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CAR-N'T BELIEVE IT

People are only just realising what Porsche car names stand for – and it’s blowing their minds

CAR FANS are only just realising what Porsche car names stand for - and it's left them stunned.

The German manufacturer is renowned for its high-end, sports cars, but many people in the UK don't know what each Porsche model name actually means.

Car Fans are only just realising what Porsche car names stand for... and it's left them stunned
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Car Fans are only just realising what Porsche car names stand for... and it's left them stunned

However, has recently revealed the story behind each supercar name on its website.

Carrera

The top speed of the 911 Carrera is 182mph - not bad for an 'entry-level' car
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The top speed of the 911 Carrera is 182mph - not bad for an 'entry-level' carCredit: Porsche

The name Carrera (Spanish for ‘race’) ultimately commemorates the success of Porsche at the Carrera Panamericana.

In this famous border-to-border Mexican endurance race, Porsche achieved great success with the 550 Spyder in the 1950s.

Boxster

This car costs from £53,800 and can reach up to 178mph
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This car costs from £53,800 and can reach up to 178mph

Porsche revealed that when they presented the mid-engine Boxster concept study to the world in 1993, it became an instant crowd-pleaser.

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And the model name is derived from merging the Boxer engine (so-called because the horizontal movement of the pistons resembles the actions of a boxer's fists) and that punchy Roadster design.

Cayenne 

This unmistakable SUV powerhouse packs intense performance and precise dynamics
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This unmistakable SUV powerhouse packs intense performance and precise dynamicsCredit: Handout

When the Cayenne debuted in 2002 it became, at the time, the third model in the Porsche product line-up, alongside the 911 and the Boxster.

Porsche says: "The name derives from the piquant cayenne pepper – a bold and relevant choice for this intrepid traveller with a fiery nature." Mmm... sounds like marketing speak to us.

Cayman

The 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman achieves a 0-60 time of 5.15 seconds
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The 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman achieves a 0-60 time of 5.15 seconds

The name of this car derives from the crocodile-like South American Caiman.

Porsche explained: "Powerful yet agile when it launched in 2006. It joined the Boxster and 911 as another stand-out sportscar in the Porsche range. It now sits with the former of those two models under the 718 umbrella."

Panamera

The Panamera's top speed sits at a heady 196mph
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The Panamera's top speed sits at a heady 196mphCredit: Handout

Unveiled in 2009, the Porsche Panamera name derived from the legendary endurance race the Carrera Panamericana.

This gruelling race, similar to the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio in Italy, took place from 1950 to 1954 from the Mexico/US border to Guatemala.

Macan

The The 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine delivers 324kW (440PS) and a top speed of 169mph
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The The 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine delivers 324kW (440PS) and a top speed of 169mphCredit: Handout

Taken from the Indonesian word for tiger, Porsche's marketing department had great fun in claiming the Macan name 'acknowledges the fierceness that lies beneath the car’s elegant exterior'.

However, the lively nature of the Macan is the reason why it’s universally considered one of the best-handling compact SUVs.

Taycan

This high-performance electric sports car manages 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds
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This high-performance electric sports car manages 0-60 mph in 2.4 secondsCredit: Alamy

The word Taycan derives from two terms of Turkic origin, translating approximately to “soul of a spirited young horse”. 

It’s a phrase which Porsche says epitomises the personality of the electric sports car – lively, vigorous, agile, free-spirited and tireless.

The name also reflects both the brand’s roots and its future simultaneously, with the ‘horse’ reference reminiscent of the iconic silhouette on the Porsche crest itself.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

This comes after car fans discovered what Audi's fame Vorsprung durch Technik catchphrase means.

Plus, car enthusiasts

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