The word “iconic” is often overused. In this instance it fits to describe both the man and his designs. F.A Porsche’s design of the 911 is both uniquely recognizable and coveted the world over. His memory will lives on in my 911 and those of others all over the world. Rest in Peace.

Full details and the official Porsche press release are below.

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April 5, 2012 – Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is mourning Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. The Honorary President of the Supervisory Board died on April 5, 2012 in Salzburg, aged 76.

Matthias Müller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Porsche AG, paid tribute to Ferdinand Alexander Porsche’s services to the sports car manufacturer: “We mourn the death of our partner, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. As the creator of the Porsche 911, he established a design culture in our company that has shaped our sports cars to this very day. His philosophy of good design is a legacy to us that we will honor for all time.”

Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was born in Stuttgart on 11 December 1935, the oldest son of Dorothea and Ferry Porsche. Even his childhood was shaped by cars, and he spent much of his time in the engineering offices and development workshops of his grandfather Ferdinand Porsche. In 1943 the family accompanied the Porsche company’s move to Austria, where he went to school in Zell am See. After returning to Stuttgart in 1950, he attended the private Waldorf school. After leaving school, he enrolled at the prestigious Ulm School of Design.

In 1958, F.A. Porsche, as he was known by his colleagues, joined the engineering office of what was then Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG. He soon proved his great talent for design by sculpting the first model of a successor to the 356 model line out of plastic. In 1962 he took over as head of the Porsche design studio, creating a worldwide furor one year later with the Porsche 901 (or 911). With the Porsche 911, F.A. Porsche created a sports car icon whose timeless and classical form survives to this very day in what is now the seventh 911 generation. However, in addition to passenger cars, F.A. Porsche also concerned himself with designing the sports cars of the 1960s. His best-known designs include the Type 804 Formula One racing car or the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, now considered to be one of the most beautiful racing cars ever.

In the course of the conversion of Porsche KG into a joint-stock corporation in 1971/72, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, along with all the other family members, stood down from the company’s front-line business operations. In 1972 he founded the “Porsche Design Studio” in Stuttgart, the head office of which was relocated to Zell am See in Austria in 1974.

In the decades that followed, he designed numerous classic accessories such as watches, spectacles and writing implements that achieved global recognition under the “Porsche Design” brand. In parallel, with his team, he designed a plethora of industrial products, household appliances and consumer durables for internationally renowned clients under the brand “Design by F.A. Porsche”. A strong and clear design concept typifies all product designs created in his design studio to date. The credo of his design work was: “Design must be functional and functionality has to be translated visually into aesthetics, without gags that have to be explained first.” F.A. Porsche: “A coherently designed product requires no adornment; it should be enhanced by its form alone.” The design’s appearance should be readily comprehensible and not detract from the product and its function. His conviction was: “Good design should be honest.”

Ferdinand Alexander Porsche received numerous honors and awards both for his work as a designer as well as for individual designs. For example, in 1968 the “Comité Internationale de Promotion et de Prestige” honored him for the outstanding aesthetic design of the Porsche 911 while the Industrial Forum Design Hannover (iF) voted him “Prizewinner of the Year” in 1992. In 1999, the President of Austria bestowed on him the title of Professor.

Ferdinand Alexander Porsche retained a close lifelong association with Porsche AG as a partner and member of the Supervisory Board. For example, even after stepping down from front-line business operations, he contributed to the design of Porsche’s sports cars over many decades and repeatedly steered the company in the right direction. This was especially the case for the difficult period Porsche experienced at the beginning of the 1990s. From 1990 to 1993, F.A. Porsche served as President of the company’s Supervisory Board, thus playing a major role in Porsche A.G’s economic turnaround. In 2005, he stood down from his Supervisory Board role in favor of his son Oliver and assumed the mantle of Honorary President of the Supervisory Board.

Ferdinand Alexander Porsche will be buried in the family grave at Schüttgut in Zell am See, attended by his immediate family. An official funeral service will be held in Stuttgart at a later date.

