The 2000s

+2000

A special Porsche 911 “Millennium” edition was produced to celebrate this significant date. Just 911 of these anniversary models were made, with uprated interior equipment and trim and ‘turbo-look’ wheels with a high-gloss finish.

On February 7, the ground-breaking ceremony is held at the site of Porsche’s new plant in Leipzig. Plans were in progress to produce a five-seat Sports Utility Vehicle there from 2002.

During the Paris Motor Show, the near-series production “Carrera GT” design study had its world premiere at the Louvre. Both the carbon-fiber chassis and the ten-cylinder naturally aspirated engine of this high-performance sports car made use of pure motor sport technology.

In the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), factory drivers Bob Wollek, Jörg Müller, Lucas Luhr and Sascha Maassen drove the Porsche 911 GT3 R of the Dick Barbour team to victory in the GT class.

The first Porsche factory subsidiary, the “Stuttgart Porsche Center” opened its doors on October 19 in Zuffenhausen.

+2001

The Porsche 911 GT2, exhibited at the Detroit Motor Show from January 8 on, raised the power output to a new peak in this model line.

The new 3.6-liter engine installed in the Porsche 911 Carrera (Type 996) following its model update in September 2001 had many impressive features, including variable valve lift, and a rated output of 320 HP. Additions to the sales program were the 911 Carrera 4S and the 911 Targ a.

Porsche Engineering Group GmbH (PEG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, began operation officially on August 1. Its task is the worldwide supervision and marketing of contract development work for outside clients.

Porsche AG gained access to a new market when its official sales office was opened in China’s capital city of Peking. In addition to Hong Kong, the “Porsche Center Beijing” provided a second basis from which to access this market of the future.

+2002

“Porsche Asia Pacific” was set up in February in Singapore to support Porsche importers in the region extending from Korea to New Zealand. Together with the “Porsche Middle East” and “Porsche Latin America” regional offices, 37 importers in all were then supported in this way. There were also 25 independent importers, bringing the total of Porsche dealers worldwide to 550.

In June, the updated Boxster and Boxster S (Type 986) models were shown to the international media. The 2.7-liter engine in the Boxster now developed 228 HP, the 3.2-liter unit in the Boxster S 260 HP.

The official presentation to an international public of the Cayenne, Porsche’s sporty, multipurpose vehicle with off-road capability, took place at the Paris Motor Show. In cooperation with Volkswagen and with Porsche supervising the development work, the new model was initially available as the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo.

+2003

On March 3, 2003, the Porsche Carrera GT had its world premiere in Geneva. Its performance figures were as exceptional as its design qualities: the Carrera GT accelerated to 200 km/h from a standing start in only 9.9 seconds, and could reach a top speed of 330 km/h. This high-performance sports car was built as a limited edition at the Porsche plant in Leipzig, with the 612 HP naturally aspirated V10 engine supplied from the engine manufacturing department in Zuffenhausen.

From March onward, Porsche dealers were able to offer the customers a new-generation GT3. The power output of this cutting-edge sports car with its imposing rear wing was increased to 381 HP by allowing the engine to run up to a higher speed.

The 2004 model-year program, which became available in the late summer, revealed that Porsche’s product offensive was by no means over. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Porsche 911, a limited “40 years of the 911” edition consisting of 1,963 cars was built, the figure having been chosen as a reminder of the year in which the 911 first appeared. A Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet was also introduced, the first with this body style since 1987.
The road-approved version of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS was available as a basis for active motor sport. The sports multipurpose vehicle program was enlarged to include a six-cylinder Cayenne. As another exclusive form of open-top Porsche driving, the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet reached the dealers’ showrooms in October.

+2004

To recall a legendary Porsche racing car, the Detroit Motor Show was chosen as a venue to announce the special Boxster S model “50th Anniversary of the 550 Spyder”; it had an uprated engine and a very full optional equipment specification. To commemorate the date on which the 550 Spyder first appeared, the edition was limited to 1,953 cars.

In the upper market segment, Porsche added the 911 Turbo S Coupe and 911 Turbo S Cabriolet to its product program. Features of the new “S” versions were an uprated engine and the PCCB ceramic brake-disk system.

On July 16, the latest Porsche 911 model generation was unveiled simultaneously at 85 German Porsche Centers. Known internally as the Type “997”, the 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S versions were available initially.

At the Paris Motor Show, the public was able to admire not only the Porsche 911 Carrera S (Type 997) but also the new Boxster and Boxster S (Type 987).

