What's all this about?
Porsche has taken the covers off a new design study as part of its year-long birthday celebrations. More specifically, the brand is marking 75 years since the emergence of its first road car, the 356, with this: the Vision 357. The newcomer, which is based on the existing Cayman GT4 RS, pays homage to the 356 in several areas, but this is no retro pastiche – it has plenty of ultra-modern touches, too.
Talk to me about the retro bits...
For starters, there’s the shape of the thing, which is more akin to that of the old 356 Coupe. Compared with the Cayman, it has a much more rounded rump, while at the front, the bonnet catches are reminiscent of those seen on old 356 racing cars. The rounded headlight graphics are also a nod to the Cayman’s noble ancestor. To the rear, the tail-light graphics form the shape of the tiny oval units seen on the original 356, with the rear grille treatment inspired by that of the old model. Even the two-tone metallic grey colour scheme, Porsche says, isn’t far off the kinds of colours that became popular in the early 1950s.
So this isn't some Singer-style restomod?
Not at all. In fact, those fun little design elements are about the only old-fashioned thing about the Vision 357. Door mirrors, for instance, are replaced by camera pods, while the materials used in the concept’s construction are both light and sustainable, with complex composites including a flax-based plastic used throughout. The concept sits on a set of 20-inch magnesium wheels with an aerodynamically honed set of carbon-fibre hubcaps and central wheel locks, all designed to improve airflow by reducing turbulence (and increasing ventilation) in the wheel wells. The way the windscreen glass appears to wrap around and visually form one single visor-like unit with the side windows is achieved with blacked-out A-pillars and looks suitably sci-fi. Just don’t go trying to look inside.
Why not?
There’s no interior. It’s not even entirely clear if the Vision 357 has an engine, but Porsche says that if it did, it would be the naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre flat six from the GT4 RS “theoretically” developing 500hp and running on synthetic e-fuel — a far cry from the 40hp Volkswagen-derived flat four found in the first 356. All that goes to highlight the fact the Vision 357 is strictly an exterior design study.
No production plans then?
Disappointingly not. Given its backward-looking styling elements, it’s even unlikely that it’ll echo the design of future Porsche models. No, this is purely a celebration of what Porsche’s styling team can do, and if that’s the objective of the Vision 357, the team has succeeded admirably.
Is it real or just a computer rendering?
It’s very real alright, and it’s set to form the centrepiece of a Porsche exhibition in Berlin running from January 27 until the middle of February. It’ll also go on display at motor shows all over the world in 2023.
David Mullen - 25 Jan 2023