Who owns car brands?

The automotive industry has always suffered from the fact that the relationship between manufacturing companies was very difficult to understand. After the global financial crisis thoroughly crippled it in almost all countries, European and American auto giants began to frantically resell their brands. In this confusion, it became unclear who is now responsible for the famous brands. Let's trace the complex history of relationships between the largest automobile brands.

German Porsche is owned by the Porsche and Piech families - the heirs of the company's founder Ferdinand Porsche and his sister Louise Piech. The family clan owns shares in the company, which give the right to make key decisions, and a small part of preferred shares listed on German stock exchanges. By the way, the cunning family has a very significant influence on the German automobile market. For example, Ferdinand Piech (grandson of Ferdinand Porsche), headed Volkswagen from 1993 to 2002.

In 2009, the family concern acquired its first major foreign shareholder. It was the Qatari emirate, which bought 10% of the holding’s shares. By the way, Volkswagen itself actually belongs to Porsche, and vice versa - since 2009, Volkswagen owns 49.9% of the shares of Porsche AG. Initially, the Volkswagen automaker was state-owned. It was reorganized into a joint stock company only in 1960, and the German federal government and the government of Lower Saxony each received 20% of the shares in its capital.

In addition to its own production, the divisions of the Volkswagen Group currently include: Audi (acquired from Daimler-Benz in 1964), Seat (since 1990, the Volkswagen Group owns 99.99% of the shares), Škoda, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini (the company was acquired subsidiary of Audi in 1998)

Japanese Toyota Motor Corp., whose president is the grandson of the company's founder Akio Toyoda, is 6.29% owned by The Master Trust Bank of Japan, 6.29% by Japan Trustee Services Bank, 5.81% by Toyota Industries Corporation, 9% by treasury shares.

Of all the Japanese automakers, only Toyota can boast of a good “collection” of brands - Lexus, Scion, Daihatsu and Subaru. In addition, Toyota Motor includes truck manufacturer Hino.

Honda's achievement is much more modest. Apart from the premium Acura brand and the motorcycle department, the Japanese have nothing else to boast of.

The Peugeot-Citroen automaker is still 30.3% owned (45.1% of voting shares) by the Peugeot family. Shares are also owned by the concern's employees (2.76%), and there are also treasury shares (3.07%). The remaining shares are in free circulation.

By the way, Peugeot SA acquired a 38.2% stake in Citroën back in 1974, and two years later increased this share to 89.95%. So today, Peugeot almost completely controls the previously independent Citroen.

Another of the world's largest automakers is the Renault-Nissan alliance, which owns brands such as Renault, Dacia, Nissan, Infiniti, and Samsung. In addition, Renault-Nissan has owned 50%+1 share of AvtoVAZ since December 2012, so from now on the Lada brand actually belongs to the French-Japanese alliance.

Over the past 60 years, the Renault concern has gradually emerged from state control. Until 1945, Renault was 100% private. However, during the war, the company's factories were destroyed, and Louis Renault himself was accused of collaborating with the Nazis and convicted. A major entrepreneur died in prison, and his company was successfully nationalized. However, over the years, the government share began to decline. And if in 1996 Renault was more than half state-owned, then in 2005 it already owned only 15.7% of the shares. In 1999, Renault and Nissan entered into perhaps the strongest automotive alliance. Nissan is 44.4% owned by the French manufacturer, and Renault, in turn, gave 15% of the shares to the Japanese.

The fifth largest automobile concern, DaimlerChrysler, is very fond of Arabs. The owner of the top brands Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG and Smart, the Arab investment fund Aabar Investments (9.1%) is the main shareholder; the government of Kuwait owns 7.2% of the shares, and about 2% belongs to the Emirate of Dubai. Next to such brands, it is surprising to see our KAMAZ, a 10% stake in which Daimler acquired in 2008. The German automaker paid $250 million for KAMAZ shares immediately and left $50 million until 2012. As a result of the transaction, Daimler received one seat on the board of directors of KAMAZ. In February of this year, the concern bought another 1% stake in the truck manufacturer.

