Porsche Vision 357 Speedster Is One Slick Ride — But You Can’t Have It
As with the song of the summer, when you lay ears on it for the very first time, you just know: that’s it. The Porsche Vision 357 Speedster is like that too; this is obviously the car of the summer, no doubt.
Unveiled at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed in the English countryside, the roofless Porsche EV looked perfectly at home on the manicured lawns of that glorified garden party. The Speedster’s petite dimensions, chopped windshield and back-to-basics style had us — and everyone else who saw it — daydreaming about ditching work for an impromptu road trip to the South of France, or down the length of California, or maybe over the Rockies.
The Vision 357 Speedster will soon be making its U.S. debut, heading across the ocean for the 2023 Rennsport Reunion at Laguna Seca in late September. Sadly, however, a summer roadtrip in this machine is out of the question, at least for now. Here’s why:
What Is the Porsche Vision 357 Speedster, Exactly?
It’s a concept car based on the Porsche Vision 357 coupe, which was itself unveiled earlier this year to mark the 75th anniversary of Porsche. The only difference with the Speedster, apart from the new livery, is that the windshield has been chopped down — in classic hot-rod fashion — and the roof has been removed entirely. A tonneau cover hides the passenger seat, and a single fin-shaped roll hoop protects the driver.
The design study draws inspiration from Porsche’s entire back catalog, most obviously the 356 designed by Ferry Porsche in the late 1940s. But look again and you’ll see more than a hint of the Porsche 550 Spyder, the (in)famous car, said to be cursed, that James Dean was driving when he was killed in a crash in California. The family resemblance between the new concept and the current 718 Spyder is clear, and the proportions look similar to the all-electric Mission R concept from 2021 as well.
Michael Mauer, vice president of Style Porsche, explains, “the Porsche Vision 357 is a nod to the first Porsche model line, Ferry Porsche’s dream sports car. […] The Porsche Vision 357 Speedster embodies the essence of the brand. Driving pleasure and driving dynamics combined with an extremely pure form. As with the Mission X that we presented just a few weeks ago, this model demonstrates that even with fresh design genes, the Porsche DNA shines through.”
It’s impossibly low and wide looking, with extreme fender flares and floor cut-outs that wouldn’t look out of place at Le Mans.
The livery is on point too: the darker Grivelo Grey metallic colour up front and lighter Marble Grey across the rear remind us of liveries from Porsche’s great Targa Florio racers, like the 908/02 Spyder. The 75thanniversary logo in Miami Blue is a nice touch, as are the mismatched wheels with a semi-turbofan design. (Porsche, if you’re listening, please add these wheels to the option list for the 718. Sincerely, SHARP Magazine.)
So, the 357 Speedster Is an EV?
Yes, the 357 Speedster concept is an EV, with an electric drivetrain pulled from the Mission R. In theory then, the Speedster has over 1,000 hp. We say “in theory” because as far as we can tell this is a non-running concept, more of a design study than a technical demonstrator.
The cabin is pure fantasy, as you can see. The instrument cluster is single sheet of glass resting on a bed of carbon fibre. “The carbon fiber reinforced plastic seat shell is integrated in the monocoque. The driver sits on Racetex-covered pads and is held firmly in place by a six-point seat belt with a Miami Blue belt strap,” Porsche explains. Only the steering wheel looks production-ready.
Will the 357 Speedster Ever Go Into Production?
In some form or another, yes, we think the Porsche Vision 357 Speedster will go into production. It’s no secret that Porsche is gearing up to unveil an all-electric cousin to the gas-powered 718 sports car lineup, and the recent string of sporty EV concepts — from the Mission R, to the 357 coupe and now Speedster — all give an indication of what that 718 EV will look like. The company is testing the waters, watching our reaction.
So, while you should take the details of the Vision 357 Speedster with a grain of fantasy — those massive fender flares, the passenger-seat tonneau cover — there is a chance you could indeed be taking a long, unplanned summer road trip in a little electric Porsche convertible in the not-too-distant future.
Image credits: © 2023 Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
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