The Ultimate New Car Test Drive: The Porsche Experience CenterForbesScotty Reiss, ContributorUpdatedSat, September 12, 2026 at 4:53 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleCars waiting to take to the South Track at the Porsche Experience Center AtlantaPorscheThere are few car makers with a fan base as immersed in the brand's lifestyle as that of Porsche. It's not uncommon for fans and owners to discuss the brand's models using factory-designated code names rather than model names, to sport the brand logo on personal gear from watches to luggage and to shun all other car brands.But with a price tag of $70,000 and up, living the Porsche life can be a pricey proposition. To invite the un-indoctrinated into the fold, the company built experience centers as an extension of the brand's ethos so that anyone, from fans to neophytes, can dive in and really feel what it's like.This is Where The Porsche Ethos Comes AlivePorsche's 10 Experience Center locations are more than just a place to become familiar with the brand, though. The centers are designed to extend the Porsche lifestyle through a combination of factors. At the core are driver development courses that, as they teach drivers the finesse of driving one of the company's fine-tuned sports cars, are also an adrenaline-inducing day on the track.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe track experience is enhanced by a merchandise shop, heritage vehicles on display and fine dining. And in three locations, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Leipzig, Germany, buyers can take delivery of their new Porsche with a walk through by a seasoned expert.Restaurant 356 combines fine dining and performance driving at the Porsche Experience Center AtlantaThe Ultimate Porsche Experience? AtlantaSet just past the north runway of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta. Opened in 2015, the Atlanta Experience Center is more than simply a place to drive cars. Built to serve the company's largest market, it serves as the company's North American headquarters and so far it has hosted well over half a million visitors. Guests come to truly immerse in the Porsche culture, brushing elbows with executives, pro drivers and industry leaders in the restaurants, lobbies and hallways. On the building's lower levels, the Heritage Gallery delights fans, car collectors and guests touring the vintage and notable cars on display. And at the technical center on the ground floor, Porsche dealership technicians from around the region are trained in repair and maintenance of the company's cars.But the real crown of the Experience Center are the two tracks that sit between the building and the airport's runway, overlooked by the terrace of Restaurant 356.Cars lining up to enter the Kick Plate at the Porsche experience Center AtlantaThe South Track Is Designed To Turn Novices Into FansThe South Track is the original test track at the Porsche Experience Center, a 1.6 mile road course that rings the south part of the property. The track is designed to allow drivers to hone their skills at their own pace, as fast or slow as they like. As drivers, who are assisted by a professional driver in the right seat, lap the track, they learn how to manage acceleration and braking, to maintain speed through the curves and build the confidence to floor the accelerator on the straightaways.AdvertisementAdvertisementWithin the South Track are several courses that help drivers to develop skills. They include a low-friction skid pad that simulates wet-pavement driving, a low-friction auto-cross course with quick turns that helps drivers develop handling skills, an off-road course that showcases the Cayenne's capability and the "Kick Plate," which simulates the loss of rear traction, or fishtailing, to teach drivers how to regain control of a car.The West Track at the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta samples some of the most famous tracks in the worldThe West Track Is a Magical New AdditionIn 2023 Porsche added a challenging new track on the west side of the property. The 1.3 mile long West Track is for more experienced drivers and allows them to sample some of the most famous stretches of track from around the world, including the Carousel from Germany's Nürburgring, Laguna Seca's Corkscrew and Daytona International Speedway's Bus Stop. Adding to the fun is a section called Dragon Tail, named for the Tail of the Dragon, a sinuous 11-mile stretch of Highway 129 that runs between North Carolina and Tennessee in the Smoky Mountains. The West track also incorporates several challenging handling courses including Ice Hill, a slick, steep grade that teaches drivers recovery dynamics in challenging conditions.Just one of the cars on loan from a collector at the Porsche Experience Center AtlantaDrivers, And Everyone Else, WelcomeThe public is welcome to browse the Heritage Gallery, browse the retail store and watch the action on the track from the second-floor terrace, or rent the entire place out for a corporate meeting, charity gala or high school prom. General admission tickets start at $5.00 per person with a reservation. Driving experiences start at $600 for 90 minutes on the off-road course and from $750 for time in the Macan Electric, 911 Carrera GTS or Taycan GTS. Longer sessions are available for more experienced drivers, and for those who simply want to feel the thrill of a Porsche on a track can book a ride-along experience starting at $100.Porsche also offers simulator experiences and Young Driver classes, a four-hour session for licensed drivers aged 16-24, for $950.The delivery garage is set up for an elegant introduction at the Porsche Experience Center AtlantaA Red-Carpet Reveal For New Porsche OwnersFor many buyers, from first-timers to collectors, taking delivery of a new Porsche is a truly special experience. So, Porsche created a suite of garages that allows new owners to create the experience of a lifetime: they can schedule their new car delivery, bring family or friends and even stage a reveal to watch as the silk is pulled back from their new car.AdvertisementAdvertisementThey can also spend time on the track, have lunch or dinner and enjoy the Porsche models on display. New car delivery adds $1,000 to the price of the car, and buyers can add a track drive to their purchase, too; neither is included with purchase.A car on the track at the Porsche Experience CenterThe Ultimate Test DriveAbout half of guests at the Porsche Experience Center's track experience are Porsche owners, but half are not. Ultimately, though, those guests become owners. Spending just 90 minutes on the track and being coached by a professional driver is enough to convince anyone that a Porsche 718, 911, Macan or Taycan should be on their wish list, though for many it's simply the experience that tilts the scale in Porsche's favor.This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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