UPDATE: The calendars sold out within a few hours of our posting. Stay tuned for our next offering. PorschePurist.com’s newest sponsor, SuncoastParts.com, is offering our readers over 40% off the list price of the official 2012 Porsche Calendars (complete with a highly prized and collectible coin). Only 5000 of the 2012 Porsche Calendars were produced and most have already been sold. The few remaining calendars, located at various dealers across the country, normally sell for $60. However, if you’re seeing this email or reading this post, SuncoastParts.com is offering you the calendar for only $35 plus shipping.

We receive one of these calendars each year and love looking at it on our wall. Much larger than most other calendars, it’s a whopping 23.25 inches x 21.75 inches, it makes a great addition to your office or garage. The hyper-realist images seem to jump off the page and the print quality is incredible. It’s as is if you’re getting a new Porsche poster each month!

The Not So Fine Print

This special Porsche calendar pricing is available on the remaining in stock items (at publishing time there were less than 20) and it is only available via their web-site so act fast! Don’t forget, shipping for this item is a little higher than normal due to its large dimensions (23.25″ x 21.75″). If you miss out on this offer from SuncoastParts.com or don’t want to pay/wait for shipping, you can check with your local dealer to see if they have any left in stock. No coupon code or anything else is needed. Just click on the exclusive PorschePurist.com linkand you’ll be taken directly to the SuncoastParts.com Porsche Purist page.

We plan on having other offers in the future from Suncoast Parts so if there’s anything special you would like to see a savings opportunity on, please let us know by commenting below!

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Johnnie Walker Blue Private Bar Designed by Porsche

Back in May of 2010 I asked you what your other hobbies were besides Porsche. Like me, a number of you were partial to guns, watches and certain types of alcohol (Bourbon and Scotch). With that in mind, it should really come as no surprise to see a Porsche Designed bar.

Crafted from brushed titanium with a luxurious leather interior, the bar features state of the art motion sensors to activate the opening sequence and rotate the bar through 180 degrees. Once open three bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue present themselves on a precisely angled surface of 24 degrees (just like the the label on the bottle) along with four subtly illuminated crystal glasses and chilled water.

Johnnie Walker Blue Chiller and Cube

If a made to order bar is a bit too rich for you, never fear. Johnnie Walker and Porsche Design created two other pieces for the collection. The Chiller (just shy of $500) holds a single bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, encased in sophisticated dark blue leather bottom and brushed titanium top. The lightweight top removes to function as an ice chiller.

The Cube (just under $1000) comes with an individually numbered bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label alongside an ice chiller, stainless steel tongs, and four bespoke Blue Label crystal glasses.

Where to Buy

The Chiller and the Cube will be available at Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, and Royal Mile Whiskies from October 2011. The Private Bar is available made to order exclusively from Harrods. Let us know if you pick one up. We would love to see how this compares to the Porsche Design Shisha Water Pipe.

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[Source: British GQ Magazine]

However, that’s exactly what they did with the introduction of the Porsche Design Shisha waterpipe. This aluminum, stainless steel and glass design is made in Germany, stands just shy of 22 inches high and is currently on sale exclusively at the Porsche Design “shop-in-shop” at the world famous Harrods department store in London. You can expect to see the Shisha available world-wide by the end of this month.

I would expect that sales of the new Porsche Design Shisha will be brisk in the Middle East and Africa where Shisha smoking is the norm and part of the social culture. Do you think we’ll ever even see them on the shelves here in the US?

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[Source: Porsche Design Group]

According to an article in Elite Traveler Magazine,

“In its initial state, C SEED 201, the world’s largest outdoor television, is a flattened piece of concealed black metal in a circular hole in the ground. Its transformation takes place in 40 silent seconds, as a tower and seven panels emerge from the outlet and unfold like a steel origami structure. The result is a 15 foot adjustable pillar that supports a sleek, 201-inches LED screen. Global Bright Group, which specializes in LED screens, partnered with Porsche Design Studio to ensure that high luminosity images are clearly viewable despite direct sunlight.