The Bavarian BMW concern, which in 1959 was virtually single-handedly saved from sale by Herbert Quandt, still depends on his family. In the late 50s, the rival company Daimler-Benz became interested in the unprofitable German brand, but Quandt did not sell it and invested himself. Today, his widow Joanna Quandt and children Stefan and Susanne control 46.6% of BMW shares and live quite well. Stefan Quandt even served as deputy chairman of the company's board for some time. Despite the fact that at various times Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen, Honda and Fiat offered very lucrative deals, Quandt’s heirs refuse to sell because they consider preserving the brand for the family a matter of honor.

In recent years, the Hyundai-Kia alliance has rapidly emerged as one of the leaders in the global automobile industry. Currently, the alliance produces cars under the Hyundai and Kia brands, but in the near future the Koreans plan to create a premium brand. According to unconfirmed information, it will be called Genesis.

Hyundai Motor was “raised from its knees” by one single person - Chung Mong Koo, the eldest son of the founder of the Hyundai industrial group. In the late 90s, he took the quality of cars seriously. In just 6 years, the Korean was able to increase sales in the US market by 360% and take fourth place among imported brands.

Ford Motor is run by William Ford Jr., great-grandson of the famous Henry Ford. Henry Ford himself always dreamed of being the sole owner of the company. In 1919, Henry and his son Edsel bought shares of the company from other shareholders and became the sole owners of their brainchild. There is no doubt that the shares were sold to them without any problems, because the first shareholders were: a coal merchant, his accountant, a banker who trusted the coal merchant, two brothers who had an engine workshop, a carpenter, two lawyers, one clerk , owner of a dry goods store and a man who made wind turbines and air rifles.

Until recently, Ford could boast of two more British brands - Jaguar (in 1989, Ford bought Jaguar for $2.5 billion) and Land Rover (in 2000, it was bought by Ford for $2.75 billion). dollars from BMW). In 2008, both brands were put up for sale due to huge debts. In June 2008, they were bought by the Indian Tata Motors.

Today, in addition to cars with its own name, Ford Motor owns the Lincoln and Mercury brands. Ford also owns a 33.4% stake in Mazda and a 9.4% stake in Kia Motors Corporation.

General Motors, which has long held a leading position in the automobile market, is currently controlled by the state (61% of shares). Its main shareholders are: the Government of Canada (12%), United Auto Workers (17.5%). The remaining 10.5% of the shares were divided among the largest creditors.

The famous automaker still owns the Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac and Opel brands. More recently, he also owned a controlling stake in the Swedish company Saab (50%), but after the crisis, in January 2010 he sold the company to the Dutch sports car manufacturer Spyker Cars.

In the summer of 2008, General Motors decided to sell the Hummer brand, and for almost a year tried to sell it to the Chinese, Russians, and Indians. As a result, the only promising deal with the Chinese Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co fell through, and on May 26, 2010, the last SUV of the brand rolled off the assembly line of the General Motors plant in the American city of Shreveport.

On January 1, 2011, the Fiat Group was divided into two subsidiaries in two sectors: Fiat SpA (passenger transport) and Fiat Industrial (industrial transport).
Among the mergers and acquisitions of recent years, I would like to note the transfer of the Volvo brand to the control of the Chinese Geely and the purchase of the English premium brands Jaguar and Land Rover by the Indian Tata Motor. The most curious thing in this series is the acquisition of the Swedish brand SAAB by the tiny Dutch supercar manufacturer Spyker.

The once powerful British car industry is now nothing but memories. The most famous British car manufacturers have long lost their independence, but even small English firms have passed to foreign owners. The legendary Lotus company is owned by the Malaysian Proton, and MG was bought by the Chinese company SAIC. At the same time, SAIC sold the Korean SsangYong Motor to the Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra. based on materials from hhttp://www.km.ru

How the Porsche concern developed

The first 15 years of formation

The company was founded in 1931 by the famous designer F. Porsche; initially it specialized in auto design. In 1936, the Auto-Union organization received an order for the production of the Type 22 racing car. After it brought success to the company, they began to develop the first versions of the Volkswagen Beetle, which was destined to become the people's car of all times, although at that time its working name was was Type 60.

A year later, the German government announced that they needed a racing car that would participate and, if possible, win the Berlin-Rome race, which took place in the fall of 1939. That is why the option proposed by Porsche was approved by the National Sports Committee, after which the company began work on its creation in earnest.

