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ExxonMobil and Porsche 1996-2006: Creating the Ultimate Driving Performance Through 10 Years of Partnership On-Road and On-Track


June 2006
 Filed under: PORSCHE CORPORATE Car News | PORSCHE CORPORATE Headlines

- Half a Million Porsche Vehicles Have Now Left the Production Line Filled With Mobil 1

LEIPZIG, Germany, June 15/PRNewswire/ -- The world's premier petroleum and petrochemical company, ExxonMobil, and one of the most prestigious car manufacturers, Porsche AG, celebrate 10 years of strategic partnership this month. 500,000 Porsche vehicles have now left the production line filled with the latest Mobil 1 formulation.
Porsche first selected Mobil 1 - ExxonMobil's flagship lubricant - as its "factory fill" and "recommended service fill oil" in 1996. The partnership, however, extends far further than this. Over the past 10 years, the ExxonMobil and Porsche technical teams have collaborated closely on developing the engines that power some of the most desirable and technically-advanced performance cars ever seen, together ensuring the very highest parameters in terms of both performance and reliability.

"Lubrication is a vital part of the engine development process, key to ensuring engine protection and reliability at maximum performance levels," says Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser, Head of Engine and Development Systems, Porsche AG. "ExxonMobil engineers are actively involved in the development of all new Porsche road and racing engines, from the latest 911 Turbo through to the RS Spyder prototype," he added.

ExxonMobil has also supported Porsche's diversification into new categories and markets. This has involved developing lubricant solutions to answer the technical challenges raised in entering the SUV market. Due to poor fuel quality in the often remote areas where SUV vehicles are so popular, impurities in the fuel after combustion create residue which can block the flow of lubricants around the engine, fouling internal components. In tests, Porsche identified that Mobil 1 was very effective at absorbing and suspending the impurities, preventing any hindrance to the efficient and safe functioning of the engine.

"Technology is a critical enabler for lubricants, and the close collaboration between our scientists, engineers and business partners is a key factor in developing the most innovative products," explains ExxonMobil's Bill Maxwell, Mobil 1 Team Leader since 1989. "In return, we are able to provide manufacturers such as Porsche with one consistent, premium-quality formulation that can be supplied globally."

Motorsports involvement also plays a pivotal role in developing and testing new technologies for both companies, and the past 10 years have been very successful for Porsche teams. The first two years of cooperation with ExxonMobil saw two overall victories at Le Mans with a Joest Racing run Porsche Spyder winning in 1997 and a double victory for the Porsche works squad and their 911 GT1 '98 in 1998.. The Mobil 1 0W-40 formulation has also been the oil of choice for Porsche's one-make cup series for the past ten years. Competitors in both Supercup (which follows the F1 calendar of events) and national Carrera Cup (hosted throughout Europe and Asia) provide invaluable data to ExxonMobil technicians, to continue the evolution of Mobil 1 lubricants.

Hartmut Kristen, head of Porsche Motorsport says: "Supercup and Carrera Cup competitors use the same specification of Mobil 1 lubricant added to all our road-going cars. Our road cars are inherently built to withstand and excel under the conditions of racing, and this is quality we recognize in Mobil 1."

ExxonMobil is also involved in Porsche's premier motorsports programme - the RS Spyder project. Since its launch in 2005, the Spyder has undergone continuous development in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) - arguably the most competitive endurance racing series in the world. The RS Spyder made ALMS history last month finishing 1-2 overall at the Mid-Ohio round, becoming the first LMP2 class team to post such a result in the Series.

"Mobil 1 oil helps ensure engine health under critical conditions," says Thomas Laudenbach, Manager of Porsche Motorsport Development - Powertrain. Explaining the role that the engine oil plays, he adds: "Long distance races call for a perfect performance over a wide temperature range and under high pressure. Mobil1 technology reduces engine friction and can therefore increase engine power output".

This is confirmed by ExxonMobil's Global Motorsports Technology Manager, Bruce Crawley: "Mobil 1 is an all seasons, all conditions product. From road to race track, from the sub-zero temperatures of Siberia to the heat of the Sahara, it ensures superior performance and protection, helping to extend the life of your engine, whatever car you drive."

Mobil 1 has been chosen by Porsche and other leading performance car manufacturers due to the product's five key promises:

- 1. Mobil 1 offers outstanding performance at extreme temperatures

- 2. Mobil 1 helps to keep high-performance engines running like new and helps to extend engine life

- 3. Mobil 1 drives fuel economy by offering excellent friction reducing properties

- 4. Mobil 1 exceeds the toughest performance standards set by automakers and the oil industry

- 5. Mobil 1 is tested and proven under diverse motorsport conditions

In addition to technical leaps forward, the last 10 years have seen a fantastic period of growth for both partners. Porsche's Group global sales have increased by 15 percent to almost 90,000 vehicles in the last fiscal year, with European sales accounting for a large proportion of this growth. Sales in the South and Eastern European region augmented by as much as 53 percent, Russia by 38 percent, Italy by 38 percent, France by 28 percent, and Great Britain by 16 percent. The Middle Eastern region saw sales increase by 37 percent. In this same period, ExxonMobil's Mobil 1 brand has experienced strong growth, at 12 percent year on year for the last five years.

The Mobil 1 range is available from Exxon, Esso and Mobil service stations, leading franchised car dealerships, automotive stores and other independent retailers.

About ExxonMobil

Customers have relied on ExxonMobil lubricants for more than 130 years. Marketed in nearly 200 countries and territories worldwide, ExxonMobil products stand for performance, innovation and expertise. As the industry leader in synthetic lubricants, a full range of ExxonMobil products is available in the automotive, commercial and industrial business sectors. ExxonMobil recognises that business success and social responsibility go hand in hand: to governments, communities and societies where it operates, ExxonMobil pledges to maintain the highest ethical standards, comply with local laws and respect local and national cultures. The term "ExxonMobil" is used for convenience only, and may include Exxon Mobil Corporation or any of its affiliates.

Source: ExxonMobil and Porsche

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