Narrator: TODAY ON "HOW IT'S MADE: DREAM CARS,"
THE PORSCHE PANAMERA...
A GRAND TOURER THAT DRIVES LIKE A HIGH-END SPORTS CAR.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
AT THE PORSCHE MUSEUM IN STUTTGART, GERMANY,
THE COMPANY'S FAMOUS CAR DESIGNS ARE ON DISPLAY.
IT THE LATE 1940s, THE 356
WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL SERIAL PRODUCTION CAR MADE BY PORSCHE.
NEARBY IS A 1975 VERSION OF THE 911.
THE MOBY DICK IS A 1978 RACECAR
DESIGNED TO COMPETE IN U.S. EVENTS.
WITH MORE THAN 28,000 VICTORIES,
PORSCHE IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL NAMES IN MOTORSPORT.
BUT RACECARS AREN'T KNOWN FOR BEING COMFORTABLE,
SO PORSCHE CREATED A FOUR-DOOR LUXURY SEDAN
THAT COMBINED POWER AND SPEED WITH COMFORT AND STYLE.
IN FACT, THE PANAMERA'S PERFORMANCE
RIVALS THAT OF ITS CELEBRATED COUNTERPART, THE 911.
THE PANAMERA FEATURES A LIGHTWEIGHT BODY SHELL.
MANUFACTURING IT BEGINS WITH HUGE PRESSING TOOLS.
THE PRESS MANUFACTURES THE CAR'S BODY SIDES IN SIX STEPS.
IN A CONTROL STATION,
AN OPERATOR MONITORS AND MANAGES PRODUCTION.
A MECHANISM USES SUCTION TO PICK UP A SHEET OF METAL
AND TRANSFER IT TO THE PRESSING TOOL.
PRESSING TOOLS HAVE ALREADY STAMPED OUT THE INITIAL SHAPE
AND OPENINGS ON THESE SHEETS.
THE NEXT TOOL SHAPES THE METAL INTO A PANEL.
THIS PANEL INCLUDES A PORTION OF THE ROOF, THE DOOR OPENINGS,
AND THE REAR FENDER WITH AN OPENING FOR THE FUEL CAP.
TRANSFER MECHANISMS USE VACUUM-POWERED SUCTION CUPS
TO QUICKLY MOVE THE PANEL FROM ONE STATION TO ANOTHER.
PRESSING TOOLS COMPLETE ITS FORMATION
IN A HIGHLY EFFICIENT, FULLY AUTOMATED STAMPING PROCESS.
THE FINISHED PANELS EXIT THE PRESS
AND ENTER A QUALITY-CONTROL AREA.
TRAINED INSPECTORS
EXAMINE THEIR SURFACES VISUALLY AND MANUALLY.
PORSCHE BUILDS THE LIGHTWEIGHT BODY SHELL
USING A VARIETY OF METALS,
INCLUDING HIGH-STRENGTH STEELS,
STAINLESS STEEL, MAGNESIUM, AND ALUMINUM.
THIS RESULTS IN A LOW OVERALL WEIGHT.
IT ALSO PRODUCES A SAFE, RESILIENT VEHICLE.
ROBOTS SIMULTANEOUSLY BRING THE LEFT AND RIGHT BODY SIDES
TO THE FLOOR PLATE AND INNER PANEL OF THE FRAMEWORK.
THIS STEP COMPLETES THE DOOR-OPENING STRUCTURES.
ROBOTS USE SPECIALIZED FIXTURES TO ALIGN, MOUNT,
AND ATTACH THE PANAMERA'S LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINUM REAR DOORS.
THE DOORS COME WITH INTEGRATED SIDE-IMPACT PROTECTION
IN ALL MODELS.
NEXT, ROBOTS TRANSFER THE FRONT DOORS
TO THE BODY SHELL AND INSTALL THEM.
THE INSTALLATION FIXTURES INCLUDE CAMERAS
THAT ENSURE CORRECT ALIGNMENT OF THE DOORS
WITH THEIR OPENINGS.