+2005

Since January, V8 engines for the Cayenne had come from Porsche’s new engine plant in Zuffenhausen. At this location, which measures 9,000 square meters in area, both prototype and production engines were built.

The convertible version of the new Porsche 911 (Type 997), on display at the Detroit Motor Show, heralded in a second phase of the model-version offensive for the 911, now in its sixth generation. Like the Coupe, the 911 Cabriolet was available as the Carrera or Carrera S. In the fall, the 911 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S also joined this Porsche model family.

At the stockholders’ general meeting on January 28, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was elected Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board, his son Oliver Porsche taking his place on the Board.
A highlight of the German IAA Motor Show in Frankfurt was the Porsche Cayman S, a mid-engine sports car for the keen enthusiast, positioned between the Boxster and the 911.

In August, the Supervisory Board and the Board of Management resolved to develop and produce a fourth Porsche model line, a four-door coupe to which the name “Panamera” has been given. It is scheduled to reach the automobile market in 2009.

In September it was announced that Porsche had acquired shares of Volkswagen AG. Porsche’s strategic objective is to assure the long-term security of its future plans insofar as they involve Volkswagen as a development partner.

Starting in the fall, Porsche took part in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) with the new RS Spyder sport prototype. On its first appearance in Laguna Seca, California, this car took pole position, set up a new lap record and won its class.

+2006

On February 28, at the Geneva Motor Show, Porsche AG introduced the new 911 Turbo. This top model in what is now the sixth generation of 911 models is the first series-production car with a spark-ignition engine to feature a turbocharger with variable blade geometry (VTG). The new 911 GT3 was also shown to an international public in Geneva.

At the beginning of April, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S shared a German motor-show premiere with the 911 Turbo and the 911 GT3.
Another version of the Porsche Cayman S appeared at the end of July, following its original launch in fall 2005.

The new 911 GT3 RS went on sale in Europe in October. This GT3 version with a weight reduced to 1,375 kilograms fills the role of basic and type-approval model for a variety of race series.

The Porsche RS Spyder completed its first full LMP2 season with victory in the manufacturer, team and driver standings. The sports car prototypes, which are also available to private customer teams, are built at the new Motor Sport Center in Weissach that opened in July.

Porsche unveiled two new 911 models in November in the shape of the 911 Targa 4 and the 911 Targa 4S.
Four years on from its original launch, Porsche AG unveiled the second generation of its Cayenne sporty off-roader in December.

+2007

The Supervisory Board of Porsche AG elected Dr. Wolfgang Porsche as its new Chairman on January 26. He succeeded Prof. Helmut Sihler, who had chaired that board for the previous 14 years. Hans-Peter Porsche joined the board as a new member. Dr. Walther Zügel also retired from the Supervisory Board after 27 years; he was succeeded by Prof. Ulrich Lehner.

In June 2007 the subsidiary “Porsche Switzerland” officially launches import and sales of Porsche vehicles, replacement parts and accessories from the company “AMAG Automobil-und Motoren AG”.
Less than three years after its production launch, the 100,000th model series 997 vehicle comes off the assembly line in Zuffenhausen on July 11.
At the IAA show in Frankfurt in September, Porsche causes a sensation with three new products. The Cayenne GTS has a 24 mm lower ride height and a power output of 405 HP. A new generation 911 Turbo Cabriolet excites horsepower-hungry fresh air enthusiasts with its 480 HP and 620 Nm of torque. And the GT2 with 530 HP impresses as the most powerful production 911 ever.
From Moscow to Mongolia: the Trans-Siberian Rally that starts on August 3 includes a contingent of 25 Cayenne S Trans-Siberia race cars produced in a limited series. After driving 7,108 km, Rod Millen and Richard Kelsey arrive as the victors in Ulan-Bator.
In its second season at the ALMS, the Porsche RS Spyder is still the measure of all things. The LMP2 race car achieved no fewer than eight overall victories and eleven class victories in 2007.
In early December, Porsche presented the Boxster RS 60 Spyder limited edition model at the Bologna Motor Show.

+2008

Starting in February, Porsche Motorsport extends its product line-up for customer teams by two more racing sports car models with the 911 GT3 Cup S and the GT3 RSR.

The 200,000th Cayenne came off the production line in Leipzig on February 1.

After a construction period of less than one year the first phase of the new central parts warehouse in Sachsenheim, was opened on April 15.