For these purposes, the KdF platform was taken (as the “Beetle” was called until 1945); it was on it that three variations of the Type 60 K10 were based, equipped with a motor whose power was increased from 24 to 50 hp. strength However, the war did not allow the creators to present it to the public.

Time from forties to seventies

During World War II, Porsche produced guns, tanks, amphibians and military vehicles for state orders.

In 1948, the first car under the Porsche brand was released - a sports compact 356, which had an aerodynamic coupe body and a reinforced engine from Volkswagen. 7 days after the car left the assembly line, it won a car race. The production 356 models had a rear-engine design, were produced for 17 years, and later became the platform for Carrera cars.

After the Porsche 356 showed excellent parameters and demonstrated its advantages in 1951, work began on the production of a sports car. A couple of years later, the 550 Spyder became such a car. This car has won various competitions many times. And after the 550 became the winner of the Carrera Panamericana race, held in Mexico in 1953, the company's fastest models began to be called only that.

In 1954, the first Spyder was produced, which had a soft top and a straight windshield.

A year later, the first Porsche Carrera debuted, equipped with an engine developed from start to finish by the company's specialists. The same power unit was also supplied to the 550 model. After these actions, Porsche cars were swept by a wave of popularity.

In 1956, the 356A model was released, which was essentially a modernized variation of No. 356, and the 550A was added to the sports line.

In 1958, a completely new racing car, the Porsche 718, was introduced to the public. In the same year, Spiders were discontinued and replaced by the 356D with increased power.

Two years later, the last car in the 550 series was produced - the Porsche 718/RS. At the same time, closed work was underway on a joint project between Porsche and the company from Italy “Abarth”.

Speaking about production cars, it must be emphasized that the most high-tech model of that time was the Porsche 356B, which can be immediately identified by its enlarged bumper with large protruding parts located vertically. It was produced in three versions, the most powerful of which is considered “Super 90”.

The 356 GS Carrera performed quite successfully in the 1961 Gran Turismo car racing. At the same time, the fastest variation of this line of cars was produced, which became the last - Carrera 2.

A couple of years later, after another modernization, the 356C was produced.

For almost fifteen years, the 356 series was considered the most prestigious sports car on a global scale. But over time, they began to lag behind the ever-growing demands of the automotive industry. The management decided that a new product was needed that would meet the requirements of those years. And it became a masterpiece car, known throughout the world today - the Porsche 911. Not only Ferdinand, but also his son participated in the production of this car. The new product was demonstrated to car enthusiasts in 1963.

Changes have also been made in the sports field. The 356 Carrera and RS Spyder gave way to the 904 GTS, which had the looks of a racing car. The same elements were used in 1966 in the Porsche 906. Then this car became the base in the line of cars (917, 908 and 907), which in the late sixties brought the company many victories in various competitions, and were also considered trendsetters in reliability and excellent style .

In 1965, a less expensive Porsche 912 was produced, equipped with a four-cylinder Super 90 engine.

A couple of years later, sales of the Porsche 911 Targa began. It was possible to buy a Targa in a coupe body (the brand name had the index T), luxury variations marked E and S models, made for America, to whose car markets Porsche began supplying cars again after a year-long break.

Cars from the 70s - 90s

In 1975, the Porsche 924 was released, at that time it was considered the most economical sports car.

A couple of years later, the 928 was produced, equipped with an 8-cylinder 240-horsepower engine, and received the title of “Car of 1978.” in European countries.

1979 was the year of release of the 928S, equipped with a 300-horsepower engine. Its maximum speed was 250 km/h, which was twenty km/h more than the maximum mark of the 924th car.

In 1981, an improved model of the 924 was produced - the Porsche 944, its power was 220 hp. strength, he could accelerate to 250 km/h.

In 1984, the 959 model debuted in Frankfurt. In its production, all the best developments of the company's engineers and technical innovations were used; it was the most modern Porsche sports car.

In the eighties, the number of prototypes was replenished with cars 962, 956, 936, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans competition more than once; the 959th car dominated the Paris-Dakar races.

In 1988, the Porsche 944 S2 Cabrio was produced, which not only diversified the model range, but also caused a new wave of demand for the company's cars.

Around the same time, the Porsche 911 Spyder saw the light of day. It took almost 30 years to revive this name. In 1991, a turbocharged version of this model was presented to the public.

