Seating is an important aspect of driving and especially with sportscars, properly designed seats are vital for car control and comfort as they enable the driver’s body to be positioned correctly. Porsche will soon revolutionise sporty seating with an innovative alternative to conventional bucket seat upholstery with the concept study ‘3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat’.
With this new technology, the sportscar manufacturer is once again underlining its close ties to motorsports. In this case, the personalised sports seat follows the principles of driver-specific seat fitting customary in professional motorsports.
In this study, the central section of the seat – in other words, the seat and backrest cushions – is partly produced by a 3D-printer. Customers will be able to choose between three firmness levels (hard, medium, soft) for the comfort layer.
“The seat is the interface between the human and the vehicle and is thus important for precise, sporty handling. That’s why personalised seat shells customised for the driver have been standard in racing cars for a long time now,” said Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche. “With the ‘3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat’, we’re once again giving customers the opportunity to experience technology carried over from motor sports.”
Close-up of the lattice structure
In addition to an ergonomic fit similar to that found in racing cars, this seat also delivers a unique design, lower weight, improved comfort and passive climate control. The 3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat is based on the lightweight full-bucket seat from Porsche and features a sandwich construction.
This consists of a base support made from expanded polypropylene (EPP) is bonded to a breathable comfort layer consisting of a mixture of polyurethane-based materials made using additive manufacturing – in other words in a 3D-printer.
The outer skin of the concept seat is made from Racetex and features a specific perforation pattern for climate control. Window panels provide a view of exposed coloured components in the 3D-printed lattice structure and give the full-bucket seat a distinctive design.
Visible components of the comfort layer
The 3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat will be available from Porsche Tequipment as a driver’s seat for the 911 and 718 ranges from May 2020. The range will initially be limited to 40 seat prototypes for use on racetracks in Europe in combination with a 6-point seatbelt.
Feedback from customers will be incorporated into the development process. As a next step, street-legal 3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seats in three different firmness levels and colours will be available ex-works from the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur from mid-2021.
The new seats will be available for the latest 718 (above) and 911 models.
In the long-term, the technology will also enable fully personalised solutions if sufficient customers express an interest in this. In addition to an extended range of colours, seats adapted to the individual customer’s specific body contour will then also be developed and offered.
Visit www.porsche.com.my to know more about the latest products and services available in Malaysia.
For some time to come, owning a Taycan – Porsche’s first all-electric sportscar – will already be something special. But there will be owners who want a higher degree of personalisation and for these customers, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur offer up to 90 exclusive options to choose from. The special equipment packages for the exterior and interior are hand-finished with high-quality components so they are of the same standard as the rest of the car.
The highlights among the exclusive options offered by the company’s own manufactory include the Sport Design package in three variants and 21-inch Exclusive Design wheels with carbon aeroblades.
Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur has extended its capacities to coincide with the launch of the Taycan. The factory space was expanded by a third to 2,000 square metres and 4 new lifting platform workstations were added. 150 square metres of storage space was also created and the vehicle logistics were optimised with a direct connection to the finished vehicle loading facility. The team has also grown with the additional vehicle finishing experts.
Exterior options
Three variants of the Sport Design package are available, all giving a more dynamic look. They differ with respect to the inlays in the lower front apron, in the sill panels and in the side fins of the diffuser. Depending on the package, these are painted in the exterior colour or in Black (high-gloss) or are made of carbonfibre.
The LED matrix headlights with Dynamic Light System Plus are available with a 3-dimensional circuit board graphic in the headlight housing as well as daytime running light elements in Glacier Ice Blue. The 21-inch Exclusive Design wheels with aeroblades made from forged and milled carbon combine excellent aerodynamics with lightweight construction: The weight reduction per wheel set is more than 3 kgs compared with a similar wheel variant.
Sporty, high-quality interior
The Carbon interior package is inspired by motorsports. Large areas in the front and rear doors as well as trim elements on the sides of the centre console are finished in matt carbonfibre. The accent package also offers a choice of contrasting colours in the interior, with the front and rear door trims painted in the exterior colour.
