Where The Carrera Name Used In Porsche Sports Cars Actually Comes From

A moniker that is widely used across Porsche's model lineup, find out why this legendary nameplate is so significant for the German brand

The Carrera name is one that has been widely used across Porsche's portfolio

But where exactly did this moniker come from and what significance does it hold for the German automaker?

The name actually honors Porsche's victory at the Carrera Panamericana in the 50s

The 356 and 550 models, which claimed many victories in the grueling 2000 mile race in Mexico, ignited the idea of using the nameplate on performance-focused Porsches

The Carrera name first emerged with a legendary flat-four engine from the 1950s

The Type 547 quad-cam flat-four engine was named Carrera and later the 356 used the name for its high-performance model

The Carrera nameplate was used in a 911 for the first time in 1973

The 911 Carrera RS 2.7, was the first 911 Carrera model and was a race-bred version of the original 911

Fast forward to modern times and the Carrera GT needs no introduction

With its fire-breathing 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V10, the Carrera GT holds on to the Carrera heritage

While not directly related, the Panamera name is also inspired by the Carrera Panamericana

The Carrera Panamericana was all about endurance, speed, and reliability, which are the qualities the Panamera is developed for

In today's world, only the 911 continues to utilize the Carrera nameplate extensively

The 911 features a pallette of Carrera models, such as the Carrera, Carrera S, Carrera T, and the Carrera GTS

Swipe up to read more about the inception of the Carrera nameplate

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