The waterproof TV can be custom installed in any terraced or grass surface. A 270-degree rotation, three-way audio system including 15 speakers and wireless remote control make viewing convenient from any angle or distance.”

I’m quite sure I haven’t wanted something this bad since we had to give back the 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S press car last fall. At a reported price tag of $810,000, I’ll be wanting for a long, long time…

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mPower Emergency Illuminator Designed by Porsche

[Source: Elite Traveler and Wallpaper*]

Frustrated from his encounter with the dead batteries in his flashlight Ron decided then and there to come up with a better solution. Fortunately, as the co-founder of mPhase Technologies (a publicly traded company that manufactures and designs the batteries of the future, today) he was in a unique position to make good on his promise.

As a Porsche owner and enthusiast Ron was familiar with products from the legendary Porsche Design Studio. Confident in his company’s unique battery technology Ron fired off a “cold” email to Porsche Design in an effort to gauge their interest in creating a product together. According to Ron, “one thing led to another and we now have a co-branding agreement with Porsche Design for this very unusual flashlight”. Quite an understatement when you consider the technology and design of the Emergency Illuminator.

What is the mPower Emergency Illuminator?

First and foremost, it’s a flashlight. However, calling the Emergency Illuminator a flashlight is like calling your Porsche a car. It’s accurate, but it doesn’t do it the justice it deserves. Seriously, what “flashlight” do you know of that can sit left alone on a shelf (or in your glovebox) for 20+ years and still be ready to light the way the at the very moment you need it? As if that weren’t enough, the Emergency Illuminator has a built in USB port that allows you to charge any number of devices in the event of a power failure of other emergency.

mPower On Command™ Reserve Battery

At the heart of the mPower Emergency Illuminator is a revolutionary battery with a shelf life of at least 20 years prior to manual activation. Unlike conventional batteries, the mPower On Command Reserve Battery provides the full capacity of its charge decades into the future without deterioration or corrosion. In other words, when you need light, the Illuminator will deliver.

How does it work?

While we could try to explain the technology, it’s probably easier to simply watch the video below.

PorschePurist’s Review of the mPower Emergency Illuminator

When we first saw the Illuminator we knew we had to have one. When mPower offered to send us one of the first lights to roll off the production line in Austria to review, we jumped at the chance.

As sophisticated as the technology found in the mPower’s unique reserve battery is, getting the light working is incredibly simple. Included in the shipping and storage box is everything you need.

Porsche Design’s influence is evident the moment you open the box. The sturdy carrying case cradles the Emergency Illuminator in a foam surround that protects it both in transport and in storage. Out of the box, the matte black finish and sleek design of the two tube handle makes this light a piece of functional art. At first, I was a bit skeptical about the light’s small size and sophisticated design.

However, after simply unscrewing a machined cap at the end of one of the two tubes (that make up the light’s handle) and inserting the supplied CR-123 batteries, I saw the light I was converted.

An aluminum collar on the handle of the light is used to move between the off position, on and USB charging (more on this later). The intensity of the beam emitted by the Emergency Illuminator is nothing short of, well, illuminating. From such a small package, the LED throws a fixed width (as opposed to adjustable like the Mag) bright, white light that cuts through the darkness easily.

Additionally, the unique Porsche Designed case allows you to stand the light straight up (allowing you to illuminate an entire room, as if with a lamp, when the power is out) or to lie it on the ground and illuminate an object in from of you (say changing a tire in the dark) without having to worry about it rolling away as my Mag light so often does.

Due to its size and sleek, matte finish, I was originally concerned with the Emergency Illuminator’s durability. However, the light is actually quite rugged and water resistant. The body is made from extruded aluminum and most other parts are machined aluminum. In other words, if you drop it, it will take the impact.

