“With our Style Porsche design process, we ensure that a Porsche 911 evolves in terms of its appearance, while remaining recognizably a 911. At Porsche we use two concepts to achieve this: brand identity and product identity. Brand identity means that a Porsche has to be recognizable as a Porsche at first glance and product identity means that it is immediately apparent which Porsche it is. The design DNA of our products is our most important asset – which is precisely why we are constantly questioning and developing it.”

Integral to the Porsche design DNA in the case of the 911 are elements like the steeply rear-sloping roof line, the flat, stretched silhouette, exciting surfaces, the air intake instead of a radiator grille, a downward tapering rear window, pronounced shoulders, the visible tailpipes, and of course the ignition, which has always been on the left of the steering wheel in a Porsche. What Porsche is demonstrating yet again with the 911 Carrera is that outstanding design quality is more than just look and feel and functionality – the design’s unmistakable identity makes it the ambassador of the sports car brand.

Additionally, this prize pays tribute to the life’s work and achievements of Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, who died in Salzburg on 5 April 2012 at the age of 76. As the creator of the Porsche 911, he established a design culture at Porsche that has shaped the Stuttgart sports cars to this very day. His philosophy of good design is an important legacy that the company will continue to honor for all time. His credo was: “A coherently designed product needs no adornment; it should be enhanced by its form alone. Good design should be honest.” Porsche designers profess this conviction to this very day.

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“Behind these extremely gratifying figures is a clearly defined line: we focus systematically on solid, sustainable and high-quality growth,” said Matthias Müller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Porsche AG. “The youngest and most efficient model range of all time gives us an outstanding platform on which to sustain this course throughout 2012,” Müller said.

It should come as no surprise that sales of the new 911 increased by 37.6% considering the 997 model was on the way out and folks were waiting for the 991.

Porsche’s Ambitious Goals for 2018

Porsche has set itself ambitious business targets with “Strategy 2018”: with an operating return on sales of at least 15 per cent and a return on capital of at least 21 per cent the aim is for the company to remain one of the world’s most profitable car manufacturers. Porsche thrills its customers with unique products and an outstanding purchase and ownership experience. Moreover, the sports car manufacturer is a much sought-after international employer and a fair and reliable partner for all stakeholders. The intention is to boost sales to approximately 200,000 vehicles by 2018. To that end, Porsche is investing in rejuvenating and expanding the entire model range. In 2011, the new edition of the Porsche 911 got the process underway. This will be followed in 2012 with the all-new Boxster and by the new Cayman. The introduction of the Macan urban SUV, to be built in the Leipzig plant, is to provide additional impetus from 2014 onwards.

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“April 2012 sales resulted in a record April for PCNA and shows the momentum building for our new, seventh-generation 911,” said President and CEO, Detlev von Platen. “We are thrilled with the overall progress as we only sold the first new 911 Carrera Cabriolets in April and are looking forward to our highly anticipated third-generation Boxster arriving in Porsche dealerships the beginning of July.”

With 1090 sales of the new 911, the evergreen sports car showed a 69 percent increase over April 2011. Panamera sales were up 45 percent with 868 cars sold. Porsche sold 1,376 Cayenne models, a decrease of 13% over the same period last year.

For the month of April 2012, Porsche’s Approved Certified Pre-Owned vehicle sales were 791, compared to 779 last year – a 1.5 percent increase. Year-to-date, Porsche’s CPO sales are up 9.1 percent (3,174 vs. 2,907).

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[Source: Porsche}

Candidates for the World Performance Car award must demonstrate a specific and overt sports/performance orientation while satisfying the same availability criteria as for the overall World Car of the Year award. Candidates may be chosen from the World Car of the Year list of eligible vehicles, or they may be newly introduced variants that satisfy the same criteria, but are derived from existing rather than brand-new models. In all cases, they must have a minimum annual production rate of five-hundred (500) vehicles.

This is the sixth out of seven times that Porsche has made it to the top three position in the World Performance Car category and this time round makes it Porsche’s fourth consecutive time. The Porsche Cayman S had the honor of winning the inaugural award in 2006.

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The awards are based on data collected by Kelley Blue Book in their Brand WatchTM study hosted on kbb.com. Using data from more than 12,000 shoppers, the Brand Watch study analyzes brand perceptions held by new car shoppers and the factors that influence their decision to buy.