The Auto China 2008 show in April provided the backdrop to the world debut of the new Cayenne Turbo S. The 550-HP model underscored the importance Porsche attaches to the Asian market.
The 24-hour race held on May 25 at the Nürburgring, a race rich in tradition, finishes with a Porsche overall victory for the third consecutive time.
In the 2008 season, the RS Spyder also starts in the European Le Mans Series (LMS). After class victories in Barcelona, Monza and Spa, the RS Spyder race cars used by customer teams achieve a one-two victory in the LMP2 class at Le Mans.

In June, Porsche presents to automotive journalists the latest generation (997/II) of the 911 models Carrera and Carrera S. They now come with direct fuel injection (DFI) for the first time, and the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) is offered as an option. This new gearbox had seven forward gears and replaced the previous Tiptronic.

At the end of July, the all-wheel-drive versions 911 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S were introduced. In the new generation 997/II, the electronically controlled Porsche Traction Management (PTM) replaced the former all-wheel drive with a viscous multiple-disk clutch.

The fastest generation changeover ever in the 911 model family already took place in September with the launch of the new 911 Targa 4 and 4S.

+2009

The new Porsche Museum was inaugurated on January 28 and opened to the public three days later.
The new Boxster (987) was given its national and international press launch on Sicily from January 17 to February 4. The highlights were the newly developed flat-six engines – a 2.9-liter version in the Boxster and a 3.4-liter version in the Boxster S – as well as the PDK gearbox that was now available as an option for the Boxster.

The new 911 GT3 made its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show on March 3. Its practice-proven six-cylinder naturally aspirated engine now had a larger displacement of 3.8 liters and a power output of 435 HP (320 kW).

Porsche’s other new product on show at Geneva was the Cayenne Diesel. The smooth-running V6 engine developed 240 HP from an engine displacement of three liters. Its torque curve was remarkable; it reached its peak value of 550 NM at a low 2,000 rpm.

The 250,000th Cayenne left the production line in Leipzig on March 6. The anniversary vehicle was a white six-cylinder diesel model destined for a customer in Austria.

The wraps were taken off the new Porsche Panamera on the 94th floor of the Shanghai World Financial Center on April 19. The Panamera then went on show to the general public for the first time at “Auto Shanghai”, China’s premier auto show.

After the departure of Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking, the Supervisory Board appointed Michael Macht as new Chief Executive Officer of Porsche AG on July 23.

Around 600 German and international journalists were able to experience the new 911 Turbo first hand at an event held near Lisbon from October 9 to 25.

The new Boxster Spyder made its world debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show in early December. The 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection develops 320 HP (235 kW).

Just three months after the new Panamera went on sale, its 10,000th specimen was built at the Leipzig plant on December 14. The 500 HP Panamera Turbo with Platinum Silver metallic finish was shipped to a customer in Singapore.

The new Porsche Museum welcomed its 500,000th visitor on December 18.

+2010

After only six and a half months under construction, the topping-out ceremony for the new Zuffenhausen paint shop was celebrated on February 1 in the presence of a host of VIP guests.

Three Porsche hybrid models made their world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, adopting “Porsche Intelligent Performance” as its motto. The highlight was the 918 Spyder concept car, a high-performance mid-engine sports car with plug-in hybrid technology. Porsche also revealed the first volume-built hybrid in the company’s history: the Cayenne S Hybrid. The third new model was the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, the first Porsche race car to have electric front-wheel drive and a flywheel accumulator.

The new entry-level models in the Gran Turismo car line, the Panamera and Panamera 4, went on sale starting in May 2010. Both models feature a newly developed 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct fuel injection and producing 300 HP. The world debuts all took place at the Beijing Auto Show that started on April 23.

From April 11 to 28, Porsche introduced some 600 German and international journalists to the new Cayenne in Leipzig. The second generation of the sporty off-roader wowed the trade press with its compelling driving performance and sporty character.

The new top 911 model, the 911 Turbo S, was presented in early May. With 530 HP (390 kW) of engine power, it trumps the 911 Turbo by 30 HP (22 kW), sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and achieves a peak torque of 700 Newton-meters. Its fuel consumption of just 11.4 liters per 100 kilometers also makes it the most efficient sports car in its class.

The 25,000th Panamera left the production line in Leipzig on July 29.
The Cayman R is presented at the Los Angeles auto show in November. With 330 HP of power and an unladen weight of 1,370 kg, the Cayman R is designed for very sports-oriented buyers.

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The 2010 decade
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The 90s