A year later, the car lineup was replenished with the Porsche 968, in which the engine was located in the front. This machine replaced the 944 line, whose production was discontinued.

Modern cars of the concern

In 1993, a new generation of 911 cars debuted - model 993, and a couple of years later they began production of a car equipped with a boxer 408-horsepower turbo engine. At the same time, production of 968 and 928 was discontinued, which never gained the desired popularity.

The same year, 1995, brought the public the extraordinary Porsche 911 Targa, which had a glass roof that was retracted under the rear glass thanks to an electric drive.

In 1996, to consolidate its post-crisis position in the segment of inexpensive sports cars, the Boxster model was produced. Its special feature is a soft, automatically folding roof. However, you can buy a car with a familiar, fixed roof. This car is recognized as a less expensive alternative to the famous 911 car.

In the summer of 1996, the millionth car rolled off the assembly line; it was the 911 Carrera, manufactured for the needs of police officers.

If we touch on the sphere of Porsche's experimental projects, the so-called concept cars, then it should be noted that there were only three of them. In 1989, it became the Porsche Panamericana, which has a body similar to the Targa design, which was used in the development of the current 911 cars. In 1993, the Boxster was produced, which gave rise to the development of serial variations, and a year later - the C88, which was originally conceived as a people's model for China.

In 1999, the GT3 was produced with the body of the 996 model, it replaced the RS. At the moment, this particular car is the leader in various club rallies and road model tournaments. The GT3's performance is virtually equal to the turbo's famous 4.8 seconds.

In 2000, a turbo version was released, made on the 996 platform. It is equipped with a 420-horsepower engine, and the car reaches the first hundred kilometers in 4.2 seconds! Such indicators directly indicate membership in the supercar caste.

One of the latest innovations is the Carrera GT, a prototype similar to the 959 model. Its alloy 10-cylinder engine reaches 100 km/h in 4 seconds and 200 km/h in 10 seconds.

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is a German manufacturer of premium sports cars, sedans and SUVs, founded by the legendary designer Ferdinand Porsche. Part of the Volkswagen Group. The headquarters is located in Stuttgart.

The founder of the company, Ferdinand Porsche, was born on September 3, 1875 in the town of Maffersdorf, Bohemia, in the family of the owner of a repair shop. He was the third child in the family, and after the death of his eldest son he became the heir to his father’s business. From the age of 15, Ferdinand worked in a workshop, and after graduating from primary school he went to a technical school.

In 1898, a young engineer received an order to design an electric car and in a few weeks created a sample - a fast and compact electric car that could accelerate to 40 km/h. The only drawback of the car was its heavy weight, because the capacious lead batteries were very heavy. Having presented the prototype to the owner of the company Jacob Lohner, Porsche immediately received the position of chief designer and began work on his first car - the Lohner-Porsche Electric Car.

In 1898, Porsche transferred to Austro-Daimler. Under his leadership, legendary models were born: Sascha, ADM, Prinz-Heinrich and ADR. During the First World War, he designed engines for airplanes and airships, as well as cars with a hybrid powertrain. For innovative developments he receives the title of Emeritus Professor of the Vienna Technical University and the Cross of Merit.

In 1923, Ferdinand began working at Daimler-Benz AG, where he led the creation of sports cars such as the S and SS. In the 1930s, he visited Russia, where he became acquainted with the work of aircraft and tank factories. Here he receives an offer to move with his design bureau to the USSR to work in the automotive, aviation and tank industries. Porsche refuses and returns to Germany, where during World War II the Nazis extort information from him about the equipment and technologies used by the Russians in the military industry.

In 1932, Ferdinand Porsche invented the torsion bar suspension, which was subsequently used by all automakers. After returning from the USSR, he became the chief designer of Auto-Union and developed the Type 22 racing car for the company. His next work was the famous “people's car” Volkswagen Beetle.

Before the outbreak of the First World War, Porsche managed to create the first car - the Porsche 64, which would become the progenitor of all models of the brand. It was distinguished by a streamlined body shape that looked completely different from the usual cars of those times. Under the hood was a 100-horsepower air-cooled boxer engine, which allowed the car to accelerate to 160 km/h. A total of three copies of the model were made.