“We hold these awards in high esteem,” said Detlev von Platen, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “Since they are based solely on consumer perspectives and backed by a trusted source like Kelley Blue Book, receiving not only one, but two 2012 Brand Image Awards is one of the most rewarding ways to receive brand accolades and recognition.”

This isn’t the first dance for Porsche

Kelly Blue Book has given these awards for five years now and this is the second time that Porsche has won the Coolest Brand and Best Performance Brand categories (they last won in 2010, the same year Porsche was also voted as the luxury brand with the Best Exterior Design).

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March 2012 Sales Figures for Porsche Cars North America

“We are pleased with our March results, even though they are down slightly from last year, because we are in the midst of the launch of two all-new model lines,” said President and CEO, Detlev von Platen. “The new 911 Coupe just went on sale in February and the Cabriolet will be in our dealers’ showrooms this month – and we are debuting the all-new Boxster this week at the New York Auto Show. We are keeping up with last year’s pace, even as our dealer inventories are extremely low due to these model line changes.”

Cayenne sales continue to show strength with a 20% increase over last year to 1,255 deliveries. Panamera sales were nearly exactly the same as last year at 653 cars.

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Almost every week we get requests from readers, both private sellers and dealers, looking for help in spreading the word about a Porsche they have for sale. Starting today, we can help! We’ve created a new category on our site called FEATURED PORSCHE FOR SALE.

Even better, we’ll soon be launching a re-design of PorschePurist.com that prominently showcases these featured offerings on our front page. This means if you’re selling your Porsche, and we list it for you, it will be seen by more than 50,000 pairs of Porsche loving eyeballs each month (and that doesn’t even include the thousands and thousands that receive our newsletter a couple times per week).

Please take a look at our very first Featured Porsche for Sale a 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

This new section will start out as a monthly installment where we’ll feature one Porsche from either a reader or sponsor. Each listing will provide details, pictures and pricing on that particular car. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS SERVICE! It’s available free to all of our readers and sponsors. Simply send us a note using our contact form that you would like your Porsche featured and we’ll get back to you with details on what we need in order to move forward. It’s that simple.

“We are extremely pleased with our February results, although we are still in the initial stage of launching the new-generation 911 and are awaiting the arrival of the all-new Boxster, which has its world premiere at next week’s Geneva Motor Show,” said President and CEO, Detlev von Platen. “We are confident that we can turn up our sales momentum a notch or two in the coming months.”

Porsche’s 911 sales numbers increased more than 111 percent to 858 units vs. 405 a year ago. While the Panamera’s increase wasn’t as impressive, 16.6% is nothing to sneeze at. Porsche delivered 511 four dour units as compared to 442 last year.

What might come as a surprise to some and not so much to those looking for one, sales of the Porsche Cayenne dropped nearly 30% to 659 units vs. 936 in February of last year. The drop in sales is being blamed on “limited supply and low dealer inventory”. What’s not explained is why this is the case; that’s a story for another post…

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Upon arrival in Germany, guests are provided with complimentary transportation from the airport to either Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, where the iconic 911, Boxster and Cayman sports cars are manufactured, or to Leipzig where the Cayenne SUV and Panamera Sport Sedans are produced. The customer can choose either location, regardless of the model purchased.

Both locations offer a factory tour, allowing guests to see first-hand how a Porsche automobile is created. For owners that choose Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, entry into the Porsche Museum is provided, where more than a half-century of Porsche sports and race car evolution is on display. Owners that choose the Leipzig factory will have the opportunity to drive a number of different Porsche models on the Test Track or test the capabilities of a Cayenne SUV off-road.

Upon arrival at the factory, owners are presented with the keys to their new Porsche, after a thorough presentation of their vehicle by a trained expert in an exclusive setting. Special photographic opportunities exist using either the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart or the “Porsche Diamond,” the main building at Leipzig, as a backdrop.

Guests are then able enjoy their new factory-fresh Porsche on the winding roads and autobahns of the region. The program allows guests to tour Europe, or stay in Germany for up to two weeks to explore the cities and countryside that inspired Porsche’s unique design and exhilarating performance.

The comprehensive program, which started February 1st, 2012, includes factory delivery and all associated activities including temporary insurance, registration and winter tire usage if needed. Shipment to the U.S. is included and can be handled by either factory. Further information is available at any authorized Porsche Dealer or online at www.porsche.com/usa.

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