A-Z Of Marques No 58: Porsche

The marque: Quintessential sports car named after its founder, Ferry Porsche.

The marque: Quintessential sports car named after its founder, Ferry Porsche.

The history: The famous Dr Ferdinand Porsche was one of the 20th century's great engineers, responsible, among other things, for what became the Volkswagen beetle, although the unfortunate alliance with Adolf Hitler spoiled the achievement. His son Ferry, and Karl Rabe designed the first Porshe, which owed much to the beetle concept, with an air cooled engine, mounted at the rear. That was in 1948. Production moved from Austria to Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen in Germany. Some 7,627 examples of the model 356 were built, with a variety of engines and body styles. In 1963 came the landmark Porsche 911, which remains the base of the company's success, with the engine still at the back and 2+2 seating. The latest generation, designated the 997, has just been launched. Deviations from the Porsche concept include the the gawky 914, better than it looked, the front-engined 924 and 928 and, now, the hideously ugly Porsche Cayenne 4x4, which makes good profits. One million Porsches had been made by 1996.

Defining model: 1963 911

They say: "Where sport begins."

We say: The Cayenne. Why?