CUSTOMERS CAN OPT FOR A SOFT-CLOSE SYSTEM,
WHICH USES A SMALL ELECTRIC MOTOR
TO SHUT THE DOORS GENTLY BUT FIRMLY
REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH OR HOW LITTLE FORCE IS USED.
AS THE CAR BODY ADVANCES ALONG THE PRODUCTION LINE,
WORKERS MOUNT FIXTURES ON THE BODY SHELL.
THE PANAMERA IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ACTIVE HOOD SYSTEM
DESIGNED TO HELP IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
IF THE CAR'S FRONT SENSORS DETECT A COLLISION, THE SYSTEM
INSTANTLY RAISES THE REAR OF THE HOOD TO REDUCE INJURY.
THEY PAINT THE ASSEMBLED BODY IN FIVE STAGES.
FIRST, THE CAR BODY IS COATED WITH A PHOSPHATE
FOR IMPROVED ADHESION.
THEY ALSO USE AN ELECTROPHORETIC COATING,
SEAM SEALING, AND FILLER COATING.
DURING THE FINAL STEP, ROBOTS COAT THE METAL SHELL
WITH ITS COLORED BASE COAT AND CLEAR COAT.
THEN THE SHELL IS SENT THROUGH AN ENORMOUS DRYING OVEN.
AFTER THE TOP COAT DRIES,
THE BODY ARRIVES AT A SPECIALLY DESIGNED LIGHT TUNNEL.
THE LIGHT TUNNEL IS EQUIPPED WITH L.E.D. TUBES
POSITIONED TO CREATE A UNIFORM LIGHT STRIP PATTERN
ON THE SURFACE OF THE CAR BODY.
THIS MAKES IT EASIER FOR A TEAM OF QUALITY-CONTROL INSPECTORS
TO DETECT THE TINIEST FLAWS IN THE PAINT JOB.
IF THEY FIND EVEN THE SLIGHTEST IMPERFECTION,
THE INSPECTORS REMOVE THE BODY FROM THE LINE
AND SEND IT FOR SPOT REPAIR.
THE INSPECTORS ARE SATISFIED WITH THE PAINT JOB,
SO THE CAR BODY IS READY TO HEAD TO THE ASSEMBLY LINE.
Narrator: THE PORSCHE PANAMERA
COMES IN MANY DIFFERENT POWER TRAIN CONFIGURATIONS,
WITH THE PANAMERA S FEATURING A BURLY 3-LITER,
TWIN TURBOCHARGED V-6.
A TECHNICIAN PLACES CONNECTING RODS
IN A MACHINE TO CLEAN OFF ANY STRAY PARTICLES.
HE SCANS THE CONRODS, CONFIRMING THEY'RE THE RIGHT COMPONENTS
FOR THE ENGINE HE'S BUILDING.
NEXT HE UNSCREWS THE CAPS AND INSTALLS THE BEARINGS.
THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF EACH BEARING HAS A TINY NOSE ON IT.
THIS FITS PRECISELY INTO A SMALL NOTCH IN THE CONNECTING ROD,
ENSURING THE TECHNICIAN INSTALLS THE RIGHT BEARING
IN THE RIGHT CONROD.
HE ASSEMBLES THE CONROD TO THE PISTONHEAD
WITH A PURPOSE-BUILT MACHINE.
THE MACHINE SCANS THE CONNECTING ROD
FROM ABOVE TO VERIFY ONCE AGAIN THAT IT'S THE RIGHT PART.
HE PLACES THE PISTONHEAD
IN A VISE DESIGNED TO COMPRESS THE RINGS.
A LIFT ASSIST HELPS THE TECHNICIAN
BRING THE CRANKSHAFT TO THE ENGINE BLOCK
AND LOWER IT IN PLACE.
HE ROTATES THE BLOCK ON ITS ASSEMBLY FIXTURE
TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE PISTON BORE HOLES.
HE CAREFULLY INSTALLS SIX PISTONS IN THEIR BORES
ONE BY ONE.
