Consumer magazine Which? places Porsche top in customer satisfaction and reliability

• Appeal of the Stuttgart marque also recognised in Auto Express Awards; Boxster Best Roadster, Cayman Best Coupe
• Influential J.D. Power and Associates ‘APEAL’ Study in America votes Porsche top in ‘Initial Quality’
• New Panamera, and plug-in E-Hybrid model in particular, has captured public imagination
• Porsche appeal will broaden with introduction of new Macan – new factory nears completion ahead of first production in December

Every year, the annual Which? Car Survey asks the question: ”who makes the best cars?” And for the second year in a row, the influential publication has rated Porsche the ‘Best Car Brand’ in the UK.

The consumer magazine combined its own test data with opinions from readers to create a picture of the overall reliability and satisfaction of each marque. In the 2013 result, Porsche achieved a Brand score of 87% and a customer score of 94% -- both rankings significantly ahead of its closest rivals.

Based on the assessment of more than 57,000 vehicles up to eight years old, the writers concluded: “Topping the standings for the second year in a row, the addition of the new 911 to the ratings has done the Stuttgart-based manufacturer no harm. Reliability for cars over three years old is decent, and owners who can afford to buy one are fanatical about their worth, giving the brand a 94% customer score. Upcoming test scores for the latest Boxster and Cayman are expected to further bolster this strong showing.”

In terms of which individual cars are judged the most satisfying to own, the ‘Type 986’ Boxster (1996 – 2004) and the ‘Type 987’ Boxster (2004 – 2012) each achieved a customer score of over 90%. Reader comments summed up the appeal of the two-seater roadster thus: “Great looks, electrifying performance, superb build quality, decent economy and marvellous steering. And as for the sound of the flat-six engine….”

The Porsche Cayenne also put in a strong performance in the Which? Car Survey, with a ranking of 82% and a ‘Best Buy’ verdict. The judges praised the Cayenne for being “one of the sharpest 4x4s to drive” with “tremendous performance from excellent engine range”, a “comfortable ride and very well made.”

Double success for Boxster and Cayman in Auto Express Awards

The new Boxster (‘Type 981’) was quick to impress writers when it was first launched in 2012, and it has built on this with victory as Best Roadster in the annual Auto Express Awards. The judges commented: “Porsche engineers have come up trumps and produced the most desirable, capable and enjoyable roadster that money can buy.”

As befits its focused, sporting character, the new Cayman has been even quicker to claim its first accolade; clinching the Best Coupe prize at the Auto Express Awards less than six months since arriving in Porsche Centres. Always fans of the mid-engined two-seater coupe, the Auto Express writers said: “we’ve come to expect scintillating performance, race-bred handling and exquisite build quality, but its appeal has now been boosted further by seductive styling and surprisingly low running costs. Porsche engineers know how to mix the essential coupe ingredients in the right quantities; you get incredible pace, a distinctive engine note, a well-crafted cabin and head-turning design. And don’t forget the precise steering, engaging chassis and huge grip.”

US customers place Porsche first for attractiveness and quality

Across the Atlantic, Porsche customers in America have placed the Stuttgart marque first in the latest ‘Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL)’ study by the Californian market research institute J.D. Power and Associates.

Based on information from more than 83,000 new car buyers spanning a total of 230 different models registered between November 2012 – February 2013, Porsche drivers in the US voted the marque winner in the ‘Initial Quality Study’ for the ninth time in a row.

And in the APEAL evaluation, the Cayenne took first place in the ‘Mid-size Premium CUV’ segment for the third time. The attractiveness of the Boxster was strong also, with the roadster winning the ‘Highest Ranked APEAL’ award in the ‘Compact Premium Sporty’ category.

Strong sales around the world underpin Porsche success

In the first six months of the year, global Porsche sales have increased by 18 % year on year driven by the new Boxster, Cayman and 911 sports cars and the continuing appeal of the Cayenne. The new second generation Panamera Gran Turismo has also been well-received ahead of its arrival in Porsche Centres this month.

Porsche Macan factory in Leipzig nears completion

Last week, construction work of the new Porsche paint shop at the new Macan factory in Leipzig, eastern Germany, was completed. The work was accompanied by a spectacular helicopter operation in which nine air vents were placed and installed on the roof of the building from a height of 40 metres.

"This will complete the next major step in the preparatory stage of production of the Porsche Macan,” explained Siegfried Bülow, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche Leipzig GmbH. “The paint shop facilities have already been installed and the first car bodies will be painted in a test-operation as early as August. We are on schedule and are very keen to see the first car roll off the production-line in December.”

Porsche is investing about 500 million euros in the expansion of the Leipzig factory for production of its new Macan – the company’s new sports car in the SUV segment. Porsche is extending the factory in the biggest construction project in its history with a new body shop and paint shop. This is a major milestone for the entire Porsche company, the plant in Saxony and the Leipzig economic region, as production of the Macan will create some 1,400 new jobs in the area.