What's all this about?
It’s the new Porsche has announced a new look for its high-specification Turbo models, which will now get model-specific detailing to differentiate them from their stablemates. Although the new look will debut on the forthcoming Panamera, the design upgrades will be rolled out across the Porsche line-up in the fullness of time.
So what do these mysterious upgrades look like?
Yes indeed. Even Subtle, actually. And grey. Except it isn’t grey, it’s Turbonite. Yes, Porsche has developed a new colour to pick out various parts of new Turbo models, whether it’s air intakes, window surrounds or even the lettering at the rear. It’s called Turbonite, and it’s basically metallic grey, although the use of gold flakes in the paint gives it a slight yellowy sheen under its satin finish.
Turbonite? Really?
We didn’t choose the name. Or the colour. But Turbo customers will get it scattered around their new cars, from the trim around the air intakes to the aero inlays in alloy wheels. Exactly where it surfaces will rather depend on the model in question, but Porsche has said it will feature on all Turbo models’ crests, be they on the nose of the car, on the steering wheel or on the alloy centre caps.
What will a Turbonite logo look like?
Somewhat less colourful than standard. Whereas the conventional logos get red, yellow and black trim, the Turbos will get a monochrome design on a Turbonite background, with black lines marking out the badge.
Which models will this affect?
Basically everything. The Panamera will be first to get the Turbonite treatment, but the 911 and Cayenne will also get the same features on their Turbo variants. Even the Taycan, which is famously un-turbocharged, will get this design upgrade. There’s no sign of it on the Macan and 718 models for the time being, however, as they aren’t available in Turbo form. Whether that changes with the new Macan, though, remains to be seen.
What does Porsche have to say for itself?
Michael Mauer, Porsche’s vice-president for style, said: “In 1974, we presented the first turbocharged 911. Since then, the Turbo has become a synonym for our high-performance top models and is now more or less a brand of its own. We now want to make the Turbo even more visible, and differentiate it more markedly from other derivatives such as the GTS. This is why we’ve developed a distinctive Turbo aesthetic. From now on, the Turbo versions will exhibit a consistent appearance across all model series – one that is elegant, high-quality and very special.”
James Fossdyke - 14 Nov 2023