Porsche 64 (1939)

During World War II, Porsche produced jeeps, amphibians, and military vehicles. Ferdinand Porsche takes part in the design of the Tiger and Panther tanks, as well as the Ferdinand self-propelled guns. For his participation in Nazi war projects, he was arrested in December 1945 and imprisoned for 20 months. At this time, Fenny Porsche, his son, began developing the brand.

Together with a team of engineers, Porsche Jr. assembles the first production model of the brand - 356. Most of the parts, including a 1.1-liter 35-horsepower engine, suspension and gearbox, were borrowed by the designers from the Beetle. The body was designed by the same person who designed the body of the Volkswagen Beetle - Erwin Komenda. This model became the basis for the creation of the Carrera and was produced until 1965.

Porsche 356 (1948-1965)

Since 1950, the company is again based in Stuttgart, and a year later its founder, Ferdinand Porsche, dies.

Now only steel is used to make body panels. The company is gradually abandoning Volkswagen engines, which are being replaced by power units of its own design. Thus, the 356A series was equipped with an engine with four camshafts and two ignition coils. Later, the B series came out with a more powerful engine and disc brakes on all wheels, and then the C series with a number of improvements.

In 1951, the Porsche 550 Spyder sports car appeared, which repeatedly won races. In 1954, a modification of the model with a soft top and a straight windshield was released.

The Porsche 356 was a very popular car and for 15 years it held the title of one of the most prestigious in the world. However, time flew, and the market needed to offer something completely new, but no less impressive. In 1963, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the company presented the 911 model, developed under the leadership of Ferry Porsche. The original model name, 901, was changed to 911 to avoid litigation with Peugeot, which reserved the name for itself. This did not affect the success of the car in any way; it soon became a cult car.

Initially, the 911 was equipped with a 2-liter engine producing 130 hp, which was mated to a five-speed manual transmission. In 1964, a sports version of the Porsche 911 Carrera appeared with an engine equipped with a water cooling system. Since 1966, the Targa modification has been produced with a characteristic open body, including a glass roof.

Porsche 911 (1963)

In 1965, Porsche introduced the four-cylinder 912. Compared to the six-cylinder 911, it was cheaper and therefore quickly gained popularity. At the end of the 60s, this model was replaced by the 914, developed jointly with Volkswagen. The car was offered in two versions: with 4 and 6 cylinders, with the 914/6 selling rather poorly, while the cheaper 914/4 became Porsche's best seller.

In 1972, the company ceased to be just a family business and received public status. The Porsche family lost control of business management, and Ernst Fuhrmann became the head of the brand. He decided during the 70s to replace the 911 with the large rear-wheel drive 928 sports car with a front-mounted V8 engine. However, as we can see, the 911 outlived the 928. In the early 1980s, Fuhrmann was replaced by Peter W. Schutz, an ardent 911 fan.

In 1976, the 914 was replaced by the 924, also developed together with Volkswagen. The German auto giant invited Porsche to develop an affordable sports car, which was to be equipped with an Audi transmission. However, as a result of the oil crisis, management began to doubt the need to release the model. Then Porsche bought the project from Volkswagen.

The 924 was distinguished by its appearance in keeping with the spirit of the times, a classic layout, almost ideal weight distribution and economical four-cylinder engines with an air-cooling system. Three years after the start of sales, the car received a turbocharged version.

Porsche 924 (1976-1988)

After Peter Schutz was appointed to the position of head of the company, the Porsche 911 again becomes a favorite of the brand. In 1982, an open-top version appeared, in 1983 - a 911 Carrera with a 231-horsepower engine.

In 1980, the Porsche 959 debuts with a 2.8-liter six-cylinder engine with two turbochargers, developing 450 hp. The body parts were made of Kevlar, the computer controlled the operation of four shock absorbers, the amount of ground clearance, and also distributed torque between the axles.

In 1990, Porsche signed an agreement with Toyota to provide training in lean manufacturing methods. Since 2004, the Japanese company has helped Porsche develop hybrid technologies.

In 1993, the premiere of the new generation of the 911 model took place, which received a new powerful engine of 272 hp, a rear multi-link suspension and a unique body shape.

In 1996, the two-seater Boxster roadster debuted, which, unlike other models, was originally conceived with an open top. Its water-cooled engine developed 204 hp. and was located in front of the rear axle.

A year later, the new 911, similar to the Boxster, was released, which later received a version with a convertible top controlled by a hydraulic drive.

