This 2023, Porsche celebrates 75 years and to open the celebrations, what better than a gift from Porsche to Porschethe new Vision 357, a tribute to the Porsche 356, the car that started it all and became the realization of Ferry Porsche’s dreams.
“We have created a very special birthday present. It underscores the importance of our 356-based design DNA”said Michael Mauer, Vice President of Style Porsche. “It is an attempt to blend the past, present, and future coherently, with proportions reminiscent of its historical archetype and details that anticipate future traits.”
About the 356
The 356 No. 1 Roadster, tubular chassis and mid-engine was the first Porsche as such. Of course, going into production, a different chassis, aluminum body and a 39 Hp rear engine were used to lower costs.
After the first batch of the 356/2, both in coupé and convertible formats and in handcrafted manufacturing, Porsche moved from Gmünd to Stuttgart at the end of 1949. There the series production of the model began. The Stuttgart company Reutter manufactured the bodies from sheet steel, while the production of engines began in Zuffenhausen, in a space rented from Reutter, since Porsche Hall 1 was still occupied by the allied army.
By 1965 some 78,000 Porsche 356s had been built. The 356 (“pre-A”, 1948-1955), the 356 A (1955-1959), the 356 B (1959-1963) and 356 C (1963-1965) were available in different open and closed body versions and with different levels of performance.
75 years later…
The Style Porsche team was based on a 718 Cayman GT4 RS, which, like the original 356, has a mid-engine. Also, it’s shorter than a 911, which helps to model the car after the original proportions of the 356 and to exhibit a very uniform and minimalist silhouette, with a very raked flyline (the flyline is the prone silhouette of all Porsches). and the strong shoulders, which on the 357 are obviously more aggressive.
The original Porsche 356 had a split windshield. It was not until 1952 that it was replaced by one in one piece. With the Vision 357, this philosophy of taking glass to the extreme of its possibilities is somewhat imitated, so the windshield now wraps around the front pillars to -along with the side windows- generate a continuous sensation, like a helmet visor.
There are some interesting details such as the handles that are flush with the sheet metal so as not to interrupt the design and the taillights hidden behind a pattern of perforated dots on the body. We also see this effect on the front where the design of the headlights maintains its original circular shape, but reinterpreted to mimic the four-point signature of the newer models. Another nod to the original is the shape of the grille at the rear, into which the third brake light is integrated.
There are also meeting points in the paint, thanks to the two-tone scheme with metallic Ice Gray and Grivola Gray metallic in the lower areas of the front that evokes the gray tones that were already popular in the 1950s.
The 20-inch wheels are made of magnesium and are equipped with trims and aerodynamic carbon fiber center locks, aerodynamically efficient but also reminiscent of the wheels of the 356 A and B.
contemporary contributions
The heritage of the GT4 RS and other new generation models can be seen in all the purely sporty elements of this car. For example, the cut behind the lower rear area of the front wheels to improve air extraction on the front fenders, the front hood fixed with quick-release latches, threaded bars to fix the front spoiler, air intakes on the rear the hindquarters and a eFuel logo on the fuel cap, which reminds us that the synthetic and ecological fuel produced by Porsche can be used.
Apart from other details such as the titanium exhausts or the replacement of the mirrors with cameras, Porsche used in the construction of this car, the new plastic material reinforced with natural flax fiber, an ecological solution that aims to replace carbon fiber and CFRP. This was already used in the Porsche Mission R but we have also seen it in other cars like the Extreme E.
And of course, we cannot forget the engine, also shared with the 911 GT3. It’s about a atmospheric boxer with six cylinders and four liters, which offers 500 Hp of power and a torque of 332 lb-ft.
Where can it be seen?
The Porsche Vision 357 will be the highlight of the special exhibition ’75 Years of Porsche Sports Cars’ at the Volkswagen Group’s ‘DRIVE’ Forum in Berlin, which was inaugurated with an exclusive night event on January 25, 2023. The exhibition will be open to the public from January 27, 2023 and the Vision 357 will be on display until mid-February.
The Vision 357 will also be at South by Southwest, in Austin (United States)starting March 10, 2023, and at other international events throughout the year.
“Thinking creatively about the future is one of the main responsibilities of Style Porsche. These works are the reserve of ideas that feed the design of tomorrow”Mauer said. “We are permanently on a conceptual journey into the future of mobility. Time and time again, the history of the brand serves as a source of inspiration. A look back at our heritage with a concept car is not as paradoxical as it might seem. Creative freedom is also important, as this is where valuable ideas can emerge to help us imagine our design philosophy in new and innovative directions.”
