It is hard to resist cracking a smile when you clap eyes on the Porsche Vision Renndienst concept
Porsche Studio Singapore - Porsche is one of the great success stories of the automotive world. The Stuttgart-based brand learned early on that niche sportscars like its iconic 911 may keep the purists happy, but it needed more accessible, volume-sellers to pander to the “masses” ... relatively speaking that is.
This enlightened approach would lead to the creation of the Cayenne — notably its first SUV and non-sportscar model — in the early 2000s, which proved a storming success in spite of the tut-tuts from the die-hards as it helped the brand reverse its fortunes.
Porsche Vision Renndiesnt (or "Race Service") Concept makes a pit-stop at the Porsche Studio Singapore
See also: Art of Space at Porsche Studio Singapore
Happily enough for us anoraks, functional models like the Macan, Cayenne, Panamera and electric-only Taycan provide Porsche with the financial wherewithal to fund the fun cars, such as the GT models and even more hardcore RS cars, not to mention the limited-run models.
The brand’s equity has only gone from strength to strength as its hard-hitting strategy has evolved to target not just the petrolheads but also the Hypebeast denizens of the lifestyle sphere.
See also: 90mins at the Porsche Experience Centre Silverstone : Centre of Experience
Porsche’s finger is clearly on the pulse of what’s hot (and more importantly, what’s not), as its illustrious history is peppered with many examples of the brand’s dynamic agility in pivoting towards the good stuff, very much in the same vein as its supremely agile sportscars.
With more hits than misses, its fans clearly cannot get enough of Porsche and it has reached the stage where folks have learned not to pooh-pooh its cars, even the ones that do not fit their idea of what a Porsche should be.
Why? Folks have learned there’s a healthy dose of Porsche DNA in every vehicle that wears its badge in their respective segments … with no exception.
This brings us to the Porsche Vision “Renndienst” (or Race Service), which was on display at Guoco Midtown in the brand-new Porsche Studio Singapore from March 4–31 — its first trip outside of Europe since its creation in 2018.
The striking minivan concept was designed by Michael Mauer and team around the experience of “space” (in this case for up to six people), albeit interpreted in Porsche’s inimitable style.
After all, it is never about trying to create a one-car garage in the quest for the perfect (but often compromised) “Swiss Army Knife” vehicle to suit all your needs, but having different cars in one’s garage for different needs.
For more lifestyle, arts and fashion trends, click here for Options Section
From Porsche’s perspective, if it does not offer a vehicle in a particular segment, it leaves the door open for its 911 owner to look towards its rivals for an alternative, thus potentially losing a vital statistic if that owner leaves the fold.
The all-electric Vision Renndienst is not a new-fangled concoction because it has its spiritual roots in Porsche’s brand history — the VW race service support vans that saw active motorsports service from the 1950s to the 1970s.
However, today’s Vision Renndienst is a futuristic “space shuttle” that moves away from the fuss-free and functional design of the original as it combines sportiness and comfort in familiar Porsche fashion.
You would not look at the Vision Renndienst and regard it as conventional anything, especially once your eyes take in the seamless flat-fronted body, prodigiously flared wheel arches and the quirk of its asymmetric window design.
Inside, the central lounge chair driver’s seat takes centre stage, with second-row occupants enjoying individual seats (and a third-row bench) in the modular cabin. At the helm, it’s easy enough to imagine oneself as the pilot of an interstellar spaceship — or a very advanced race car — with the rear passengers enjoying a clear view through the front windscreen as the miles are converted to smiles.
PHOTOS: Porsche