In 2002, a completely unexpected but very impressive new product was introduced - the Cayenne SUV, which became one of the most popular models of the brand all over the world, including in Russia. The model was developed with the participation of specialists from the Volkswagen concern. A completely new platform was created for it, providing for a longitudinal engine arrangement, a body with subframes and completely independent suspension on all wheels. The Volkswagen concern has released its version of the model - Touareg.

The Cayenne has become the brand's bestseller thanks to its reliable suspension, good handling and excellent off-road characteristics. The younger brother of the Cayenne, the compact crossover Porsche Macan, was presented in 2013 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The brand was inspired to create it by the success of its first SUV.

Porsche Cayenne (2002)

The history of the brand in Russia began in 2001, when the company ZAO Sportcar-Center sold the first Porsche car, the 911 Carrera. Russian buyers quickly fell in love with the German brand, and its sales in Russia, despite the changing economic situation, show stable growth.

Now the Porsche brand is improving its model range, which is the most diverse compared to other sports car manufacturers. Among other things, the automaker has released several hybrid versions of its cars and, according to management, will continue to work in this direction. Continuing the legacy of its founder, Porsche remains a leader in many areas of the automotive industry, remaining a cult brand for an entire army of fans.

The Porsche company cannot boast of considerable age. It was formed much later than many of its “compatriots”, such as Audi or Mercedes.

Ferdinand Porsche opened a design bureau only in 1931. The design bureau was directly related to vehicles, but was not involved in their production.

The founder of the famous company was born in 1875. As a teenager, he began helping his father in his repair shop. Ferdinand did not become a tinsmith like his father. He was interested in technology since childhood. As a young man, he built a generator. From that time on, electric lighting appeared in the house - a wonder of which there were only two in the entire city. And one is in the house of the Porsche family.

After completing his studies, young Porsche began working at Bela Egger & Co. The electric company was located in Vienna. The talent did not go unnoticed: from a simple worker in a short period of time, Ferdinand “grew” to the position of head of the testing chamber.

At the age of 22, Porsche changed his employer and began working in the royal carriage manufactories. Here he developed a hub motor. At an exhibition in Paris (1900), the engine created a real sensation. And the inventor received enormous fame.

Before opening his own Design Bureau, Ferdinand managed to work in various companies, including Austro-Daimler and Daimler-Benz.

The Type 22, a racing car, was developed in the bureau at the request of Auto-Union in 1936. And then Porsche received Hitler’s order to develop a “people’s car.” The task was completed perfectly. “Beetles” (the official name is “Volkswagen”) have been traveling on the roads of different countries and continents for many years, but not in the numbers expected when they were created.

Porsche sports cars

Ferdinand Porsche received an order for the first sports car in 1937. The Third Reich needed the car for unconditional victory in the marathon planned in two years. The German leadership longed for victories, self-affirmation and recognition by other peoples of Aryan exclusivity, especially since the marathon was to begin in Berlin.

The National Sports Committee provided Porsche with great support in its work on the racing car.

The same “Beetle” was taken as a basis. The standard engine with twenty-four “horses” was removed from the “People’s Car” and installed with fifty. Perhaps the car would have won, having arrived first in Rome, where the marathon was supposed to end. But he never managed to get to the start. The Nazis themselves, once again, prevented the implementation of their own plans.

Long years of war were devoted to the creation of special equipment: heavy tanks, amphibians, self-propelled guns. Among the government orders were off-road vehicles intended for staff workers. To be fair, it is worth saying that the development of military equipment was not Ferdinand Porsche’s strong point.

Another Porsche, Ferry, returned to creating sports cars in 1948. Ferdinand Sr., after leaving the French prison, where the professor was accused by the Ministry of Justice of France - one of the victorious countries, could no longer independently deal with the affairs of the bureau. He passed on everything he could to his son, and he limited himself to the position of consultant.

Then a very small Porsche 356 was assembled. In essence, it was a streamlined coupe with a souped-up Volkswagen engine. Luck “smiled” on the new product, allowing it to “show itself” almost immediately after getting on its wheels. Victory in the first races went to the 356th. This car went into production with a rear engine. It was produced in this form until 1965, and then the Carrera model was created on its basis. Porsche's father never knew about this: he died in January 1951.