USB Charging Capability

Besides the innovative On Command Reserve battery, the other unique feature that sets the Emergency Illuminator apart from any other flashlight currently on the market is its unique ability to charge a myriad of portable electronic devices via its built in USB port. By simply moving the aluminum selector ring from “ON” to the “USB” position I was able to easily plug in my iPhone and bring its completely drained battery back to life using the supplied CR-123 batteries. According to the product literature, in an emergency situation, the On Command Reserve Battery will provide power for up to two hours of continuous light as well as charging ability to make and receive calls or your cell phone.

What to consider when purchasing the Emergency Illuminator

Pros

• unique battery technology with a shelf life of 20+ years

• USB port to charge portable devices in an emergency situation

• small, compact yet powerful and rugged

• high intensity, clean white light

Items to note:

• two tube handle makes for an awkward hand grip (this bothered me for quite some time until I realized the design is best suited for emergency situations where you will most likely be standing the light up straight or lying it on the side vs holding it your hand for long periods of time. Once I realized that I decided it’s not really an issue but would be remiss if I didn’t mention it)

• available glove box bracket not included in price

• no Porsche Design branding on the light itself

Price of the Emergency Illuminator and where to buy one

Like a lot of products developed in conjunction with Porsche Design, the Emergency Illuminator is not inexpensive. However, at $289 you’re not simply buying a status symbol from a renowned Design House. Instead, you’re buying a rugged emergency device that provides peace of mind and security!

What is it worth to know that the next time you need a light in an emergency situation, no matter how long ago you checked the batteries, that you’ll have one? Hopefully, you’ll never need to find out, but if you do and you have the Emergency Illuminator, you can rest assured that you won’t be left in the dark.

If you’re interested in owning one of these lights (as we are) to either put in your Porsche, or for your home, they can be purchased directly from the manufacturer. mPower’s web-site offers much more information on the product as well as the Amazon.com checkout feature for added security.

This light would make a great Father’s Day gift for the Porsche loving dad in your life and I’m sure it will make it on our recommended Porsche Christmas Gift list later this year.

For Additional Information

Emergency Illuminator Fact Sheet
Emergency Illuminator Frequently Asked Questions
Emergency Illuminator Spec Sheet

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[Source: mPower and mPhase]

Not sure what we’re talking about? Some of you may remember a post back in 2008 about a power boat designed by Porsche and manufactured by Fearless Yachts. Unfortunately, just a few short months after introducing their first Porsche Designed Boat (The Fearless 28) the company, Fearless International, filed for bankruptcy and was never to be heard from again.

What might not be widely known, and quite frankly the details still aren’t all that clear, is that besides press releases and company statements to the contrary, the Fearless 28 was not the first boat ever designed by Porsche. Based on our research (and it’s not necessarily conclusive or accurate) it appears that Porsche first designed a boat back in 1985 and commissioned Kineo to build the hulls. The result was the Kineo 27‘, of which only three hulls were completed.

Where things get really foggy is trying to figure out how these boats were powered. Some claim that only one hull and power option was ever approved by Porsche and that’s the Kineo 27′ with twin Mercruiser MAG 454s (see the link above). Others, like the seller of this eBay listing claim that their boat is the only one with Porsche Marine engines (Porsche 928 v8s that were converted to marine use). If, in fact, the seller of the boat on eBay is to be believed (and based on our research we can’t figure it out either way) this particular boat is the first ever to be designed and produced by Porsche and the only speed boat powered by a Porsche marine engine.

While the details aren’t clear, and the seller’s not talking (which has us wanting to ask even more questions), it appears that this particular boat was designed by Porsche, built by Kineo and powered by Porsche but never released to the public. According to the seller, this boat was Manufactured in 1992 – a full 16 years before Fearless launched their boat at the Miami boat show.

Let’s recap. Three of these hulls were produced, but only one of them, this one (hull #1), is powered with the Porsche Marine Engine option (a $75k option in ’92). If this really is the case, then we’re looking at a one-off, one-of-a-kind prototype, that just might be worth the asking price as the only thing like it in existence. But, buyer beware! Do your homework first, ask a lot of questions and get the documentation!

