Photography Courtesy Porsche
What would a modern-day successor to the Porsche 356 look like? Well, the car maker from Stuttgart seems to have been wondering that, too.
Meet the Porsche Vision 357, “an attempt to combine the past, present and future with coherency, featuring proportions that are reminiscent of its historical archetype and details that visualise the outlook for the future,” says Michael Mauer, Vice President Style Porsche.
Built to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the very first Porsche-branded automobile to hit the road, the 357 is more than just a fancy skin, as the design study features mechanical underpinnings from the 718 Cayman GT4 RS.
Functional details fitted to the 357 include 20-inch magnesium wheels with “aerodynamically advantageous” carbon fiber hubcaps, quick-release mechanisms for the jointless front hood and threaded rods stabilize the front spoiler.
Like the earlier Porsche Mission R, the 357 makes use of sustainable materials–such as the “natural fibre-reinforced” plastics used in the design study’s side sills. As well, the engine “would be designed for operation with e-fuels.”
Hope to see it in person? The Vision 357 will be on display at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, starting on March 10. Porsche also notes the design study will be at “further international events over the course of the year."
IMO it looks like a 911 and Opel had a very small love child.
Looks like 90s 911 nose stuck on a Audi TT or a new beetle to me.
It's not bad at all. I do prefer the Mission R modern design language though and the aspirational nature of its technology. Yes it's cool that this is combustion Engined but I feel like a future looking Drivetrain would be more fitting to a homage build.
Also am I the only one that sees 350Z In that rear 3/4 view? I realize it is very difficult to differentiate a car with short rear overhang, wide fendered, sloping "hatch" type from each other.. but..
I would kill to drive this and I don't doubt that it's a hell of a drivers car but that front end styling is a hard no.
I mostly like it. I don't love the rear and the way it's flattened in plan view compared to the front. I LOVE the wheels. Part mechanical, part aero.
nocones said:Also am I the only one that sees 350Z In that rear 3/4 view? I realize it is very difficult to differentiate a car with short rear overhang, wide fendered, sloping "hatch" type from each other.. but..
What I think you're seeing that's similar is that the roofline is one, unbroken sweep from the windshield header all the way back to the rear edge of the deck. Nothing else really does it like that. The Porsche has more crown in it, though. I prefer it to the Nissan.
It will be interesting to see it next to an old 356 ,
Hopefully Porsche will bring it to Rennsport at Laguna Seca later in the year ,
are there any videos of it driving ? Or even photos with the doors open ?
There's already a diy kit too!
I watched the Top Gear "First Look" video a couple of days ago...
I definitely dig the resurgence of "Aero Wheels".
My main beef is, that the rear end would never end up looking like that. Those curves are a massive issue with unstable flow separation, which would kill mileage and rearend aero stability (afaik). So, to me, all those splitters, sideskirts, aero covers end up being a bunch of "Aero Lipstick" on the car... instead of a "modern coherent design".
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