In the same 51st Porsche Jr. began creating another sports car. Development ended by 1953, and the “purely sporty” Porsche 550 was born. He was given the “name” “Spudder”.

The Porsche Spudder won a lot of victories in various races. After another triumph in Mexico at the prestigious Carrera Panamecana race (1953), it was decided to “assign” the name “Spider” to the fastest cars of the company. The following year, the next Spudder received a soft top and a directly positioned windshield.

For the Porsche Carrera, the company's specialists created their own engine. This event dates back to 1955. A similar unit was installed on the Porsche 550, which allowed the latter to continue to win victories in racing competitions. And the creators of the new “machine heart” became famous.

The last version of the famous 550 was released in 1960. Its “name” was “718/RS”. A year later, the production of another legendary car, the Porsche Carrera 2, was completed.

New times - new requirements

The automotive industry was developing rapidly. The former high-speed cars became obsolete. Time required more and more new technical solutions.

Another representative of the family appeared at the Porsche company - the grandson of the creator - Ferdinand Alexander. He was directly involved in the world-famous Porsche 911.

The first appearance of the “Nine Hundred and Eleven” took place at the Frankfurt Motor Show in ’63. Four years later, anyone could become the happy owner of three modifications of the Porsche 911 Targa. The most “modest” option was designated with the letter “T”. The luxury model is “marked” with the letter “E”. And especially for representatives of the United States of America, whose markets were inaccessible to the Germans for some time, they developed a model with the designation “S”.

The two-door, four-seater coupe was so successful that it was produced for many, many years, periodically modernizing it and bringing it closer to the requirements of the time.

In the sixties, several racing car models were created. The first was the 904 GTS. It was followed by "906" - "908", "917". All models were united by exceptional reliability and excellent style.

The title of the most economical sports car in the world was awarded to the Porsche 924 (born 1975). The “younger” Porsche 928 (born in 1977) was also given the title. In the vastness of the Old World, an eight-cylinder with 240 “horses”, it was recognized as the “Car of 1978”.

With each subsequent development, Porsche cars became more environmentally friendly, more reliable, more powerful and faster. Maximum speeds significantly exceeded two hundred kilometers per hour. It is not surprising that such cars (“956”, “959”, “962”) still often “took prizes” at various competitions.

Return of Spider

For three decades, the name “Spider” was not mentioned in the names of models. They “remembered” him only at the very end of the 80s and never forgot about him.

Modern Spiders, for example, are represented by the Porsche 918 supercar. The development of German engineers in 2013 is presented in two versions: standard and lightweight.

The squat car (only 1,167 meters high) has incredible power - 887 hp. Similar indicators are provided by three engines: one internal combustion and two electric, located on the axles of the car. At the front (on the front axle) there is a 95 kW electric motor, and on the rear axle there is a more powerful 115 kW motor.

Only with electric motors can a car travel at a speed of 150 km/h. True, you can travel no more than thirty kilometers without refueling. Complete restoration of electrical forces occurs in three hours. The car's developers offer an additional charger that allows you to “saturate” the batteries in just 30 minutes. You can buy such a charger for 20 thousand euros (almost a million Russian rubles).

In general, the 918 Spyder can cover a distance of 345 km in a maximum hour.

As for the estimated acceleration, the Porsche 918 reaches hundreds in less than 3 seconds. It will take him about 7.3 seconds to accelerate to two hundred km/h. After 20.9 seconds, the car will be racing one and a half times faster.

The most interesting thing is that with super power and the same speed, Proshe-918 “eats” very little. The Germans claim that per hundred you need only 3.0 liters of high-quality fuel. The news is absolutely incredible!

The car comes with a 4-year warranty (electric batteries are longer - 7 years).

Amazingly beautiful two-seater roadster

Porsche 918 Spyder, according to manufacturers, will be released in limited quantities - 918 units. And this despite the fact that already in 2012 a much larger number of applications for its acquisition were submitted.

The initial cost of a modern Spider is slightly less than 770 thousand euros. But this does not seem to stop those who want to get a supercar.

For Russian buyers, the price is much higher - 991.3 thousand euros (the cost of the basic configuration). It’s incredible, but even for such “mad” money (991,300 x 49.0 (exchange rate in May 2014) = 48.6 million rubles) our compatriots are ready to purchase an extremely environmentally friendly hybrid sports car.