Porsche Design Boat Details

• Carbon Fiber Kevlar Construction

• Hull #1 of 2 (or three)

• 0 Hours and Stored Since New

• Porsche Metallic Silver Paint, Dual Matching Silver Hard Shell Fully Adjustable Sport Seats (GT3?) with Red Cushions

• “PORSCHE” Designed By FA Porsche on the transom that hydraulically opens to a fold down swim platform with ladder and wash down

• Cushioned sunpad-hydraulic engine hatch

• Small berth able cabin with gray cushions and headliner

• Vacuflush toilet

• Dual VDO gadge instrumentation

• Brand new teak decks complete mechanical and cosmetic updates (not sure what is meant by update?)

• Original MSRP was $550K plus $75K for the Porsche Marine Option

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[Source: Ebay, Rightboat, TeamSpeed, Pelican Parts, YachtForums]

Verma introduced the concept chair as part of a portfolio of other modern work on design site coroflot.com. While borrowing queues from the side profile of the 911’s window frame, the contemporary chair looks more like an exotic piece of art, inviting guests to feel the comfort and luxury while decorating modern spaces in style.

Although just a concept at this point, we would love to see this in production. Wouldn’t it be great if Porsche Design would allow you to color match your chair to your 911?

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[Source: Trendcube.com]

The official Porsche Calendar for 2009 shows twelve detailed views of high tech components to which Porsche sports cars owe their efficiency. Whether double-clutch gearbox, Variocam Plus or direct fuel injection – the larger-than-life close-ups of technical devices, standing for lower fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions, provide a fascinating back-drop for the current Porsche models. Following tradition, the calendar, in the format 59 x 55.5 cm, incorporates a collector’s coin and costs 35 Euro including VAT.

The Porsche historical calendar for 2009 with the title “Mathematics 2009 – Game of Numbers” presents the origin of the sports car manufacturer’s language of form. As in previous years, the photographer Frank M. Orel has undertaken the artistic composition of the historical calendar. A vertical spiral binding centrally divides the calendar, which measures 30 x 42 cm (60 x 42 cm when opened out). Stowed in its accompanying slipcase, it will retain its interest as a photographic collection way beyond the year 2009. This calendar is also priced at 35 Euro inclusive of VAT.

For the first time, this year there will be an exclusive wall calendar edition of the historical calendar in DIN A1 format. The pictures of the biggest Porsche calendar ever will tempt purchasers to frame them for themselves. Printed on top quality matte natural paper, the edition is limited to 2,009 items, to match the year it accompanies, and each calendar is sequentially numbered. The price is 99 Euro including VAT

The Porsche designers from Weissach once again created the “Style Calendar” for 2009, which is entitled “affinities – Verwandtschaften”. In this calendar, too, the focus is on the Porsche Type 64. The drawings highlight the affinities between the expression of form in the Type 64 and in the current Porsche automobiles. Included with the calendar, which measures 70 x 50 cm, is a CD-ROM with a striking screensaver. The calendar costs 57 Euro including VAT.

The spiral bound date planner offers a refreshingly low-tech escape from your smart phone or BlackBerry.

The luxuriously produced date planner for the coming year features photographs illustrating the rally history of the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer from 1950 to 2008. Spirally bound in DIN A5 size, it costs 38 Euro inclusive of VAT.

The four calendars and the date planner can be ordered over the Internet at www.porsche.com/shop and will also be available from Porsche centers. While some of these products may only be for sale in certain countries, you can always pay the extra freight to bring one home to yours!!

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[Source: Porsche]

Stuttgart/Palo Alto. Porsche Design is introducing a brand new radio into the market, a product developed jointly with Etón Corporation of Palo Alto, California. The radio, available now in Porsche Design Stores, blends purist design together with a top quality aluminum finish.

