Porsche takes another dive into the art world.
Porsche has dived nose-first into the art world in recent years, and the Nebula 928 is the latest result of its creative endeavors.
Artists Daniel Arsham and Khyzyl Saleem collaborated on this unique classic grand tourer, finished in an iridescent pink shade. While Saleem is best known for his digital concepts and designs, the Porsche you see here is 100% real. Displayed at the automaker's exhibition at the 2023 South by Southwest (SXSW) convention, the idea behind the car was simple: reimagine the '70s 928 as an early 2000s work of art.
Saleem notes that he helped redesign several exterior components, including the bumpers, rear spoiler, and light cluster designs. The designer notes that he used organic metaball shapes as the inspiration for the lights and front air intakes and even borrowed cues from older Porsches, such as the 911 996's rear aero spoiler.
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If the wheels look familiar to you, it's because they've been poached from the Panamericana concept first seen in 1989. Porsche used this design study to preview design elements that would later be seen on the 993-generation 911. Saleem explains that the overlapping, center-locking wheels “complement the rounded forms of the rest of the car.”
The metaball theme continues inside, where you'll see the unique shape applied to the steering wheel, gear lever, and even the speaker surrounds housed in the door cards. The interior is a symphony of mauve, and the hue covers almost every cabin surface. It pairs well with the exterior color, reportedly inspired by Porsche's own Cassis Red Metallic and Frozen Berry Metallic shades.
It certainly looks the part and recalls the early 2000s when design pushed the boundaries of color and form.
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Arsham has worked with Porsche on several occasions. Before this, he transformed a forlorn 356 roadster into a work of art, transforming the classic German sports car into the 356 Bonsai. While the mechanicals was restored to perfection, the exterior wears its dents and age with pride. Inspired by age-old Japanese craftsmanship methods, Arsham said he wanted to display the vehicle's welds, pit marks, and natural wear over the course of time.”
The artist currently has an exhibition at the Petersen Automotive Museum, with several Porsche-inspired projects on display for the car-loving public to see.
Whether you like it or not, there's no denying Arsham and Saleem have captured the concept perfectly. While the 928 was never replaced, modern-day Porsche buyers can capture some of its magic through the Panamera and Taycan, both sleek four-door cars with a coupe roofline and the spirit of a grand tourer.
Keyword: The Porsche Nebula 928 Is A Digital Rendering Brought To Life