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An Iconic Automotive Emblem: The Porsche Logo Explained

Author: Shubhankar Sen on Sep 05,2022
 Porsche Logo Explained

Porsche is a renowned and legendary automaker known for a variety of things, including its exceptional automobiles, distinctive history, workmanship, championships, race victories, and first-rate customer service. Porsche is a German brand with a strong, loyal following, which is so universally loved that even people who rarely care about cars wish to own at least one Porsche. 

The Stuttgart-based German company was founded by Ferdinand Porsche in the year 1931. Today, the brand has made its name for making high-performance cars that are liked by famous personalities as much as they are revered by racing enthusiasts. 

 

Porsche's Logo:

 

The Porsche logo has been around for over 70 years, but there are still people who don't understand it. Get ready to learn what makes this emblem so iconic.

Logos serve as an identity symbol for brands. They get the brands to be recognized instantly, and they help in marketing the products too. And yet not all companies are able to achieve positive brand association through their creatively designed logos which may also bring down the demand in the market. The German luxury automaker company has an instantly recognizable logo that has remained iconic throughout the changing times.

 

Origins Of the Porsche Logo:

 

Even today, there are many conflicting accounts about the creation and origins of the Porsche logo. This simply adds to the mystique around the brand, further enticing followers and clients. In a world in which the media constantly spoils consumers with information and data, leading brands use mystery as their special marketing strategy. Porsche is one of these brands. Thanks to the brand's mystique and distinctive logo, the German automaker has increased devotion and developed a cult following.

 

The inspiration behind Porsche's logo:

 

The logo of the firm is present on the bonnet and other areas of every Porsche vehicle. A "Prancing Horse" that resembles the one on Ferrari's crest serves as the logo's focal point and is an interesting design feature. However, the Porsche logo is also believed to be inspired by a napkin that Ferdinand Porsche's son Ferry used while having a talk in New York City restaurant with American Porsche distributor Max Hoffman. 

Meanwhile, the Germans serve another story for the logo, insisting that the genius behind the Porsche logo design was Austrian engineer Franz Xaver Reimspieß. Whoever designed the logo first doesn't matter; the Porsche logo is now one of the most recognizable and iconic brand icons in the whole wide world. Even people who say they don't carry any knowledge about cars know the Porsche logo.

 

The Porsche Logo's Symbolism:

 

A Porsche logo has a lot going on it. The rising black horse, the red and black stripes, the Porsche name, and the antlers are some of the characteristics that first catch the eye. Most likely, if it weren't Porsche but a lesser-known brand, nobody would be fixated on the logo. However, being Porsche, everything looks like a happy ending.

As for the planning which went into the design, all of the elements point toward the Free People's State of Württemberg's coat of arms. When the brand logo was released, the German automaker company had its headquarters in Stuttgart. Hence, this was an ode to the gorgeous location. Meanwhile, the black horse is again a sort of acknowledging Stuttgart because the area had horse-breeding farms. What is worth noticing here is that a black horse is also present in the Stuttgart city coat of arms. 

The iconic red and black stripes are borrowed from Württemberg's state seal. Elsewhere, the word "STUTTGART" shows clearly that this is often more of a crest than a coat of arms. Furthermore, it conveys the pride of being a part of Stuttgart's legacy and sharing the history of the place.

 

The Porsche Logo: Then and Now

 

While other emblems changed significantly over the years, the Porsche crest was only slightly upgraded while the planning of the design elements remained the same. This decision may seem antiquated to younger, tech-savvy consumers, but it is adored by veteran Porsche buyers who appreciate the aesthetic legacy it communicates.

Having said that, Porsche has decided to use some improvements, such as reducing the red's intensity in the stripes, which had more of an orange tint, emphasizing the Porsche letters by writing them in black in place of the original golden lettering, and enhancing the appearance of the black horse. These hardly-noticeable changes are making the brand logo stand even more famous and celebrated.

 

Some lesser-known facts about Porsche:

 

  • Porsche made an electric car in 1900. 

No doubt it's very hard to believe, but Ferdinand Porsche developed Lohner-Porsche, the world's first hybrid vehicle, in 1900, way earlier than Tesla. The prototype was a battery-powered electric vehicle with two front-wheel hub-mounted motors. Ferdinand later presented a 'series hybrid' using hub-mounted electric motors in each wheel and powered it using both batteries and an internal-combustion engine. Notably, at the time, Ferdinand Porsche was just 23 and had no formal education in automobile engineering.

  • Porsche 917 possibly is the most iconic racing car ever made. 

This Porsche model is noted as one of the most iconic racing cars of all time, and it was this car that gave Porsche their first-ever 24-hours Le Mans win. The 1973 model was powered by a 5.3-liter, 12-cylinder engine that produced 1,200bhp and had a top speed of 385kmph. Remember, in the 1970s!

  • Porsche cars have won 24,000 races worldwide. 

When it comes to powerful cars and championship races, Porsche's name is always at the top and is trusted way more than any other company. Since its inception in 1931, Porsche cars have won 24,000 races across the world, the highest ever by any automobile brand. The German automaker has bagged 17 Le Mans awards, 11 Targa Florio wins, and 2 Dakar Rally titles in its decorated list of victories over the years.

  • Porsche 911 is owned by almost every top celebrity across the globe. 

But the model was initially named Porsche 901. After Peugeot objected to it (as they had patented a three-digit numeric designation for one of their cars), the German automaker changed the digit '0' to '1'. Notably, Porsche made 82 units of 901 for testing and exhibition purposes but never sold any of the original models. 

 

Conclusion

 

Porsche is a very customer-oriented brand, and that is the reason for its cult following. The brand engages its enthusiasts, and they build online and offline brand communities where they exchange information about their favorite models and discuss iconic brand-related topics alongside other marketing programs. Visit Porschemotorcar.com for more interesting information related to the iconic car company!

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