advanse

Ferrari vs. Porsche

Ferrari vs Porsche

Ferrari

Porsche
Enzo Ferrari

Founder

Ferdinand Porsche
1947

Year Founded

1931
1947

Year of First Vehicle Produced

1939
Maranello, Italy

Headquarters

Stuttgart, Germany
16

Formula 1 Constructors’ Championships

0

Ferrari and Porsche are two of the biggest names in performance-focused vehicles, but their backgrounds couldn’t be more different. While both automakers produce impressive cars, Ferrari’s commitment to Formula 1 racing — and its influence on production vehicles — presents a stark contrast with its German competitor.


Heritage

Ferrari and Porsche have vastly different origins: Ferrari is rooted in the racing world, whereas Porsche began by offering motor vehicle development work and consulting.

The concept of Ferrari began in 1929 as Alfa Romeo’s racing division, then known as Scuderia Ferrari (a name Ferrari uses for racing to this day). It wasn’t until 1947 that Ferrari established itself as a true automaker with the release of the 125 S — but then, as now, the design of every vehicle is rooted in the racing world, and thus in pushing the limits of what is possible for supercars and hypercars to achieve. It’s as much a reason that Ferrari has earned a record 16 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championships as it is for the Prancing Horse’s production vehicles continually getting better and faster.

Porsche began by providing vehicle consulting services to the German government, with one of its first designs becoming the Volkswagen Beetle — a storied design, to be sure, but not a car that’s known for its performance. Its first performance vehicle — the Porsche 64 — was developed using many of the components that were also used in the Beetle. During World War II, Porsche was focused on designing tanks. It wasn’t until 1948 that Porsche was able to release the 356 — the first car that Porsche actually sold.

Porsche didn’t become involved in motorsports until the 1950s, and while they saw success in certain venues, they’ve never been a major player in Formula 1. In other words, racing is something that Porsche came to eventually; by contrast, Ferrari grew out of a racing spirit.

Enzo Ferrari Driving

Performance

The origins of Ferrari and Porsche speak to the difference in the performance of their vehicles. Consider a recent example from each automaker:

  • Ferrari’s Portofino M features a 3.9L Twin-Turbo V8 that produces 612 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque. The end result of this power is a top speed of 200 mph and the ability to go from 0 – 60 mph in 3.45 seconds.
  • The Porsche 911 Carrera GTS has a 3.0L V6 that produces a lesser 450 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. That lower output also means that it’s slower than the Portofino: the 911 Carrera GTS has a top speed of 192 mph, and can go from 0 – 60 mph in 3.6 seconds (but only when equipped with the optional Sport Chrono package).
Ferrari Portofino M parked in front of a city skyline

Porsche Symbol vs. Ferrari Symbol

You may have noticed that the Ferrari and Porsche logos both look similar: they both have a prancing horse on their badges. While the horses are similar, the designs are different from one another, and the horse was adopted by each automaker for different reasons:

  • The horse of Porsche’s logo is also on the coat of arms for Stuttgart, Germany, Porsche’s hometown. Porsche’s logo features the horse as an expression of hometown pride.
  • Ferrari’s use of the Prancing Horse was earned through racing prowess, but its origins go back to 1692, when the Duke of Savoy, Vittorio Amadeo II, founded the Royal Piedmont Regiment. The regiment adopted the stallion as its insignia — and, during World War I, Francesco Baracca hearkened back to the regiment by painting a stallion on the fuselage of his biplane. All of this led to the symbol being awarded to the winner of 1923 Circuito Automobilistico del Savio (Savio Racing Car Circuit) in Ravenna: Enzo Ferrari himself!

One logo was a default option, while the other was earned. There’s a reason that Ferrari — not Porsche — is also known as the Prancing Horse.

Ferrari Logo

Experience Ferrari for Yourself With Continental AutoSports Ferrari

A Ferrari is unlike anything else on the road, including the best that Porsche has to offer. The only way to truly understand is to drive a Ferrari for yourself. If you’re ready to take the next step, we’ll be delighted to help you buy a Ferrari of your own, whether you’re in Indianapolis, Milwaukee, or elsewhere in the United States. We proudly serve enthusiasts throughout the country from our Chicago-area dealership, so contact Continental AutoSports Ferrari today to begin!

More From Continental AutoSports Ferrari

  • What is the Ferrari KC23?

      What is the Ferrari KC23? Well, it’s nothing more than the newest installment to the highly spectacular Ferrari lineup. Any true Ferrari follower would instantly recognize the seamless blend of Ferrari’s Vision Gran Turismo concept and its Le Mans winning 499P that come together to make this vehicle. If you’re a lover of all things bespoke, this may just be the car for you and your Hinsdale and Milwaukee drives!   Browse More Ferrari InformationContact Us   Ferrari KC23: Notable Features and Highlights While there’s not much that we can tell you about the Ferrari KC23 engine specs and…

  • 6 Hours of Monza Recap: Ferrari Takes Home Second Place

      Only one thing is more thrilling than joining a race and experiencing the excitement of competing out on the track, winning. Second is great, but a manufacturer like Ferrari isn’t satisfied until they’re on the top step of the podium. Curious to know more about what happened at the race? Take a look below and we’ll fill you in on all the hot details.   New Ferrari ModelsContact Us Scuderia Ferrari For the Win Even though it’s not number one, the Ferrari drivers should be filled with nothing but pride for their thrilling performance at the 6 Hours of…

  • Ferrari Unmatched: New 2025 Ferrari SF90 XX

    Something can be considered good, great even, but at Ferrari, we don’t strive to settle for great. We’re always working to improve our vehicles and reach new peaks of never before seen technology and unmatched performance. And that’s all come together in the very first road-legal XX car: the 2025 Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale. Which, luckily for Hinsdale drivers, is also available in the SF90 XX Spider version as well. Browsw New Ferrari Models Contact Us Not One But Two: SF90 XX Stradale and SF90 XX Spider There is not an inch of this vehicle, in either model, that doesn’t…

Continental AutoSports Ferrari 41.8171624, -87.9196139.