The Taycan’s sporty character is accentuated by the seatbelts available in the colours Graphite Blue, Truffle Brown, Lime Beige, Crayon, Blackberry, Meranti Brown, Slate Grey and Bordeaux Red.
About Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur
The customisation of production vehicles is the core competence of Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur. The more than 30 employees have access to an extremely wide range of visual and technical customisation options for the exterior and interior.
Added to this is a wide range of special colours and high-quality materials such as leather, carbonfibre, aluminium and elegant wood finishes for interior elements. Even customer wishes that are not covered by the 600 order options in the customisation programme can be realised by Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur for selected models. The requirements for quality, technology, road safety and full compliance with international laws are all met.
The facility has specialised in personalisation work since 1986. Besides the special customer cars, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur also manufactures limited production runs, such as the recent 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series. As part of the Heritage Design strategy, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur works together with the Style Porsche design department on designing exceptional vehicle concepts which combine the footsteps of history with the contemporary cars of today. The objective is to give exclusive sportscars the finishing touch using contemporary interpretations of design elements from past icons from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Car races are decided on the track. That will continue to be the case for some time to come. But virtual racing contests are also on the rise as eSports gain popularity all over the world and have the support of some carmakers. For some time now, eSport tournaments have been drawing huge crowds – but are these competitions really sports? “Of course they are,” said Niklas Krellenberg, one of Germany’s top professional racing gamers. “I do more than sports shooters, for example.”
Athletic associations are beginning to share this view. In 2022, eSports will be a medal event at the Asian Games, and the International Olympic Committee is considering whether to include them at the Summer Games in Paris in 2024.
2.2 billion competitors worldwide
This is hardly surprising. Worldwide sales of computer games exceeded one hundred billion US dollars in 2016 – more than the global film and music industries combined. Some 2.2 billion people compete regularly in these games. The best of them can live off the sport – quite well, in fact. They’re organized in professional teams, draw set salaries, and win high levels of prize money. Tournaments for League of Legends, a role-playing team game, can award millions of dollars to the winners.
Even soccer clubs like VfL Wolfsburg in Germany have begun to add eSport teams to their organizations. “We want to reach young people with our programs,” explained Tim Schumacher, the club’s General Manager, noting that it became the world’s first soccer club to offer contracts to eSport players. And of course, there’s also a strong interest in ‘developing new marketing fields’.
New model presentation at a gaming fair?
In mid-2017, Porsche and Microsoft invited the best e-racers from an online contest to enter a 24-hour race in Le Mans. The contestants vied for their own Le Mans laurels on their Xbox consoles – in a sixth classification – and took part in the official awards ceremony. One week earlier, Microsoft had presented – to a crowd of gamers – the most powerful 911 in history, the GT2 RS, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. “The gaming sector means a lot to us, because it enables us to provide an emotional and interactive brand experience to a young and extensive target group,” explained Sebastian Hornung, Porsche’s Director of Branded Entertainment.
Instead of a traditional debut to car enthusiasts at a motorshow, the GT2 RS was first shown to gamers in 2017 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.
“Awakening and promoting interest in motorsports and conveying the excitement of the racetrack – you can do that really well in the virtual world,” he added. Last year alone, Hornung and his team put considerable effort into preparing multiple Porsche models for use in a wide range of games. “The entire process – including taking photos and possibly laser measurements, providing the technical data, and producing a digital copy for the game – takes around 6 months for each individual model,” he revealed.
How real are these simulators?
The result is a virtual experience that is astonishingly close to driving a real Porsche. “It’s awfully similar to the real thing,” confirmed test driver Lars Kern as he raced his GT2 RS around the Nordschleife in Forza Motorsport 7. “It feels extremely realistic.”
The simulator at Porsche which uses powerful supercomputers helps engineers in their development work.
Kern is a test and development driver at Porsche who spent many years as a race-car driver. In 2017, he drove a 911 GT2 RS to a new record for road-authorized sportscars on the Nordschleife. He’s also very good at transferring his skills to a racing simulator, thanks to the steering wheel and the software’s high degree of realism. But even for someone with his level of experience, driving without a steering wheel is a completely different story. A small controller with a dozen buttons but no pedals and no feel for the car. “I’m slightly out of my depth,” conceded Kern.
