And it's based on the Cayman GT4 RS.
Say hello to the Porsche Vision 357, a concept vehicle that harkens back to the legendary Porsche 356, which debuted 75 years ago in 1948. Though it's only a design study, the Vision 357 has a real powertrain from the 2023 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS. That means there is a mid-mounted 4.0-liter flat-six engine delivering 493 horsepower. Porsche doesn't mention a transmission, but we suspect it uses the same seven-speed PDK as the GT4 RS. The engine is also tuned to run on e-fuels, a synthetic fuel option that has drawn interest and investment from Porsche.
Much like the GT4 RS on which it is based, the Vision 357 features air intakes behind the driver's and passenger's windows. Those air intakes feed directly into the cabin, meaning the noise is more visceral. We imagine the engine note is fantastic.
“We created a very special birthday present in the form of the Porsche Vision 357, one which uses the 356 as a basis to underscore the significance of our design DNA,” says Michael Mauer, Vice President Style Porsche. “The concept car is an attempt to combine the past, present and future with coherency, featuring proportions that are reminiscent of its historical archetype and details that visualize the outlook for the future.”
Porsche's designers nailed the styling because the Visian 357 somehow looks old and modern at the same time. The front end bears some resemblance to the electric Mission R Concept but with less of a racing focus. We love the large, circular headlights that blend into the body work, harkening back to the 356's Beetle-derived design.
The concept is finished in Grivola Grey Metallic with Ice Grey Metallic in the front to mimic the two-tone paint schemes that were popular in the 1950s. 20-inch wheels provide a wide stance with carbon fiber hubcaps and central locks adding aerodynamic advantages. Other aerodynamic elements include hidden door handles under the windows, taillights that sit behind the bodywork, and a massive empty space behind the front wheels. Cameras replace traditional mirrors to further reduce drag.
Porsche made the side sills from natural fiber-reinforced plastic, just like the Mission R. The jointless front hood includes quick-release mechanisms with threaded rods to stabilize the front spoiler. At the back, the exhaust is made from blue-look titanium, while the inside of the tailpipe is ceramic. A “75” anniversary logo on the hood and doors completes the look.
“Thinking out loud about the future is one of the core missions of Style Porsche. Concept studies are the pool of ideas that feed the design of tomorrow,” says Mauer. “We are perpetually on the conceptual journey into the future of mobility. Time and again, the brand history serves as a source of inspiration. Taking a look back at our tradition with a future concept car is not as paradoxical as it might seem. Creative freedom is also important: this is where valuable ideas can emerge unfettered, ones that help us imagine our consistent design philosophy in innovative new directions.”
Though it won't enter production, the Vision 357 could help influence future Porsche design. The concept will be on display at the Volkswagen Group “DRIVE” Forum in Berlin as part of the 75 Years of Porsche sports cars exhibit. This event will be open to the public on January 27, 2023, and run through mid-February. Porsche will bring the car to future international events later in the year.
Keyword: Porsche Vision 357 Concept Is A Modern Day 356 Sports Car