The P’9120 desk radio comes with three 1.5 inch speakers, an active subwoofer and double-wall structure, ensuring top-class true-to-life acoustics. In Europe, the radio, which comes in a solid aluminum casing, is available in a version which provides access to both analog and digital transmissions via the same device (AM, FM, short wave and DAB – Digital Audio Broadcasting). Different types of iPod can be linked up to the radio via an external cradle. Both the radio itself and any iPods connected to it can be operated via a remote control unit.

Seriously though, with the above information in hand, we reached out to Etón and secured our own unit for review. After playing and living with the unit for a week in the 993C4S garage, here are our thoughts:

PACKAGING: Right from the beginning the creative genius of Porsche Design is apparent. The all black, heavy cardboard outer box slides open to reveal a cleverly packaged grouping of components, accessories and instructions. Safely ensconced in a form fitting foam cutout it would take one deranged delivery driver to damage this system while in transit.

CONTENTS: Your package comes complete with the base unit, a universal “Made for Ipod” docking station, power supply, remote control (more on this later), AM loop antenna, multi-lingual instructions and warranty card(s).

FEATURES:

• Double wall construction for superior acoustics. Okay, admittedly we’re not audiophiles here at 993C4S, so we can’t break this down in scientific terms. However, whatever it is, it works! The unit sounds great.
• OLED alphanumeric display.
• AM/FM/Shortwave with separate Made for iPod dock.
• Metal remote control with torch (that’s a flashlight for all of here in the US.)
• XM Satellite ready (don’t forget that Sirrius and XM are now one.)
• Dual alarm clocks (this is a must in our garage as we depart at separate times.)
• Back-up power source for your presets and clock in the event of a power-failure.

If we were asked, our only two suggestions for improvement or change would be as follows:

1. Provide some type of back lighting for the remote. While we like the heft and feel of the remote it becomes a challenge to use in the dark (tough to shuffle through the soundtrack to Le Mans) even with the built in flashlight.
2. At this price range, $600 in the US, the four batteries needed to provide the back-up power source for your pre-sets and clock settings should be included.

It’s Worth the Money

Our overall impression of the P’9120 is very positive. The instructions were simple to follow and setting it up was a snap. The clean lines and linear design are exactly what you would expect from Porsche and Etón. The ergonomic controls were intuitive and easy to operate. The sound quality is exceptional and did we mention the shortwave radio? If you’re not familiar with shortwave, this radio (with its built in antenna) gives you a great opportunity to explore the hundreds and thousands of stations broadcasting worldwide on this unique range of radio waves. It’s a great big world to explore!

At $600 the P’9120 is expensive for a compact system, but not prohibitively so. We believe you get what you pay for; in this case a quality table top stereo system with exceptional features, sound and design. If you’re interested in purchasing one yourself, they are available through Amazon.com and at any Porsche Design Retail Store.

About Etón Corporation

Etón Corporation is the established leader in consumer electronics audio products, and is defined by its mission of ‘Re_Inventing Radio”. By always combining the latest in technology with sensible design, Etón offers an extensive array of products that speaks to three main categories: Design, Innovation and Necessity. Etón is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and has offices in Berlin, Germany and Toronto, Canada.

“Etón’s consumer electronics expertise and marketing competency allows Porsche Design to enter into consumer electronics market,” said Dr. Siegmund Rudigier, President and CEO of the Porsche Design Group. “There is an obvious synergy between Porsche Design and Etón Corporation as our values both lie in quality, craftsmanship and cutting-edge design and technology.”

About Porsche Design

Porsche Design is a global luxury men’s brand and is determined by engineered products. Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche established the Porsche Design brand in 1972, whose products are attracting consumers with their technical innovation and represent functionality and timelessness in its purest form. Porsche Design products are sold in their own exclusive retail and franchise stores, shop-in-shops, up-market department stores and exclusive specialist stores.

“The heritage of Porsche Design not only offers an added element of prestige to electronics, but also the lost focus on an exacting attention to detail,” said Dr. Esmail Hozour, CEO of Etón Corporation. “Through this unprecedented partnership, we are confident that a new standard of electronics shall be set.”