World rally champion on the Xbox
The contestants are another story in the world of eSports. Krellenberg, 27, is already a world rally champion on the Xbox gaming console. He steers his Porsche confidently across the screen through the virtual curves of the legendary racecourse in the Eifel region. The controller is for him what the steering wheel is for Kern—an extension of his arms.
Like Kern, Krellenberg knows the braking points on countless racetracks and the weaknesses of his rivals and challengers. He knows which cars will respond in which ways to strong steering actions. And when he races, he switches off the traction control and ABS.
Niklas Krellenberg is one of Germany’s top professional racing gamers.
You may imagine that Krellenberg has a real sportscar as well but he seldom sits behind a real steering wheel in an actual car. He uses public transportation for the short commute to his university; if he needs a car in his hometown of Magdeburg, he borrows his parents’ wheels.
Krellenberg is a new type of athlete. He doesn’t lift weights or send balls of any type flying across a court. Soccer players have amazing legs; race-car drivers are said to require extraordinary muscles in their buttocks. For gamers like Krellenberg, the eyes and hands are what count. Their fingers can perform up to5 actions per minute.
eSports gaining in relevance
Digital developments and rapidly accelerating process speeds have brought virtual racing to the attention of the traditional racing scene. “The lines between the two fields are starting to blur,” observed Frank-Steffen Walliser, Porsche’s Motorsports Director. “eSports are gaining in relevance, and we’re interested in this development and want to help shape it.”
Digital developments have brought virtual racing to the attention of the traditional racing scene
After all, virtual processes are an integral part of making cars. Simulators are used every day to tune them, and computers are absolutely essential development aids. What’s new are the possibilities for training drivers. How can young talent be encouraged? Console games can help address this question, said Walliser, because ‘many e-racers have acquired a very good foundation’.
Despite major advances in virtual racing, everyone recognizes that they’re different from racing in the real world. “The sense of speed isn’t the same; you can’t compare it with accelerating a real car,” said Kern. “It’s difficult to convey that type of sensation in a virtual setting. The textures, spatial relations, and smells of a race car also play very special roles. Which is why classic motorsports will continue. But in the future, it’ll be side by side with virtual motorsports.”
Even beyond the realms of Porsche, Jacky Ickx is one of the greatest sportscar drivers to have ever lived. But to the close-knit community of engineers and racers who worked with him in the carmaker’s facility in Weissach, Germany, for the best part of a decade, he is a true icon.
To celebrate the Belgian maestro’s 75th birthday, and his invaluable contribution to Porsche’s sporting success through the 1970s and 1980s, the decision was taken to create a limited edition 911 in Ickx’s honour. The initiative for this came from the Belgian Porsche importer ‘D’ieteren’.
The Belgian Legend Edition is strictly limited to just 75 units, one for each year since Ickx’s birth, and will only be available in Belgium.
First special edition of the new 992
The idea took shape in 2018 with the arrival of the all-new 992. This would be the first special edition of the new model, turning to the talents of Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur to produce a unique creation that paid fitting homage to one of sportscar racing’s greatest talents. Experts from Style Porsche and the Belgian Porsche importer D’Ieteren also played a role in designing the latest Legend Edition.
Jacky Ickx, one of sportscar racing’s greatest talents, and the 2020 Porsche Belgian Legend Edition created to honour him.
The decision was made to base the design around Ickx’s trademark blue and white helmet. The car, a 911 Carrera 4S, was therefore finished in a bespoke ‘X Blue’, making this the first 992 to receive Porsche’s coveted Paint To Sample. A badge showing the Belgian flag and Jacky Ickx’s signature on the driver-side B-pillar takes the driver designation already famous in the world of motorsport.
This unique colour has also made its way onto the 20/21-inch Carrera Classic wheels. Offset by subtle white accents, they provide another reference to Ickx’s helmet, which traditionally features a fine white line around the visor. This detail required the use of advanced laser engraving by Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.
