Porsche’s engineering research and development efforts are legend. They have resulted in many modern miracles of vehicle dynamics and performance, both on racetracks and off, most of which we’ve covered extensively. We recently had the opportunity to go along on an R&D-related trip hosted by a different branch of the famous German manufacturer: Porsche Heritage.
Yes, the Porsche Heritage folks who maintain and share the company’s 770-vehicle back catalog conduct their own research and development. They do this by shipping significant vehicles to culturally significant locations around the globe to share with locals while observing ways in which different cultures protect, preserve, and promote their own heritage.
The first of what promises to be a biennial Porsche Heritage Experience took place in 2019 in China, where Porsche Heritage invited 20 local media representatives to drive through Yunnan province in the southwest. Yunnan is home to 25 of 55 recognized Chinese minorities—the nation’s highest concentration of such groups. Together they speak more than 60 languages and dialects, making Yunnan a challenging environment in which to preserve the heritage of any single group, so there were lessons to be learned.
For the full story, check out this article from Motor Trend.