2011 Porsche 911 GT3 (997)

Representational Level:
The 911 chassis from Porsche has every aspect of what the public sees as a sports car. It has a low and wide stance, and has many materials that are of high quality, giving off justification for its high price. The car has maintained a certain prestige in the automotive world as a competitor in both technological advancements as well as overall driveability. The viewer can automatically tell the car is a Porsche due to its shape and sound, as well as the way that it drives. The representational aspect of the design of the car influences both the abstract and symbolic forms of the Porsche. Not only does the representational form of the 911 chassis act as a symbolic representation of the company as a whole, but the fact that the car is so signature to Porsche almost forces abstraction to take place with every reiteration of the car.

Abstract Level:
As stated earlier, I believe that because the 911 is such a clear representation of Porsche, that the designers are always coming up with new ideas and utilizing abstraction as a form of art with every new reiteration of the car. If the viewer takes a glance at the car, they will notice that the shape is very abstract and different from any other cars on the road. The viewer will also notice the various vents and diffusers that are utilized for aerodynamic efficiency, but that also are not very common on road cars. The shape stimulates the notions of speed and handling, due to the overall stance of the 911 and the aggressive styling. The role of abstraction justifies the notion of the 911 being Porsche's flagship vehicle. The new ideas and inventive notions that come forth with every new 911 seem to solidify its place in automotive history.

Symbolic Level:
The shape of the Porsche 911 has not changed since its conception in the 1970s. Thus, the mere look of the car is symbolic of Porsche and its heritage. With every new model that comes out, Porsche always pushes the car as their visually symbolic representation of the company and its ingenuity with technology, skill, and craftsmanship. This symbolic representation that the 911 delivers impacts the viewer because although the car looks similar to other 911s, the viewer can tell the model year of the car based on little nuances that reflect that time era. The viewer knows that the car they are looking at is a symbol of Porsche's influence on the automotive world and that the car carries a prestige as a direct symbol of the manufacturer. This symbolism directly affects both representation and abstraction of the car. Because the car is such a symbol of Porsche's ideas and notions, both representation and abstraction with every new model are taken into great consideration because all three visual aspects of the Porsche 911 are developed to spoil the senses. This belief that Porsche may have developed the "best" road car in automotive history is a reflection upon the 911s incredible representational, abstract, and symbolic levels of visual design communication with customers and enthusiasts all over the world.