Porsche has completed 75 years of passionate car making, and they’re celebrating in style with the Vision 357 concept. This special edition coupe is a nod to the iconic 356 Roadster, Porsche’s first-ever sports car that arrived in June 1948. The celebration model adopts its sloping flyline, broad shoulders and aero coverings.
The two-seater performance car is a self-birthday present imbibing the nostalgia of the 356 coupe DNA – fusing the past, present and future. As Michael Mauer, Vice President Style Porsche pictured the concept to “feature proportions that are reminiscent of its historical archetype and details that visualize the outlook for the future.”
Designer: Porsche
This eye candy roadster is created on the Italian automaker’s 718 Cayman GT4 RS technology platform, boasting a horsepower of 493 thanks to the 4.0-liter flat-six engine. Gone are the door handles concealed behind the rear side glass for a sleeker look. So, how is the driver kept aware of things in the rear? Well, that’s taken care of by the embedded cameras. The signature GT4 RS origin is hinted at by the rear quarter-window intakes, feeding fresh air to the engine. 911 GT3 R elements are also apparent in the small splitters supported by cables and vents at the trailing edge of those 21-inch magnesium wheels.
Porsche chose to encapsulate the windshield around the A-pillars for a unique three-window element fused into one – just like a helmet visor. This reminds me of the brand’s Mission R EV race-car concept introduced back in 2021. Circuit racing personality is visually present in the form of “75” number decals on the door and hood, and “357” stickers on the front fenders and rear fascia. There are “Air” decals, and arrows pointing to the inlets and air intakes which are unique in their own rights. The roadster adorns dual-tone Ice Grey Metallic and Grivola Grey Metallic hues which are inspired by the factory shades of the 1950s.
The elements that hint towards its core concept DNA are the rounded headlight motifs and the subtle rear lights. All this leads me to believe it’s not going to be a production version anytime soon and only be restricted to being an eye-candy racer. Passionate Porsche fans can see the Vision 357 concept at a special exhibit in Berlin until mid-February, and later on at international automotive events later this year.