Unique interior features
The cabin is trimmed in black leather with Pebble Grey cross stitching on the dashboard, door panel and rear trim, all of which was painstakingly finished by hand. The ‘X’ shape of the stitching was chosen as another subtle reference to the man of the moment.
Other unique interior features include Pebble Grey piping on the 18-way Sports seats and ‘911’ lettering on the headrests, something that is not available on standard Carrera 4S models. The seat backs are also finished in leather – another unique detail of this new Legend Edition.
Special design elements include a leather central armrest embossed with Ickx’s autograph and the ‘Belgian Legend Edition’ moniker on the car’s carbon door sill guards. Leaving no stone unturned, even the colour-matched key fob features the 6-time Le Mans winner’s signature.
Visit www.porsche.com.my for information on new and pre-owned models available in Malaysia.
Videogames have been around since the early 1970s, with players challenging each other on machines in the same room. In tandem with the development of the internet and global connectivity, videogames moved online to evolve into ‘Esports’ from around 2000. In recent years, some car companies have started to become involved in Esports since there are also highly sophisticated motorsports simulators like Playstation 4’s Gran Turismo.
One of the companies is Porsche which organised the inaugural Porsche Esports Supercup online racing series. Encouraged by a successful first season this year, the company is now getting the second season started. Qualifying rounds to the virtual brand cup jointly organised by Porsche and iRacing have been ongoing since mid-December and will last 12 weeks.
10 racing weekends at iconic racetracks
As of May 2020, the top 20 simulation racing drivers of the qualification and the first 20 drivers of the previous season will be competing against each other on 10 racing weekends at iconic racetracks and circuits forming part of the Carrera Cup brand cups.
“The first year of the Porsche Esports Supercup was dominated by thrilling races. In 20 races, we saw 10 different winners! We have achieved our aim of bringing together the best worldwide sim racers in a racing series. We are all the more looking forward to the 2020 season, where we race on the Circuit de La Sarthe in parallel to the Le Mans 24-hour race. In addition, drivers need to prove themselves at Nurburgring Nordschleife – the world’s most challenging racetrack,” said Marco Ujhasi, Porsche Motorsport Esports Manager.
Pre-season testing in Barcelona
The new features of the virtual supercup in 2020 include a 2-day, pre-season test in Barcelona where drivers can prepare for the season. The Porsche Esports Sprint Challenge will also be taking place for the very first time. A new series that is part of the Supercup involving Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport vehicles, it is open to all drivers not taking part in the Porsche ESports Supercup.
40 drivers from a total of 16 countries took place in the first edition of the online racing series. Australian Joshua Rogers came out top and was also the first virtual racing driver to receive an award at the ‘Night of Champions’, a gala event that took place at the beginning of December to honour the year’s Porsche motorsports winners.
Without a doubt, Porsche’s 991 series has been the most comprehensively developed generation of the 911 to date – and the most successful too, with 233,540 units produced. And its production recently came to an end with the final unit – a 911 Speedster – prepared for the US market.
“The 911 – the core of the brand – replaced the 356 in 1963 and, in the decades that followed, our rear engine model grew into an unrivalled sportscar icon. The 991 generation in particular has set new standards in terms of performance, drivability and efficiency. It fills me with pride, as well as a touch of sadness, to have to send it off into retirement. For myself, I can say that the 991 has given me enormous pleasure,” said Michael Steiner, Chief Research & Development Officer at Porsche AG.
Porsche 911 50th anniversary edition
Review of the 991 series
The 991 generation was launched in 2011 as one of the biggest development steps in the history of the model line. Nearly 90% of all components were newly designed or had undergone substantial further development.
Thanks to a lightweight body made of an innovative aluminium-steel composite, it was the first time that a new 911 had weighed less than its predecessor. The chassis, which benefited from a 100 mm longer wheelbase than the model that it replaced, could be equipped with a new, optional roll stabilization system. This was the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and it set the benchmark in terms of driving dynamics.
