Concept Cars
You've never seen these vintage Porsche concept cars ... until now
Porsche has allowed prying eyes into its archives to see some previously unseen concept cars.
A car's journey from paper to dealership lot is longer than most probably realize, with each generation taking the better part of a decade to bring to fruition. Before a car becomes a car, it's a prototype. Before it's a prototype, it's a concept car. Stretching back even further, there's models and drawings.
Porsche has hidden a number of its concept cars away from the prying eyes of the public for years and only recently opened the proverbial vault of treasures. Here's what was found, with descriptions by Porsche.
Porsche 919 Street
Photo courtesy of Porsche AG
The Porsche 919 Street (2017; 1:1 clay model) was developed on the basis of the technology used in the Porsche 919 Hybrid, promising to make the exhilarating driving experience of the LMP1 race car available to amateur drivers. Under the outer shell are the carbon monocoque and powerful 900 PS hybrid racing drivetrain that helped the Porsche 919 to achieve numerous victories at Le Mans. The dimensions and wheelbase were also the same as on the race car.
Porsche Vision Spyder
Photo courtesy of Porsche AG
With its spartan, puristic cockpit, the characteristic radiator grilles over the mid engine, red graphic elements and the suggested fins at the rear, the compact Porsche Vision Spyder (2019; 1:1 hard model) clearly calls to mind the Porsche 550-1500 RS Spyder from 1954. At the same time, the study was intended to further develop the design identity of Porsche and provide a pool of ideas for future details – for example, the ultra-modern roll bar.
Porsche vision “Renndienst”
Photo courtesy of Porsche AG
The Porsche vision "Renndienst" (2018; 1:1 hard model) is the free interpretation of a family-friendly space concept for up to six persons. The design team designed a futuristic "space shuttle" with exciting proportions. The study shows how the Porsche design DNA with its characteristic surface modelling can be transferred to an unknown vehicle segment for the brand. In the interior, passengers find a comfortable and modular travel cabin. The driver sits in a central driver's seat. The all-electric drive technology is located in the underbody. As a result, passengers can enjoy an unexpectedly generous space and travel experience combined with Porsche-like flair.
Porsche 906 Living Legend
Photo courtesy of Porsche AG
In this vision of a super sports car, the Porsche 906 (2015; 1:1 hard model) provided the proportions and design cues. Particularly innovative is the visual impression of the car being two bodies pushed into each other. The gap between the elements serves as a ventilation duct for a powerful mid-engine.
Porsche Vision 918 RS
Photo courtesy of Porsche AG
The Porsche 918 Spyder (2019; 1:1 hard model) was a milestone as the first hybridised super sports car from Weissach. In 2019 the designers created a new fascinating evolutionary stage of the 918. With further developed drive and chassis technology as well as an aerodynamically perfected body, the Porsche Vision 918 RS would once again set standards on the road and racing track.
Porsche Vision 920
Photo courtesy of Porsche AG
How to combine the formal language of Porsche's road sports cars with the functional design of a prototype racing car? With the Porsche Vision 920 (2019; 1:1 hard model) the design team has created an extreme hypercar. The aerodynamically optimised body and the central cockpit blur the boundaries between racing track and road.
Porsche Vision E
Photo courtesy of Porsche AG
In Formula E, the technology of the future is tested under high performance and pushed to its limits. Based on the Porsche 99X Electric, the design team developed a radically light single-seater racing car for private racers called the Porsche Vision E (2019; 1:1 hard model). The fully electric driving experience should be breathtaking.
Porsche 919 Street
Photo courtesy of Porsche AG
With the Porsche 919 Hybrid, Porsche has won the 24 hours of Le Mans three times. Based on the LMP1 racing car, Michael Mauer and his team developed this vision of a special series for private racing drivers called the Porsche 919 Street (2017; 1:1 clay model)
Porsche 917 Living Legend
Photo courtesy of Porsche AG
At the wheel of the Porsche 917 KH in the red and white livery of Porsche Salzburg, Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood won the first overall victory for Porsche at Le Mans in the summer of 1970. When Porsche returned to the LMP1 sport in 2013, the team in Weissach developed a modern interpretation of the winning car of yesteryear. The Porsche 918 Spyder served as the technical inspiration for the Porsche 917 Living Legend (2013; 1:1 clay model). "In the super sports cars from Porsche, you always have the feeling of practically sitting on the road between the high wheel arches," says Michael Mauer. "We wanted to emphasise this even further."
Want to see more? The previously unpublished design studies are being presented exclusively by the Porsche Newsroom in a series of articles. The 9:11Magazine web TV format has also dedicated an episode to selected studies and examines the connection between the studies and the current production models together with Porsche Chief Designer Michael Mauer. For fans of the brand, the book entitled "Porsche Unseen" has been released by Delius Klasing.
Porsche Unseen - The Bookwww.youtube.com
A selection of studies will also be on display later for fans to admire live: the Porsche Museum will be integrating the models in the exhibition in 2021.