ONCE THEY'RE IN PLACE,
HE TURNS THE BLOCK AGAIN TO INSTALL THE CONROD CAPS
USING A TORQUING DEVICE TO TIGHTEN THEM.
HE MANUALLY ROTATES THE CRANKSHAFT TO MAKE SURE
THE PISTONS MOVE SMOOTHLY.
A FULLY AUTOMATED STATION BRINGS
THE UPPER AND LOWER SECTIONS OF THE ENGINE BLOCK TOGETHER
AND BOLTS THEM SECURELY.
THE BOLTING PROCESS IS PERFECTLY SYNCHRONIZED
TO MAKE THE BEST CONNECTION POSSIBLE.
PORSCHE HAS DESIGNED FAIL-SAFE FEATURES
INTO THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS TO PREVENT ASSEMBLY ERRORS.
GUIDE PINS ON A LIFT ASSIST
HELP THE OPERATOR POSITION THE CYLINDER HEAD.
A TECHNICIAN DROPS THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS
INTO THEIR POSITIONS BEFORE TORQUING THEM DOWN
ONE BY ONE.
HE GREASES THE CYLINDER HEADS TO PREPARE THEM
FOR THE CAMSHAFT INSTALLATION.
THE TECHNICIAN CAREFULLY PLACES THE CAMSHAFTS
OVER THE CYLINDER HEADS.
HE LOCKS IT IN PLACE WITH A JIG, THEN BOLTS IT DOWN.
A WORKER POSITIONS THE PANAMERA'S TIMING CHAIN,
CAREFULLY THREADING IT ONTO THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS.
THE CHAINS OPTIMIZE THE TIMING FOR DIFFERENT LOADS,
ENSURING THE ROTATION OF THE CRANKSHAFT
AND THE CAMSHAFT ARE PERFECTLY SYNCHRONIZED.
THE TIMING CASE IS MADE OF MAGNESIUM,
WHICH IS 33% LIGHTER THAN ALUMINUM
AND 75% LIGHTER THAN STEEL.
A TECHNICIAN FINISHES THE OPERATION
BY INSTALLING THE CYLINDER HEAD COVER AND IGNITION COILS.
THE V-6 ENGINE OF THE PORSCHE PANAMERA S
IS NEARLY DONE.
A WORKER CAREFULLY PLACES THE COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD
INTO POSITION.
HE USES A TORQUE-CONTROLLED BOLTING DEVICE
TO RUN DOWN THE SCREWS AND BOLT IT SECURELY IN PLACE.
THE COMPLETED V-6 CAN TAKE THE PANAMERA S
FROM ZERO TO 60 IN JUST 5.1 SECONDS,
WITH A TOP SPEED OF ALMOST 180 MILES PER HOUR.
THE ENGINE JOINS THE REST OF THE POWER TRAIN
ON A YELLOW SUBASSEMBLY WAGON.
AS THE WAGON MOVES ON ITS TRACK,
MEMBERS OF THE PORSCHE PRODUCTION TEAM
COMPLETE THE ASSEMBLY.
A TECHNICIAN USES A TORQUE-CONTROLLED DRIVER
TO RUN DOWN THE BOLTS
THAT ATTACH THE PROP SHAFT TO THE TRANSMISSION.
THE SHAFT CAN NOW TRANSFER POWER TO THE REAR AXLE.
MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL,
THE EXHAUST IS A LIGHTWEIGHT SYSTEM,
FEATURING CATALYTIC CONVERTERS THAT HEAT UP RAPIDLY
FOR INCREASED EMISSIONS CONTROL.
INTERNAL DESIGN FEATURES ENHANCE SOUND AT HIGH REVS.
VARIABLE CAMSHAFT CONTROL,
TURBO CHARGING, RECUPERATION,
AUTO START-STOP,
AND A COASTING FUNCTION
ALL COMBINE TO MAKE THIS V-6 MORE EFFICIENT
AND MORE POWERFUL THAN ITS PREDECESSOR.
