A new interpretation of the Porsche 356?
In June 2023, the Porsche 356 will celebrate its 75th birthday. It was on June 8, 1948 that the Porsche 356/1 received its general operating license. However, the first model was still very different from the production Porsche 356 that followed, as it had a mid-engine and was a pure two-seater. It remained a one-off that has survived.
The Zuffenhausen-based company has now dedicated a tribute to the first Porsche 356 called the Porsche Vision 357. Technically, the coupé (!) is based on the 500 hp 718 Cayman GT4 RS, rolls on 20-inch wheels and consumes 13.2 liters per 100 km according to the WLTP.
Is this really the successor as Ferry Porsche intended? Let's take a look back. The 356 was a sports car built with simple means that ran faster than a normal VW Beetle, mainly thanks to its good aerodynamics and low weight. The Porsche 356/1 was also a convertible. What the 356/1 and the Vision 357 study have in common is the mid-engine and rear-wheel drive.
For people with gasoline in their blood, the Cayman GT4 RS is of course an attractive basis, but in the spirit of those days, wouldn't it have been better to use the skateboard platform of the VW ID.3 as a basis and create an affordable, fast and economical electric sports car?
