New Porsche Vision 357 Speedster

Porsche is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed with the stylish Porsche Vision 357 Speedster. The new concept car is a spin-off of the closed Porsche Vision 357, with which the sports car manufacturer kicked off its 75th anniversary celebrations. The 356-inspired all-electric Porsche Vision 357 Speedster is based on the 718 GT4 e-Performance.

Porsche will display a total of over 15 new and classic models at the Duke of Richmond's estate in West Sussex. One of the attractions will be 356 No. 1 Roadster is the first sports car from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Motorsport enthusiasts will be able to admire the six Le Mans winning cars.

Porsche Vision 357 Speedster

“Porsche Vision 357 is a tribute to Porsche's first model line, Ferry Porsche's dream sports car. And since the 356 is etched in the collective memory as both a convertible and a coupe, the same logic applies to the concept car – there should be two versions,” he said. Michael Mauer, Vice President Style Porsche.

“The Porsche Vision 357 Speedster embodies the essence of our brand. Driving pleasure and driving dynamics are combined here with extremely strict forms. Like the Mission X we unveiled just a few weeks ago, this model shows that Porsche DNA shines even with new design genes.”

The Vision 357 Speedster is based on Porsche 718 GT4 e-Performance technology. So its electric motors and battery are taken from the Mission R, while the chassis is from the 718 GT4 Clubsport. After a world premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the study will be presented at this year's Rennsport Reunion at the end of September in the US.

Exterior: lowered windshield and one-way inner cover

Typically for a speedster, the concept car has a flattened windshield, which further emphasizes the monolithic proportions of the body. On the right is an inner cover once common on open-top sports cars. Thanks to a special carbon fiber rollover protection element, the driver's headrest appears to be suspended in the air. On the back is a charging socket cover and a classic soft top mount.

The two-tone concept with shades of Marble Gray and Grivelo Gray Metallic is inspired by the design of historic racing cars. Example: The front mudguards used for splinter protection are painted here in a darker metallic color. The front discs are also finished in Grivelo Gray Metallic. Contrasting Miami Blue accents, such as front lid release handles, complete the concept.

Also in the anniversary logo with a large number of 75 and two vintages - 1948 and 2023 - Grivelo Gray Metallic and Miami Blue shades are used. This is a fresh alternative to the décor elements of the Vision 357 coupe, which uses red as a secondary color. In front of the rear wheels is a cartoon image of a unicorn. This mythical creature was painted specifically for the concept by Porsche stylists, who also had a hand in the eye-catching "Speedster" lettering. Exterior mirrors replaced with cameras; like the classic predecessors, they are located not on the doors, but on the front fenders. The open-topped 357 features a new aerodynamically optimized wing shape.

Other exterior details are familiar from the sister concept car: the four-dot signature of the headlights is circular in shape, reminiscent of the Porsche 356. The taillights sit behind a pattern of dots cut into the body itself. Another nod to Porsche's first model line is the vertical ribs on the back cover. The third brake light is built into the grille.

The wide track visually emphasizes stability on the road and improves directional stability. The 20-inch center bolt wheels are made from magnesium with carbon fiber covers. Their appearance is reminiscent of the legendary Porsche wheels: the 356 A and 356 B models with drum brakes had wheels with an extra-wide wheelbase of 205 mm.

Interior design: purist, reduced cabin

The interior has been reduced to the bare minimum and fully adapted to the needs of the driver. The low-slung seat is the quintessence of sportiness. Its carbon fiber shell is integrated into the monocoque. The rider sits on Race-Tex padded cushions and is securely held in place by a six-point Miami Blue seat belt. The instrument cluster above the steering column is a transparent plate. The racing wheel is an example of lightness, and its center panel seems to be suspended in space. As with the exterior, individual controls are finished in Miami Blue.

The entire dashboard has visible carbon fiber trim. Instead of the usual glove box, Miami Blue straps are available that can be used to attach accessories. Fabric belts also replace conventional door handles. This detail, known from motorsport, also contributes to weight reduction.

Parade of Icons: Other Porsche Models at the Festival of Speed

The Vision 357 is Porsche's highlight at Goodwood, but it's not the only rarity the sports car maker has in store for the famous event. Porsche will bring over 15 of its new and classic models to West Sussex. During the Festival of Speed, a special Porsche parade will take place on the famous hill twice a day. The celebrity bet will be led by 356 No. 1 Roadster. It will be followed by, among others, the racing version of the 928 "Trigema" of 1983, the Cayenne Transsyberia, 959, the 911 Turbo S (type 993) and the special 911 Carrera S (991). This one-of-a-kind was the one millionth 911 built since the iconic sports car debuted in 1963.

Porsche will also be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans at Goodwood with 19 overall wins to its credit. On this occasion, he will show the guests three class champions and three overall winners. These include the 718 W-RS Spyder (2.0-litre class winner in 1961), the 935 Martini (class winner in 1976) and the 911 RSR "Pig" version (winner in the GTE Pro category, 2018) . The top three winners were the 1998 Spyder 936/81, 911 GT1 and 2017 919 Hybrid.

The 718 Spyder RS ​​and Mission X models, which debuted at the 75th anniversary celebration of Porsche sports cars, will be shown to the public for the first time at Goodwood. In designing the new 718 Spyder RS ​​as a purist roadster, the focus was on maximizing driving pleasure on winding local roads. The Mission X concept car is an exciting interpretation of a hypercar with Le Mans style doors that open up and forward and an efficient electric drive system that delivers incredible performance.

In addition to other current models from the sports car manufacturer from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, visitors to Goodwood will have the opportunity to see the Porsche "Junior 108" diesel tractor. After all, customer orders were an integral part of the company's portfolio when the Porsche 356 was being produced. Between 1949 and July 1963, about 120,000 licensed tractors were produced under the Porsche brand.

One of a kind: Goodwood Festival of Speed

The British Sunday Times described the once-legendary Speed Mountain Festival as "a cross between the Monaco Grand Prix and Royal Ascot". The difficult 1.86 km track adjacent to the hayfields is a test for both the driver and the car. The track passes through the Goodwood estate of Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 11th Duke of Richmond. An avid motorsport enthusiast, he initiated the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 1993. Around 180,000 motorsport fans attend the historic and contemporary racing car events held in West Sussex in the south of England each year. In honor of the 75th anniversary of the Porsche brand, a sculpture by artist Jerry Jude will be the centerpiece of this year's Festival of Speed.

Source: Porsche