Porsche-Excellence Was Expected

By Karl E Ludvigsen and Karl E. Ludvigsen

Porsche witnessed significant swings in its fortunes during the final two decades of the 20th Century. In Book 3 of Porsche: Excellence Was Expected author Karl Ludvigsen brings his industry experience and insider knowledge to bear in describing Porsche's pitfalls and its pivotal comeback.In the mid-1980s, the company's exploration of the FIA's Group B resulted in the fabulous all-wheel-drive 959 of 1985. It was fast, sophisticated and beautiful. It was also a money loser for the company. In this same period, Porsche conquered the highest levels of Formula One with the McLaren-TAG team. In contrast, Porsche lost its way with the CART program and experienced a disappointing return to Formula One in 1991 with the Footwork Arrows team.The 924 evolved into the 944, with its muscular flanks and its torquey inline-four. Well-received, the 944 earned the respect of even the toughest journalists. Ludvigsen's account shows how this model proliferation and the rise of the dollar took its toll on Porsche. With the return of manufacturing specialist Wendelin Wiedeking in 1992 came massive changes that led to new efficiencies within the company. By the mid-1990s the 911, as the Type 993, was Porsche's only product. Variations of the 911 also performed with distinction on the track, by way of the GT1, GT2 and GT3 racers available from the Porsche factory.In addition, the company made a stock offering and reached into reserves to provide development funds for a pair of new automobiles. The resulting Boxster and Type 996 version of the 911 brought about a gradual resurgence for the little firm. Ludvigsen's Porsche history follows the carmaker into the first decade of the 21st century when the Cayenne SUV and the Carrera GT supercar expanded the Porsche product offering dramatically.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0837617723
• ISBN13: 9780837617725
• Release Date: September 2019
• Publisher: Bentley Publishers
• Length: 710 Pages
• Weight: 6.25 lbs.