Narrator: THE PANAMERA'S PERFORMANCE
RECALLS THE SPORTS CAR POWER AND AGILITY
THAT MADE PORSCHE FAMOUS,
BUT THE INTERIOR IS THAT OF A PLUSH AND ROOMY SEDAN.
BUYERS CAN CUSTOMIZE EVERYTHING FROM THE DASHBOARD
TO THE SEAT COVERS.
PANAMERA CAR BODIES TAKE THE TRAIN
FROM THE PORSCHE FACILITY IN HANOVER
TO THIS PLANT IN LEIPZIG.
FIRST, THEY ORGANIZE THE CARS IN AN OPTIMAL SEQUENCE.
THEN THE CAR BODIES DESCEND TO THE MAIN ASSEMBLY AREA.
WITH THE HELP OF A LIFT ASSIST,
IT TAKES JUST 2 1/2 MINUTES TO INSTALL THE DASHBOARD.
SINCE EACH PANAMERA IS CUSTOM-MADE,
EACH DASHBOARD IS UNIQUE.
BUILT BY A NEARBY SUPPLIER,
THE DASHBOARDS COME WITH THE WIRING HARNESS.
THE HARNESS IS UNIQUE TO THE CAR, TOO.
THE NUMBER OF CONNECTIONS DEPENDS
ON THE CUSTOMER'S SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.
WHEN THE COMPUTER PROGRAM RESPONSIBLE FOR SEQUENCING
THE CARS CALCULATES THE ORDER OF PRODUCTION,
IT FACTORS IN THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PARTS REQUIRED.
IT ALSO CONSIDERS THE ASSEMBLY TEAM'S NEED
FOR VARIETY.
THE TEAM CONSISTS OF HIGHLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS,
CAPABLE OF PERFORMING MULTIPLE TASKS.
PROGRAMMING VARIETY INTO THE PRODUCTION LINE
PROMOTES HIGH-QUALITY WORKMANSHIP.
A ROBOT USES VACUUM-POWERED SUCTION CUPS
TO HOLD A WINDSHIELD IN PLACE
AS A BEAD OF SEALANT IS APPLIED AROUND THE PERIMETER.
CUSTOMERS CAN OPT FOR THERMALLY AND NOISE-INSULATED GLASS,
AS WELL AS DARK TINTING TO ENHANCE PRIVACY.
THE ROBOT CAREFULLY POSITIONS THE GLASS ON A TABLE,
ENSURING THAT IT'S IN PRECISELY THE RIGHT SPOT FOR INSTALLATION.
WITH THE SEALANT APPLIED
AND THE WINDSHIELD PERFECTLY CENTERED ON ITS FIXTURE,
THE ROBOT CAN QUICKLY INSTALL THE GLASS IN ITS FRAME.
A PORSCHE ASSEMBLY TEAM MEMBER
BRINGS THE REAR CENTER CONSOLE COVER INTO THE CAR
AND USES A DRIVER TO INSTALL IT.
INSTALLATION OF THE CONSOLES CAN TAKE UP TO 9 MINUTES.
THIS OF COURSE DEPENDS ON THE OPTIONS CHOSEN BY THE CUSTOMER.
HERE, THE TECHNICIAN INSTALLS THE CONSOLE'S FRONT SECTION.
IT INCLUDES THE CONTROL PANEL FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER
AND THE COVER OF THE GEAR SHIFT MODULE,
WHICH HOUSES MULTIPLE CONTROLS
ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STICK SHIFTER.
HERE, TECHNICIANS INSTALL THE FRONT SEATS.
PORSCHE PRACTICES MODEL-MIXED PRODUCTION.
THIS MEANS CARS WITH A HIGH NUMBER OF OPTIONS
ARE INTERSPERSED WITH LOW-OPTION VERSIONS.
MIXED PRODUCTION HELPS KEEP PRODUCTION TIME
AT A CONSTANT RATE,
REGARDLESS OF THE COMPLEXITY OF A PARTICULAR ASSEMBLY.
TEAM MEMBERS INSTALL THE FRONT-END MODULE.
THIS MODULE CONTAINS THE CAR'S COMPLETE COOLING PACKAGE.
