Porsche 2013 Annual Report Download - page 79

5 DESIGN
A Porsche is more than a sports car. It is
the most beautiful sports car in its segment.
Obviously, that’s a very subjective opinion,
but it’s true. It makes the point that Porsche
places the highest demands on its designs
and their every detail. No one item and
no line are left to chance. In addition, the
design is such that it presents a challenge
for the engineers to transform the perfect
concept into a real car. Let’s take a look
at the hood of the Macan, which wraps
around the wheel wells and also encases
the main headlights. It gives the front of
the car a certain breadth and power,
emphasizing its sports car character. The
designers felt that it needed to be part of
the vehicle. However, the requisite larger
pressed sheet metal component did not
exist, and so the experts struggled behind
the scenes to make it possible. The Porsche
design is indeed based on the brand’s past
and on cars built to date; however, every
new car carries the design forward. At the
same time, in every Porsche, there is still
something of the 911.
Let’s take a look at the interior. Historically,
the interior of a vehicle has always been
a factor influencing purchasing decisions.
Here, too, the Porsche message has to be
clearly identifiable, and it is not just limited
to the traditional round instruments or the
ignition key being on the left. Porsche’s
interior design philosophy applies to all
models and is marked by characteristic
styling elements. One example is the
central console that appears in all current
Porsche models. The value that Porsche
places on the interior is shown by the
fact that the Zuffenhausen plant has its
own saddlery, where experts handcraft
the covering of the vehicle’s interior with
high-quality leather, which can come in ex-
otic colors and patterns. The saddlery has
always been ready to accommodate the
most extravagant customer requests.
6 NEW TECHNOLOGIES
An automobile is a highly complex technical
product. Customers expect every Porsche
to embody lifestyle and utility, and to ena-
ble sports-oriented mobility at the highest
level, thereby representing state-of-the-art
technology at its best. This is exemplified
by the variable turbine geometry in
high-performance turbocharged engines.
Porsche uses such cutting-edge technology
In the end, there is overall quality. If custo-
mers are satisfied, then the quality is right.
This means all aspects of quality: not only
in the product, but also in the pre-sales and
customer service support. And when custo-
mers are fully and deeply satisfied – at the
only level proper for a premium car maker
like Porsche – then the manufacturer has
done everything correctly and has earned
the customers’ trust with its top quality.
so that optimum flow conditions prevail in
all the engine’s operating modes. This is in
line with the claim that no other cars bring
sportiness to the streets like a Porsche,
and without the perfect materials, a sports
car cannot be successful. One can also
look at the trendsetting drivetrain of the
Panamera S E-Hybrid. With the first plug-in
hybrid in the premium class, Porsche has
set a clear standard: maximum perfor-
mance with minimum fuel consumption. It
is feasible and not just in the Panamera:
this is the beginning of a new phase of
development.
7 QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES
To maintain the highest quality, the skills of
all employees must always be kept up to
date at the highest levels. To do so, Porsche
maintains a comprehensive qualification
program. Here, too, Porsche proceeds in
typical fashion: fast and focused. There
are no rigid programs; instead, training
is driven by requirements. What happens
when quality procedures have to take into
account new processes? The relevant
employees are promptly signed up to take
short, intensive courses with instructors
having practical experience. The result?
Seals of quality 1, 2, 3…
COMMITTED TO QUALITY // 077