What Might Have Been
C
ar designers spend a lot of time
daydreaming. Sometimes it’s merely
sketching on a notepad. Others, it’s
creating a full-size scale model. Occa-
sionally, though, an idea turns into a
running prototype or makes its way out
of the design studio and onto the stage at a
public event. These concept cars often pave
the way for future products, but that’s not
always the case. Sometimes these vehicles
are just an exploration of an idea.
Porsche affords its design team, led by
chief designer Michael Mauer, the freedom
to dream. Over the past two decades, team
members have penned exciting vehicles
inspired by the automaker’s past, wild variants
of existing production Porsches, and extreme
looks at what might come from the German
sports car brand in the future. Much of the
team’s work, however, remained hidden away
from the public eye. Until recently.
Credit Porsche’s decision to pull back the
proverbial curtain and reveal a number of
its design team’s proposals over time. These
vehicles span the gamut of creativity and
market segments, from sports cars to off-road
vehicles. Heck, there’s even a van.
Admittedly, some of these concepts seem
half-baked. Others, however, appear ready
for the main stage. In fact, we question why
Porsche kept many of these cars hidden away
for so long. And yes, that includes the van.
Mostly, though, we want to know more about
the many other design-related treasures still
hiding behind Porsche’s walls.WORDS GREG FINKPORSCHE DESIGN CONCEPTS YOU’VE (PROBABLY) NEVER
SEEN AND A COUPLE YOU MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUTPorsche’s design team brings
the spirit and Martini livery of
the 911 SC Safari driven by Björn
Waldegård and Vic Preston Jr. in
1978’s East African Safari Rally to
the then-new 991-generation 911
in 2012. Christened the 911 Vision
Safari, the concept envisions
an off-road-oriented variant of
Porsche’s rear-engine sports car.
A raised ride height and its
flared wheel arches afford the
911 Vision Safari the necessary
space within its wheelwells to
fit a set of dirt-friendly tiresaround Fuchs-style wheels.
Reworked fascias, a handful of
auxiliary driving lights, and roof
rails toughen up the looks of this
seemingly rally-ready Porsche. It
also has an integrated rollcage
and a giant rear wing to ensure
passersby know this off-road
Porsche is still a 911 at heart.
Given the interest in custom
911s, we think Porsche ought to
cash in on the craze by building
a production variant of the 911
Vision Safari, albeit adapted to
the latest 992-series 911.Porsche 906 Living Legend
Despite dating back to 2005, the 906 Living
Legend’s design continues to influence modern
Porsche models. This specifically applies to
the concept’s intake-mounted headlights
and wheel design, both of which are reminis-
cent of the units found on the Porsche Taycan
high-performance electric sedan.
While its styling looks toward the future, the
906 Living Legend’s inspiration comes from thepast. Specifically, the classic Porsche 906 race
car of the 1960s (hence this concept’s name).
Unlike the original 906, which employed
a mid-mounted flat-six engine for motiva-
tion, the 906 Living Legend lacks any sort of
running gear. That said, it’s easy to imagine
Porsche plugging the 350-hp 3.8-liter flat-six
of the then-new 997-generation 911 Carrera S
between the axles of this concept.The 911 is not the only model
Porsche designers apply the
Vision Safari treatment to. In
2013, Mauer’s team crafted the
Macan Vision Safari, turning the
compact SUV into a rally-ready
performance machine.
Like the 911 version, the Macan
Vision Safari’s additional ground
clearance and giant fender
flares allow it to roll on Fuchs-
style wheels wrapped in chunky
tires. But the Macan Vision Safari
envisions more than just a new
trim for Porsche’s entry-levelSUV; it also showcases a new
two-door body style.
Sadly, the Macan Vision Safari
appears to never have made
it past the stage of a full-size
mockup. In other words, it lacks
a formal powertrain. Neverthe-
less, we like to think Porsche had
plans to eventually fit the Macan
Turbo’s forced-induction V-6
under this two-door SUV’s hood.
Hey Porsche, there’s still time
to greenlight an off-road Macan
Safari for production. We’ll even
settle on one with four doors.Porsche 911 Vision Safari Porsche Macan Vision Safari
FEATURE I Porsche Design Concepts
70 MOTORTREND.COM APRIL 2021