THEY FASTEN IT IN TWO STAGES...
FIRST WITH BATTERY-POWERED DRIVERS
AND THEN WITH A TORQUE-CONTROLLED TIGHTENER.
NEXT, THEY ADD THE LIGHTWEIGHT BUMPER,
WHICH HELPS TO DEFINE THE SIGNATURE SLEEK PORSCHE LOOK
WITH ITS SLOPING NOSE AND LONG-SLUNG GRILLE.
A TECHNICIAN FITS THE HEADLIGHTS
SNUGLY INTO THEIR APERTURES.
THEY'RE SHAPED LIKE UPSIDE-DOWN TEARDROPS.
SPECIALISTS WILL LATER TUNE THEIR HEIGHT AND DIRECTION.
A WORKER USES A TOOL
TO CHECK THE GAPS BETWEEN THE HOOD, THE BUMPER,
AND THE FENDERS.
THE CARS MOVE ON PLATFORMS EQUIPPED WITH WOOD FLOORING.
WOOD FLOORING IS MORE ERGONOMICALLY COMFORTABLE
FOR THE ASSEMBLY TEAM MEMBERS
TO WORK ON THAN CONCRETE OR STEEL.
FOR ADDITIONAL ERGONOMIC COMFORT,
A TECHNICIAN USES A LIFT ASSIST TO INSTALL A DOOR.
THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR BODY
HAS BEEN LEFT OPEN TO ALLOW FOR ITS MARRIAGE
WITH THE POWER TRAIN.
THE POWER TRAIN SLIDES LATERALLY INTO POSITION ON ITS FIXTURE
AS AN OVERHEAD CARRIER BRINGS THE BODY OVER IT.
THEN THE POWER TRAIN ASCENDS.
AT THIS FACILITY, THE MARRIAGE IS ENTIRELY AUTOMATED
AND TAKES JUST 2 MINUTES TO COMPLETE.
A TECHNICIAN INSTALLS THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG
IN THE STEERING WHEEL.
FOR MINOR ACCIDENTS,
THE AIR BAGS PARTIALLY INFLATE TO MINIMIZE DISCOMFORT.
A TEAM MEMBER WORKS WITH A FULLY AUTOMATED MECHANISM
TO BRING A WHEEL TO THE RIGHT REAR WHEELBASE,
MOUNT IT, AND TORQUE THE LUGS.
THE PANAMERA COMES STANDARD WITH 18-INCH ALLOY WHEELS
AND THE PORSCHE ACTIVE SUSPENSION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM,
WHICH ADJUSTS THE DAMPING FORCE
ON EACH WHEEL ACCORDING TO ROAD CONDITIONS.
Narrator: IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT PORSCHE WAS NEARLY BANKRUPT
IN THE EARLY 1990s.
THE COMPANY TURNED ITSELF AROUND SO COMPLETELY THAT IT NOW
MAKES MORE MONEY PER CAR THAN ANY OTHER MANUFACTURER.
THE TURNAROUND BEGAN WHEN PORSCHE
INTRODUCED LEAN MANUFACTURING PRINCIPLES FROM JAPAN.
FAMED LEAN MANUFACTURING CONSULTANT W. EDWARDS DEMING
WROTE, "YOU CAN'T INSPECT QUALITY INTO A PRODUCT."
IN OTHER WORDS, THE QUALITY IS EITHER THERE, OR IT'S NOT.
NEVERTHELESS, QUALITY CONTROL IS A CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT STEP
IN PRODUCTION.
A HIGHLY TRAINED INSPECTOR
SCRUTINIZES EVERY ASPECT OF THE CAR INSIDE AND OUT,
NOTING AND RECORDING ANY FLAWS.
BEFORE STARTING, INSPECTORS MUST REMOVE ANY BELTS,
WATCHES, OR OTHER METAL THAT COULD SCRATCH THE PAINT.
WITH THE FIT AND FINISH FULLY INSPECTED,
THIS CAR IS READY FOR FURTHER TESTING.
