Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (Porsche AG)
Porsche Top 5 Τα πιο αγαπημένα του δόκτορα Wolfgang Porsche’
Σήμερα, στα 75ά του γενέθλια, ο Dr. Wolfgang Porsche μιλά επί προσωπικού, για τα πιο αγαπημένα του μοντέλα.
About Wolfgang Porsche
In a 2018 interview for his 75th birthday, Wolfgang Porsche discussed his favorite Porsche models. He stated that while success cannot be planned, the 911 has proven itself over 50 years through continuous development. He also remarked that it is important not to constantly change cars, noting that while the 911’s form is altered, the changes are often invisible and the basic shape remains the same. Porsche commented on newer models, expressing enthusiasm for the Panamera Hybrid plug-in, which he linked to his grandfather’s early hybrid technology. He described an older Carrera model as a "wolf in sheep's clothing" due to its sporty nature and understated appearance.
Transcript (12 segments)
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Wolfgang Porsche0:20
A warm welcome to Top Five. We're here at my home in Zell am See, and I'd be happy to show you my vehicles.
The 911 was the successor to the 356, and all the die-hard fans who had driven the 356 said, 'Terrible, what is this, a new car? That can't be.' I believe you can't plan success, but the 911 has proven itself over 50 years and has been continuously developed. The die-hard critics got quieter. There are many who preferred a new one after the 356.
My brother Ferdinand Alexander designed it and always advocated for a purist design. He always said there shouldn't be too much ornamentation in the cars. Green was my father's favorite color — he had almost all his cars in green. The 993 Carrera is one of the last air-cooled engines, and that's why it has such a great sound. It's an incredibly wonderful car. I loved driving it near the Großglockner — I don't need a motorway for that, just the curves and the road handling. The car is simply fantastic.
This is the Carrera GT with the bucket seats — it's a proper racing sports car with plenty of power. Whenever the word 'Carrera' is there, it means something particularly sporty and fast, and this Carrera GT has 612 horsepower. This engine was built for motorsport.
I find both the rear and the front appealing. The front has that distinctive look with the lamps drawing the eye inward. Otherwise, it's a beautiful sports car. The gear knob in the Carrera GT is made of wood — I think that's quite nice.
This vehicle was unveiled early in the morning on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Ferruccio Lamborghini drove this car and was quite enthusiastic about it.
Now I've chosen something very special — a relatively new vehicle, the Panamera Hybrid plug-in with 550 combustion horsepower and about 130 electric. The color 'Chalk' is perhaps a bit daring, especially the very light interior. The vehicle looks almost like the Stone Grey of the Rennwagen Roadster. The front again has a Porsche-like form with the lamps slightly raised. The ignition key is on the left, as with all 911s — these are the things that make a Porsche. My father would have certainly liked this vehicle because he always said the newest vehicle is always the best.
That was always his thing — whenever I collected an old car, his response was, 'Why do you have such an old car? The newer one is always the better one.' For me, the Panamera Hybrid was actually a continuation of the Porsche story. After all, over 100 years ago my grandfather built the first hybrid, the Lohner wheel-hub motor, which also had a combustion engine with electric drive in the wheel hubs. So this is really a continuation of that old theme. I prefer to sit at the steering wheel because I know I'm a bad passenger.
This vehicle is an American roadster, built in 1952, designed exclusively for the US market, with a small auxiliary roof in case it ever rained. Since it rarely rains in Southern California, you could always drive without it. The door opens that way so you can drive up to the curb elegantly — it was just stylish back then.
Despite that, this vehicle has a stone grey color, 70 horsepower, and is a four-cylinder. But it's a real sports car from the fifties — an aluminum lightweight body weighing just 600 kilos, a real lightweight compared to today's cars.
Inside this car is a true sports car. 'Carrera' means it's a very sporty vehicle from this model line. It has 130 horsepower and is, in my eyes, a wolf in sheep's clothing because you can't tell. The only way to recognize it is by the low-slung exhaust and the tailpipe. That's why this vehicle is called 'the pregnant cat.' It has a wonderful sound — the exhaust is simply great, the performance is good. The steering wheel is a needle-spoke wooden wheel, much thinner than today's. That's why you need driving gloves to grip it properly. This is one of my favorites — the sporty form, the raised front lamps, and the flat nose. That has remained the hallmark element of the 911.
I believe the important thing is not to constantly change the cars entirely. When you look at the model range and the evolution of the 911, things do get changed, much of it invisible, but the basic form remains as it always was.