Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, design genius behind Porsche 911

Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, who has died aged 76, created the Porsche 911, the vehicle of choice for many sports car enthusiasts and macho, upwardly mobile young plutocrats.

The car was first introduced in 1963, when "FA" (as Ferdinand Alexander was known) was in charge of the company's design studio. It was conceived as a replacement for the Porsche 356, and was notable for his long bonnet, sloping teardrop roof line and potent rear engine; whereas the 356 had a four-cylinder engine, the new model was six-cylinder. The 911 (which is now in its seventh version) was originally designated 901, but the number had to be changed, as Peugeot claimed a patent on names with a zero in the middle.

Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was born in Stuttgart on December 11 1935, the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951), who founded the eponymous firm in 1931, created the Volkswagen Beetle and contributed to the development of Germany's wartime tanks and the V-1 flying bomb. His son Ferry (FA's father) became chairman of the company.

After attending school in Stuttgart, FA studied at the Ulm School of Design and joined the family business in 1958 as an apprentice in the technical design department, where he immersed himself in the principles of aerodynamics, engine-building and styling. The Porsche 356, meanwhile, had been in production since 1950, and Ferry was contemplating a replacement. This was FA's chance, and he came up with the new model, which was introduced at a motor show in 1963, by which time he was head of design.

Not only was the 911 more powerful than its predecessor, it also had more room in front and in the back (it was introduced as a four-seater), and bigger doors. Also, the body of the car had a simpler, sleeker look. FA always considered himself more of a designer than an engineer, and insisted: "Design must be functional, and functionality must be translated into visual aesthetics, without any reliance on gimmicks that have to be explained."

So successful was the 911 that the company has continued to produce evolved versions of it ever since. The most recent model was unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show last September.

From the beginning the car was a successful competitor in major sports car events, such as the Daytona and Targa Florio. In 1979, the 935 turbo took the Grand Prix d'Endurance at Le Mans, with Porsches filling seven of the first 10 places.

In 1972 FA established his own business, Porsche Design Studio, making watches, sunglasses, luggage and pens.

He served as chairman of Porsche AG from 1990 to 1993, helping to steady the firm as sales dipped in the late 1980s under pressure from global competition.