The Cabriolet followed at the beginning of 2012 with another innovation. When closed, the lightweight magnesium bows made it possible to achieve a coupe-like curve of the roof that had never been seen before, and with a silhouette that was retained even at high speeds.
Porsche 911 Targa
The new 911 Targa, which came out at the end of 2012, was equally spectacular. Like the legendary original Targa, the new model had the characteristic hoop running the width of the vehicle. At the push of a button, however, the top section of the roof could be moved automatically and stored in the rear of the vehicle.
The host of innovations continued in the 911 Turbo, which saw the first active aerodynamics and particulate filter-equipped turbo engines on any 911 Carrera model.
The 991 generation also proved the ideal basis for special models and radical sports cars. Porsche celebrated the 50th anniversary of its cult sportscar in 2013 with an exclusively equipped limited edition model, of which only 1,963 examples were built.
In 2016, the 500-bhp naturally-aspirated 911 R evoked memories of the road-approved 1967 racing sportscar that had the same badge. Two other purist sportscars with classic predecessors made their debut in 2017: the sporty 911 Carrera T and the 911 GT3 high-performance variant with Touring Package offer.
One millionth Porsche 911
One-millionth 911
The one millionth 911 was also built during the 991 generation. As with Ferry Porsche’s first company 911, the not-for-sale commemorative model was painted in Irish Green and boasted leather and Pepita seats. In the same year, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur presented the 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series with 607 bhp and spectacular Golden Yellow Metallic paintwork.
Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Other notable facts: The fastest and most powerful 911 racing technology ever seen in a production road-going 911 appeared in 2017 in the form of the 700-bhp 911 GT2 RS. Its naturally-aspirated sibling followed a few months later. The 911 GT3 RS had a racing chassis and a 520-bhp 4-litre naturally-aspirated engine, perfectly combining road and racetrack.
Porsche 911 Speedster
Right on time to mark the 70th anniversary of Porsche sportscars, the 911 Speedster embodied the original virtues of Porsche: lightweight construction, efficiency, purity and driving pleasure. It delivered 502 bhp from the 4-litre naturally-aspirated engine, had a manual 6-speed transmission and a high-performance sports chassis.
The two-seater was not just the last derivative of the 991 generation but has now also become the last model of the series to be manufactured. Like its ancestor and archetype, the 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1 Roadster, it will become an ambassador of the brand.
In October, we revealed that Porsche has very long-term plans for its business, not just on Earth but in galaxies far, far away. To prepare for this, the sportscar maker got together with LucasFilm, the creators of Star Wars, to develop a starship as a first step. Over a period of 2 months, a project team consisting of designers from Porsche and LucasFilm worked together at their respective design studios in Weissach (Germany) and San Francisco to create initial ideas and drafts before finally coming up with a concrete concept.
The fantasy starship, named Tri-Wing S-91x Pegasus Starfighter, is presently in concept form so it is small – just 1.5 metres. While legal requirements impose certain restrictions on creativity in the classic design process for a series-production vehicle, this project opens up a whole new dimension of freedom.
At the same time, the Style Porsche team faced fresh challenges, since creating a purely virtual design is demanding, too. On the screen, the starship is only seen in two dimensions, while classic series-production vehicles appear physically in three dimensions. In addition, starships usually only appear dynamically in the film and are only visible for a brief moment – so the design has to create an impression and be recognisable within a matter of seconds.
Porsche details in the starship
A glance at the details reveals a number of features familiar from the Porsche design style. The front is reminiscent of the so-called ‘air curtains’ (air inlets) that go together with the headlights to create a single formal entity in the all-electric Taycan sportscar. In addition to the 4-point daytime running light typical of Porsche, the so-called ‘blasters’ – long gun barrels at the front – are located at the tip. The rear grid with the louvres and integrated third brake light was inspired by the current 911 generation, and the rear section of the starship bears the brand’s hallmark light bar.
Porsche design criteria have been applied to the interior, too: the instruments in the cockpit are clearly aligned with the driver’s axis, while the low seating position is reminiscent of the sporty ergonomics in the 918 Spyder. All in all, the design follows a basic principle that is characteristic of the brand. All the elements on the exterior have a clear function, and purely visual features have largely been dispensed with.