A DRIVER STARTS UP THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME.
HE GUIDES IT TO A ROLLING ROAD STATION
IN THE DYNAMIC TESTING AREA.
THE DRIVER FOLLOWS THE DIRECTIONS OF A COMPUTER PROGRAM
AND RUNS THE CAR
THROUGH A BATTERY OF DIFFERENT DRIVING MODES.
THE PANAMERA ENTERS A BOOTH,
WHERE HIGH-PRESSURE WATER JETS
SIMULATE MONSOON CONDITIONS.
NOZZLES POSITIONED ABOVE,
BELOW, AND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR
SHOOT SEVERAL HUNDRED GALLONS OF WATER PER MINUTE.
THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR MUST BE COMPLETELY DRY,
OR IT DOESN'T PASS THE TEST.
AFTER LEAVING THE LEAKAGE TEST BOOTH, THE DRIVER
STEERS THE PANAMERA TO THE FINAL STATIC CONTROL GATE,
ALSO KNOWN AS QUALITY GATE EIGHT.
OUTSIDE, A DRIVER TAKES THE CAR OVER A COBBLESTONE STRIP
TO GAUGE INTERIOR NOISE.
LEATHER UPHOLSTERY TENDS TO BE SQUEAKY,
BUT PORSCHE STRIVES TO MINIMIZE THIS.
THE TEST DRIVER THEN STEERS THE PANAMERA
UP THE SLOPE OF A PURPOSE-BUILT TESTING HILL
AND STOPS IT ON THE INCLINE
TO CHECK THE HILL-HOLD FUNCTION OF THE BRAKES.
THEN HE TAKES IT OVER THE TOP
AND TESTS THE CAR ON THE DOWNWARD SLOPE.
THE PANAMERA COMES STANDARD
WITH THE PORSCHE TRACTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM,
WHICH INCLUDES AUTOMATIC BRAKE DIFFERENTIAL
AND ANTISLIP REGULATION.
IT'S NOW WORTHY OF DISPLAY AT A VENUE
LIKE THE LEIPZIG PORSCHE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER.
ONE WAY TO TELL THE DIFFERENT PANAMERA MODELS APART
IS BY LOOKING AT THE COLOR OF THEIR BRAKE CALIPERS.
YELLOW BRAKE CALIPERS
SIGNIFY PORSCHE CERAMIC COMPOSITE BRAKES, OR PCCBs.
WITH ENHANCED PERFORMANCE, FUEL ECONOMY, AND HANDLING,
PCCBs CAN BE FITTED ONTO ANY PANAMERA UPON REQUEST,
BUT IT COMES STANDARD ON THE TURBO S.
WITH ITS 4.8-LITER TWIN TURBO V-8 POWERHOUSE,
THE TURBO S ACHIEVES A MAXIMUM TORQUE
OF 516 FOOT-POUNDS
BETWEEN 2,500 AND 5,000 RPMs,
ACCELERATES FROM ZERO TO 60 IN JUST 3.8 SECONDS,
AND REACHES A TOP SPEED OF 192 MILES PER HOUR.
WHEN PORSCHE INTRODUCED THE PANAMERA IN 2009,
CAR FANS WERE SKEPTICAL THAT A COMPANY
FAMOUS FOR MANUFACTURING
SOME OF THE MOST CELEBRATED SPORTS CARS EVER BUILT
COULD REALLY PULL OFF A FOUR-DOOR LUXURY GRAND TOURER.
BUT THE PANAMERA HAS BEEN AN ENORMOUS SUCCESS.
DESPITE FEELING LIKE A SEDAN,
THE PANAMERA STILL
LOOKS AND PERFORMS LIKE A PORSCHE.
IN OTHER WORDS,
DRIVING A PANAMERA IS LIKE DRIVING A SPORTS CAR,
EXCEPT IT'S ROOMY, PLUSH, AND HAS SPACE FOR LUGGAGE.
AND LIKE ALL PORSCHES, IT'S NOT JUST FAST,
IT'S ALSO RELIABLE.