Porsche’s 75th birthday celebrations continue with a throwback based on the brand’s first road car, the 356.
Porsche has unveiled a Speedster version of its stunning Vision 357 concept – which debuted earlier this year – to mark both 75 years of the Stuttgart firm’s sportscars and 30 years of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The design of both the Vision 357 coupe and Speedster are inspired by the brand’s first-ever road-going car from 1948, the Porsche 356.
- Vision 357 Speedster uses 718 GT4 e-Performance prototype powertrain
- Produces over 1,050hp, weighs around 1,600kg
- Porsche is the lead manufacturer at Goodwood this year
While the Vision 357 coupe was based on the revered 718 Cayman GT4 RS, featuring the firm’s atmospheric 4.0-litre flat six, the 357 Speedster takes on an electric powertrain – and with it more than double the power.
Porsche Vision 357 Speedster underpinnings, powertrain
The 357 Speedster borrows its underpinnings from the 718 GT4 e-Performance prototype that made its debut at Goodwood last year, and whose dual-motor set-up produces 1,087hp in its full-blown qualifying mode. That’s enough for a 0-100kph time well below 3.0 seconds, even in the less track-focused 357 Speedster.
The GT4 also features 900V fast charging, allowing the 82kWh battery – split into various packs under the ‘frunk’, through the transmission tunnel and behind the driver – to replenish 75 percent of its capacity in 15 minutes. This set-up is expected to have been mirrored for the 357 as well.
The 357 Speedster is expected to tip the scales at slightly more than the circa 1,600kg figure quoted for the GT4 e-Performance, given its mission is stylistic – to be a show car – and not sporting, as with the GT4.
Porsche Vision 357 Speedster styling, interior
Beyond the difference in powertrain, the Vision 357 Speedster is also shorter in height than its coupe sibling – owing to the chopped windscreen – and wears a more subtle blue-on-silver 75th anniversary livery.
Inside, carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic bucket seats are integrated into the monocoque, trimmed in Racetex microfibre and paired with six-point harnesses in Miami Blue. A transparent gauge cluster and racing wheel protrude from a dash finished entirely in exposed carbon weave. The charging port is integrated into the driver’s roll hoop.
Porsche at the 30th Goodwood Festival of Speed
Porsche is the ‘celebrated marque’ at the Festival of Speed this year, and the centrepiece sculpture – historically provided by its lead manufacturer of any given year – will mark Porsche’s 75th anniversary with a design by British artist Gerry Judah.
Also featured on the Porsche stand will be the first sportscar ever made by the brand and the inspiration for the Vision 357 – 356 No.1 – as well as an extreme Cayenne Transsyberia and the millionth 911 produced. A selection of famous race cars will also be present, such as the Le Mans-winning 936/81 Spyder.
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