“The design of the spaceship is harmoniously integrated into the Star Wars film world while at the same time demonstrating clear analogies with the characteristic Porsche styling and proportions,” said Michael Mauer, Vice-President Style Porsche at Porsche AG. “The basic shape of the cabin, which tapers towards the rear, and a highly distinctive topography from the cockpit flyline to the turbines establish visual parallels with the iconic design of the 911 and the Taycan. The very compact layout conveys dynamism and agility, lending emphasis to the Porsche design features mentioned.”
The development process of the starship can be viewed online at www.thedesigneralliance.com. The Tri-Wing S-91x Pegasus Starfighter will make its first public appearance at the film’s special premiere of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ tomorrow in Los Angeles. The global release is set for Thursday, December 19, 2019.
In 2014, Porsche introduced ‘Porsche Drive’ a premium car rental service concept in Germany which offers the rental of Porsche models for short periods. The concept has to date been introduced in France, Switzerland and North America as well.
This month, Porsche Drive is launched in the first Asian location – Tokyo, Japan. The service in Japan will be located in Toranomon Hills in Minato, which is in the southern centre of the city. It will provide a casual way to drive a Porsche for people who work and live in the Toranomon Hills and Atago Green Hills areas, and for inbound tourists at Andaz Tokyo.
The unique package pricing includes a minimum of 4 hours rental time and a maximum of 2 nights and 2 days. Porsche believes it meets the needs of those who would like to casually experience its cars in a flexible way.
Mobility services increasingly popular
By expanding its worldwide range of mobility services, Porsche is responding to changing customer preferences and the trend towards digital, flexible and individual choice. This includes the sportscar manufacturer making vehicles available for shorter periods of time.
In the US, for example, Porsche is offering ‘Porsche Passport’ (a subscription model) where customers pay a monthly fee for access to a vehicle pool and can replace the vehicles as often as they like. In addition, Porsche has launched ‘Porsche Host’ in the US market together with car-sharing platform provider Turo. In Germany, ‘Porsche InFlow’ is an offering allowing short-term and flexible use of used vehicles.
The awesome folks from Porsche have announced that their 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S and 4S Coupe will come with a seven-speed manual transmission at no additional charge for those who love living on the wilder side of life. Starting next year, customers can opt-out the very capable standard eight-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission. (more…)
Porsche is 88 years old, among the older car companies in the auto industry. Like any company that is forward-looking, it wants its business to be sustainable and be around for as long as possible. In fact, Porsche may be thinking of the time when its business expands to galaxies far, far away. To prepare for this, designers at the company are developing a starship and getting assistance from Lucasfilm Ltd., which is famous for its Star Wars films.
For now, the collaborative efforts will be to have a starship ready for the world premiere of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’, which will be the final episode of the Skywalker saga. As the movie has already been completed and will be released this December, the starship will be a supporting element for promotional purposes rather than be in the movie itself.
“Developing a spacecraft with clear Porsche design DNA is exciting and challenging,” said Michael Mauer, Vice-President Style Porsche at Porsche AG. “Even though they do not seem to share many elements at first glance, both worlds have a similar design philosophy. The close collaboration with the Star Wars design team inspires and fascinates us – I’m sure that both sides can draw major benefits from this exchange.”
“The worldwide appeal of the Star Wars and Porsche brands is shaped decisively by their iconic designs,” explained Doug Chiang, Vice-President and Executive Creative Director of Lucasfilm and responsible for overseeing all designs for the Star Wars franchise. “We are bringing together two worlds with this project: the exotic film design of a galaxy far, far away and the precision work that goes into developing emotive Porsche sportscars. This collaboration promises to produce an innovative design that will blend the best of both brands to create an exciting new starship worthy of Porsche and Star Wars.”
The design team will meet regularly in Stuttgart and San Francisco over the coming weeks to design the spacecraft and create a corresponding model. Fans of both brands can follow the development process of the starship online at www.thedesigneralliance.com.
