Paying homage to their iconic VW race service van from the ’50s, this spaceship-like concept offers a very futuristic – and very Porsche-like – take of it.

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Photos: Muhammad Mu’tasim

SINGAPORE

It’s a bird… It’s a plane… It’s the Vision Renndienst from Porsche!

That’s right. What you’re looking at is a radical design study from Porsche’s vault of never-before-seen concept cars that never made it past the prototype stages. This one in particular is the Vision Renndienst, a 21st century interpretation the marque’s Volkswagen T1 Renndienst racing support van from the 1950s.

But look past the iconic red paintwork and faintly Microbus-like proportions, and you’ll find that this is much more than just a homage. In fact, it’s a vision (pardon the pun) into an alternative future for the storied brand, and what could’ve been.

Porsche had long been toying with the idea of creating a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) to diversify their lineup, before finally settling for the Cayenne that ultimately saved the company from certain doom. The Vision Renndienst was an outlet for their designers to revisit that idea, but with a uniquely Porsche twist.

Which is why it refuses to conform to traditional ideas of what an MPV should be like. Sliding front and rear doors? Check. Asymmetrical shell? Check. A six-seater configuration with a centralised driver’s cockpit? Check.

Its cabin is itself a conversation starter, with a cocoon-like windowless corner on the left side. To alleviate any worries of claustrophobia, Porsche installed ambient lighting and textured walls, plus a panoramic moonroof.

Its carbon fibre-backed seats on the second row are much sportier, resembling bucket seats you might probably find in the brand’s track-ready 911s. The driver’s seat – right front and centre – is just as sporty, with critical switchgear enveloping the dashboard and flanking the centralised steering wheel.

Despite the Vision Renndienst being capable of autonomous driving, Porsche’s cognisant of the fact that many of its enthusiasts still enjoy the art of driving, and so they’ve kept the wheel in.

Also worth noting is its all-electric powertrain. With batteries housed under the cabin, the concept vehicle benefits from extremely short overhangs fore and aft.

Other quintessentially Porsche elements include the signature four-point headlights and visible aero bits throughout the egg-like shell.

While Porsche has no intention of building the Vision Renndienst, it’s exciting to note that the brand is still keeping an open enough mind to explore different segments of the market, and pushing boundaries. After all, that very spirit gave birth to the formidable and successful Cayenne.

The Vision Renndienst will be on display at the Porsche Studio, located at Guoco Midtown, till the end of March 2024.

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