When you say Porsche, you say 911 - don't you?
Yet the 911 itself is not a car, but a designation covering a range of
cars back to the 1960s - a range which has evolved, and which its
customers refused to let die, despite the engineering drawbacks of its
layout.
Inevitably, this book is partly devoted to the way in which generations of engineers have worked at overcoming those drawbacks. But it is also about a wealth of other engineering programs, some of which made it to
production and others which, for various intriguing reasons, didn't.
From the still-born Volkswagen EA266, through the ill-starred 914 and
the front-engined 924 and 928, to the modern Cayenne, and much else
besides - it is all discussed here.
Over the years, Porsche has developed a reputation for technical innovation and for using cutting-edge technology in its road cars. This book travels chronologically through Porsche's technical history with each chapter starting with a crucial point in the company's evolution.
From Dr. Porsche's preparation of high-powered prototype Beetles for
competition purposes, to the technology incorporated in the latest
Cayenne and Carrera GT models, as well as the latest 2005-model 911, the
reader is taken on a fascinating journey through the Porsche archives,
revealing many previously unknown behind-the-scenes details of the
company's engineering story.
About the Author
Jeff Daniels is a former Technical Editor of
Autocar and current Technical Editor of EVO. Highly respected for his
ability to explain often complex subjects, he has been a regular
columnist in leading motor industry publications. He lives in London.
