Editorial: Raceborn 

“For the past 75 years, motorsport has been our development platform for future technologies.”

Dear Readers,

Porsche and Christophorus share a close connection going back many decades. We’ve been building extraordinary sports cars since 1948 and publishing the extraordinary magazine, which you’re holding in your hands right now, since 1952. It’s a shared story of tradition and innovation. And a story of identity, quality, and endurance – all of which are more important than ever before in these difficult times. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to speak to you personally for the first time as the new CEO of Porsche.

Porsche has shaped me like no other car company that I’ve worked for throughout my career, including companies experiencing growth, transformation, and strategic realignment. All these different positions have exposed me to important principles of success, which we will also pursue at Porsche in the future.

The most important of these is a clear focus on our customers as well as products that inspire them. Extraordinary products form the foundation for long-term economic success. It also takes an outstanding team united by a clear vision and a well-functioning set of core values. Only then can we preserve what’s good, make the necessary improvements, and, where appropriate, pioneer new ideas. 

One of our most important goals is to adapt the product strategy to market requirements. Our aim is to create a balanced mix of internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric drive units. We’re also exploring market potential for new products and exclusive special models. Over the long term, we plan to create a strong, future-oriented foundation for Porsche and strengthen the brand core, with a focus on extraordinary sports car tradition, maximum quality, state-of-the-art technology, and timeless, unmistakable design. We build sports cars that inspire people – often from one generation to the next. We’re not in the business of chasing fads. Instead, we focus on concepts that will stand the test of time.

“Our aim is to create a balanced mix of internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric drive units.”

Motorsport has shaped the way we think and act for decades, and it’s no coincidence that our greatest strength lies in endurance racing, where a momentary boost of speed will get you nowhere. It takes time to achieve success – with the right strategy, the best product, and a strong team. For the past 75 years, motorsport has been our development platform for future technologies that end up in series production – and today, increasingly also into all-electric vehicles. This anniversary is a key focus of the new issue of Christophorus – not as a look back, but as proof of how we think about progress. Tradition is not a form of nostalgia at Porsche. Rather, it provides guidance for the future.

Strengthening and protecting the Porsche brand continues to be our top priority, guided by a simple principle: value over volume. We focus on the brand, on trust, and on the experience that defines what a Porsche is – and what it must always be. Staying true to this principle means staying true to our identity: a clear design language, uncompromising technical standards, and a mindset shaped by motorsport.

This identity is tangible. Customers experience it in our products – like the new 911 GT3 S/C, which celebrated its world premiere in April and which you can get to know in this issue of Christophorus. The Porsche brand is extraordinary. But so is our loyal community around the world, which values iconic products and superior technology. The “Dr. Ing. h.c.” (Doctor of Engineering, Honorary Doctorate) in the company name is a spectacular expression of our philosophy. It represents a brand promise and our benchmark.
 

I’m delighted to have you on board as we realign the Porsche company. 

Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Leiters
CEO