There is Doom and Gloom and Things Go Boom, in Porsche's Factory

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Auto Motor und Sport reports that a gas explosion rocked Porsche's famed Zuffenhausen factory early this morning. The blast originated in the factory paint shop at five a.m. local time, when gas apparently escaped a drying kiln and ignited. The explosion triggered the factories automatic sprinkler system, which prevented the spread of fire, but also left the paint shop and other portions of the 911 assembly line underwater. Two factory workers were hospitalized for unspecified injuries, but no fatalities were reported. Damage from the explosion and the sprinkler system will halt the production of up to 500 911's during the planned two to three day cleanup period. Despite the shutdown of 911 production, Zuffenhausen-sourced components for the Leipzig-built Cayenne and Finnish-finished Boxster will continue to roll out of the factory, meaning that for at least a few days the cynics were right, and Porsche will be building everything but a real 911.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • 50merc 50merc on Feb 25, 2008

    In other news, Porsche announced an amphibious 911 model for the New Orleans market.

  • Starlightmica Starlightmica on Feb 25, 2008

    From the Fark.com thread: * Explosion reported at Porsche factory. It's 911 all over again * It's gotta be a whale of the tail. * 928 people were injured * originally 356 people worked there * Giuliani is back in the race! * Who carreras? * If the explosion were to flat-6 buildings, it would have been a Carerra-ending incident for one of the 944 managers. * They've loaded all the debris into boxsters. Should be back online in a few minutes.

  • JJ JJ on Feb 26, 2008
    But the question remains, do you call 9-1-1 when the 911 factory goes boom Mwahahaha...stays funny. Seriously though, no, you call 1-1-2. At least if it's really true that Europe has a uniform emergency number like I'm told here in the Netherlands, which frankly I doubt, cause when I was in Hungary for a couple of months last year I found out that it could also be 1-1-7 over there... Europe, gotta love it.
  • Chris Haak Chris Haak on Feb 26, 2008

    Stingray, of course I knew that the white was the protective covering. I'll shut up and stop trying to be funny though. :)

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