Porsche nomenclature
Discussion
I was a bit bored on my journey home after Christmas today and was wondering where next for Porsche in terms of naming vehicles?
The 911 has obviously gone 964, 993, 996, 997. One would assume 998 and 999, but I wonder if Ducati hold the copyright to those names?
If so do you expect Porsche to move into the 000's? Or go back and start at a seemingly random 9xx number?
Boxsters are obviously 986 and 987, so plenty of life in that numerical line, would the 911 go back to something like a 931, or 965?
Hell, maybe there won't be another 911 and the next cars will be the 929 and 945?!!?
Any educated guesses from you lot?
Phil
The 911 has obviously gone 964, 993, 996, 997. One would assume 998 and 999, but I wonder if Ducati hold the copyright to those names?
If so do you expect Porsche to move into the 000's? Or go back and start at a seemingly random 9xx number?
Boxsters are obviously 986 and 987, so plenty of life in that numerical line, would the 911 go back to something like a 931, or 965?
Hell, maybe there won't be another 911 and the next cars will be the 929 and 945?!!?
Any educated guesses from you lot?
Phil
Unlike other marques, rear-engine Porsches don't use numbers to denote different models. There's no need to continue with the 993/996/997 series.
No doubt they have already given considerable attention to this question.
In future, why couldn't they call their next car the "911", and from that differentiate C2, C4, Turbo, etc?
Alternatively, they could call them "Carreras", and we could have a "Carrera Turbo", Carrera GT3", etc.
Nobody pays attention to whatever number the current Boxster is; it's just an '02 or '06 or whatever.
On the other hand, if they were intending to discontinue the rear-engine template within the next decade, that would solve the problem as well.
flemke said:
Unlike other marques, rear-engine Porsches don't use numbers to denote different models. There's no need to continue with the 993/996/997 series.
No doubt they have already given considerable attention to this question.
In future, why couldn't they call their next car the "911", and from that differentiate C2, C4, Turbo, etc?
Alternatively, they could call them "Carreras", and we could have a "Carrera Turbo", Carrera GT3", etc.
Nobody pays attention to whatever number the current Boxster is; it's just an '02 or '06 or whatever.
On the other hand, if they were intending to discontinue the rear-engine template within the next decade, that would solve the problem as well.
I think the 993, 996, 997, 986, 987 model denominations are very useful and widely used for a reason, it`s not just snobbery. If you are selling a 2004 911 Carrera it could be either a 996 or a 997 and you need to know which one, similarly a 2004 Boxster, a 1997/8 911, a 1993/4 911 and so on. If someone has a 911 Carrera it could be one of 6 different models and you need to know which one.
Use of Model codes such as the 965 (Turbo 2), or 951 (944 turbo) are pure snobbery as there was only one turbo 2 (the 964 variant), and one 944 turbo.
Henry
I saw a list in a book once on Porsche's numbering system. Dont know where now (annoyingly).
For eg, Did you know that Porsche made tanks for one of the world wars? These had the numbers in the 300's. The tractors they also made had numbers in the 700's.
Numbers were also allocated in the 900's for 'projects' or large designed parts for cars, for eg a particular gearbox. So that's why some 900's dont appear on actual cars. I remember the G50 gearbox has its own 9xx design number.
From the 900 series i seem to remember only about a dozen or so are actually 'free'.
I think Porsche will move onto names 100% and whereas they may use 998, i cant see them using 999.
For eg, Did you know that Porsche made tanks for one of the world wars? These had the numbers in the 300's. The tractors they also made had numbers in the 700's.
Numbers were also allocated in the 900's for 'projects' or large designed parts for cars, for eg a particular gearbox. So that's why some 900's dont appear on actual cars. I remember the G50 gearbox has its own 9xx design number.
From the 900 series i seem to remember only about a dozen or so are actually 'free'.
I think Porsche will move onto names 100% and whereas they may use 998, i cant see them using 999.
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