagen” or the
Car”.
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
33
Special
Milestones
1942
1947
1952
1954
1955
As part of a tender
from the German
The Type 360 Grand
Army, Porsche devel-
Prix racing car devel-
ops the amphibian
oped on behalf of
Porsche KG receives
all-wheel-drive Type
a major development
597 “Jagdwagen” or
assignment from US
“Hunting Car”. And
car maker Stude-
although the “Jagd-
baker. During this
wagen” is acknowl-
two-year period of
edged to be techni-
cooperation,
cally superior, the
Porsche develops
assignment is award-
Type 542, a modern
ed for market and
four-door saloon
political reasons to
regrettably never to
DKW, the German
drafts. In all, howev-
enter series produc-
manufacturer of cars
er, only two proto-
tion due to a short-
and motorcycles.
types of this tank
age of funds on the
are ever built.
part of Porsche’s US
Porsche KG receives
the assignment to
build the Type 205
“Maus” armoured car
driven by a combined gasoline and
electrical power system and weighing a
total of 189 tonnes
following completion
of the design and
Italian car maker
Cisitalia is far ahead
of its time: Power
comes from a supercharged 1.5-litre
twelve-cylinder and is
transmitted to the
wheels by manually
activated all-wheeldrive.
customer.
34
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
Working on behalf of
Volkswagen AG,
Porsche’s construction engineers develop Type 672, a compact concept car
with rear-wheel drive.
This prototype is
powered by an extraflat six-cylinder
underfloor engine.
Milestones
1959
1960
1961
1971
In summer the
Development Division
Conceived as the
Porsche presents a
complete range of
aircraft engines at
the German
Industrial Fair in
Hanover. Engine output ranges from the
65-bhp Type 678/1
all the way to Type
678/4 developing no
less than 75 bhp
starter output.
potential successor
Following the assign-
to the VW Beetle in
ment in 1958 to
both notchback and
develop a battle
fastback design,
tank, construction of
Type 728 (Develop-
the Type 814
ment Assignment 53)
Leopard tank starts
is completed in
in 1961, with a total
spring 1960 on
of 2,400 units sub-
behalf of Volks-
sequently going to
wagen.
the German Army.
Development of the
Type 807 rescue
tank extends from
1961 to 1966.
complete with the
Construction, Testing, and Design
Departments starts
to move to Porsche’s
Special
1973
Porsche presents
the Longlife Car
Research Project at
the Frankfurt Motor
Show, a concept car
designed for twenty
years of reliable use.
new Development
Centre in Weissach.
In the years to
come, the Weissach
Development Centre
completes not only
numerous design
and construction
concepts for Volkswagen, but also
projects such as a
compact four-cylinder power unit for
Spanish car maker
Seat or a complete
small car for state
Russian car manufacturer AvtoVAZ (Lada).
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
35
Special
Milestones
1975
1977
1979
1981
1982
In cooperation with
The SAVE (Rapid
Airbus Industries,
Ambulant Pre-Clinic
Initial Treatment)
Referred to within
project for the devel-
the Company as
opment of an innova-
Type 995, the con-
tive ambulance sys-
cept of a sports car
The Measuring
set out to design an
Centre for
ergonomic cockpit
Environmental
layout for the Airbus
Protection, the first
passenger aircraft.
self-sufficient
tem is made up of a
On behalf of the
of the future is devel-
rescue vehicle com-
German Federal
oped in 1979 on
plete with a mobile
Ministry of Research
behalf of the German
rescue unit and is
and Technology, the
Federal Ministry of
consistently enh-
Weissach Develop-
Research and Tech-
anced in an ongoing
ment Centre com-
nology. This four-
process and various
pletes the O.R.B.I.T.
door concept car
project phases until
firefighting system.
focuses in particular
1984.
The purpose of this
on fuel economy,
research project is
safety, and noise
After development
to support the fire
emissions.
assignment EA 425
brigade by means of
From 1981 to 1984
test cycles. Test
conducted on behalf
trendsetting techni-
Porsche develops an
series under all kinds
of Volkswagen for a
cal equipment.
entirely new range of
of climatic and alti-
successor to the VW
trucks. This marks
tude conditions can
Porsche 914 is dis-
the beginning of a
be carried out in the
carded, Porsche de-
joint venture lasting
climate pressure
cides to launch this
many years.
chamber.
front-engined sports
car under the name
Porsche 924.
36
engineers in Weissach
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
exhaust emission
Using the flat-six
test centre in the
power unit carried
world, is opened in
over from the
late autumn 1982.
Porsche 911, engi-
Fully computerised,
neers in Weissach
the test stands and
create Porsche air-
dynamometers in
craft engine PFM
Weissach simulate
3200 conceived to
real-life driving condi-
power small aircraft.
tions and thus serve
to reproduce various
Milestones
1983
1984
1987
1988
Special
1990
The Porsche double
clutch transmission
(PDK) developed in
Weissach enables
The Type 2708 rac-
the driver to shift
gears without the
The Weissach
ing car developed
Development Centre
for the US CART
slightest interruption
Porsche develops
is further enhanced
Series is an all-new
of engine power and
the Lada “Samara”
and upgraded by a
construction with an
torque.
on behalf of state
modern crash test
aluminium-plastic
Russian car manufac-
facility with perma-
monocoque body.
The TAG Turbo power
turer AvtoVAZ. This
nently installed con-
The power unit is a
unit developed on
robust compact car
In spring Porsche AG
trol and supervision
750-bhp V8 racing
behalf of British
with front-wheel drive
starts assembly of
technologies. Apart
engine running on
Racing Team McLaren
is conceived parti-
the Mercedes-Benz
from Porsche sports
methanol.
international makes
cularly for the
500 E. Apart from a
cars, models from
its debut in the
demands made by
wide range of devel-
other manufacturers
McLaren MP4
road conditions in
opment activities,
are also tested here
Formula 1 racing
the Soviet Union.
this assignment from
on behalf of various
Mercedes-Benz AG
customers.
includes the con-
car. Output of this
turbocharged 1.5litre V6 is up to
1000 horsepower.
The TAG Turbo made
by Porsche becomes
struction of the
body-in-white as well
as the final assembly
process.
the dominating
power unit in
Formula 1 from
1984 to 1986.
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
37
Special
Milestones
1991
1993
In a joint venture
The 3.5-litre twelve-
Audi and Porsche
cylinder Grand Prix
develop a high-per-
power unit developed
formance sports
by Porsche is sup-
estate, the Audi
plied exclusively to
Avant RS2. Starting
the Footwork Arrows
in October, the Avant
Racing Team in the
RS2 is built in the
1991 Formula 1
Zuffenhausen Plant
season.
parallel to the
Mercedes-Benz
E 500.
1994
2002
On behalf of Adam
Porsche Engineering
Opel AG, Porsche
Group GmbH (PEG), a
Customer
wholly-owned sub-
A highlight in the
Development starts
sidiary of Porsche AG,
joint venture with US
the overall develop-
officially commences
motorcycle manuf-
ment of a compact
its business activities
acturer Harley
van according to a
on August 1st.
Davidson conducted
pre-determined concept.
Porsche AG takes
part in an international presentation at
the Peking World
Trade Centre, together with 19 other
manufacturers. The
C88 family car presented on the occasion is a concept
vehicle developed by
Porsche Engineering
Services especially
for the Chinese market.
38
2001
Porsche Engineering Magazine Special Issue 2006
since 1997 is the
completion of the
Revolution power
unit developed by
Porsche to production standard and
featured since 2002
in the Harley
Davidson V-Rod.
Complete Vehicle · Styling · Body & Safety · Engine · Drivetrain · Chassis · Electrics & Electronics · Testing · Industrial Engineering · Production Engineering
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Porsche Engineering
driving identities
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Publisher
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Group GmbH
Address
Porschestraße
D-71287 Weissach
Germany
Tel. +49 711 911-88888
Fax +49 711 911-88999
Email: [email protected]
Internet: www.porsche-engineering.com
Editor
Dieter Landenberger –
Historical Archive Porsche AG
Catja Wiedenmann
Production
Werking
Werbekonzeption & Realisation,
Bad Sobernheim, Germany
Print
Gulde Druck GmbH, Tübingen, Germany
Porsche Engineering
driving identities