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It's an incredible render from two geniuses, and we hope the current heads at Porsche will look into it.
Porsche has been around since 1948, and for as long as most people can remember, the company has been one of the most dominant players in the luxury car market. They have produced some real icons, some of which include the 918 Spyder, the 911 GT2 RS, and the Cayman GTS just to name a few. However, the company has also had some rides that didn’t quite live up to expectations set by both the company and the car-loving public at large.
One example of an underappreciated Porsche is the 928. The grand tourer was released in 1978 and was intended to serve as a replacement for the 911 since it had been around for so long. However, Porsche ended production of the 928 in 1995 and as we all know, the Porsche 911 is still going strong. The reason the company closed the lid on the 928 is because of money, as it always is. Put simply, this car didn’t sell well, and it also didn’t share very many parts with other cars. At least if the ladder would have been true it would have saved on production costs. Porsche was also an independent company, which means the company could only focus on the more successful cars in its lineup. However, the 928 remains well-respected when it comes to classic German luxury cars.
The 928 is so well respected that two designers have come up with a rendering of what a 21-century Porsche 928 could look like. And if we’re being honest, we really hope for a meeting of the minds between these two geniuses and the current heads at Porsche. It’s truly a great version of the original, and we think in terms of building a customer base, the reimagining of this classic ride would be a hit.
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According to Porsche, the main focus throughout the design process was to create a lightweight car that allowed for a more sporty experience. To accomplish this, the doors, front wings, and bonnet were not made from sheet metal as they usually were. Instead, these components were constructed from aluminum; this was also used behind the bumpers, which made the car more worthy to experience a collision at 5 miles per hour without any damage.
In terms of what’s under the hood of the now discontinued Porsche 928, it is powered by a water-cooled 4.5-liter V8 engine that produces a max horsepower of 240. The power is transmitted according to the transaxle principle. When it comes to appearance, the original 928 could be separated from other cars by its rounded rear end without the spoilers (which came on the 1979 model). It also had electronically operated pop-up headlights. These were embedded in the wings of the car. This car is also known for its large rear window. All in all, this was a great car that should have been more successful than it was.
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The combination of a passion for classic cars like the 928 and a talent for CGI is what led to this reimagined version of the icon that we’re clamoring for. Guilherme Knop is the designer who spearheaded the project as he had fallen in love with the vehicle years before when he saw it in “Risky Business.” To create it, he compared the dimensions of the classic Porsche to those of the modern 911. He then translated that into a 2015 911. After this, he enlisted the help of João Schendle, who is a CGI artist. He drove the product home by creating these images we’re so smitten by.
This reinterpretation of the 928 is a minimalistic design that we could see Porsche going with if they ever brought back the car. It may not have the pop-up lights that helped distinguish the original 928, but there is still a great deal to love about this car. Not only that, but these images also serve as a difference from the modern-day 911, which in more recent years has become much more like the 911.
There are always talks among fans of discontinued cars about their eventual return. However, the rumors about a return of the 928 have persisted since 2010 when they introduced the Panamera. In fact, Thomas Friemuth, one of the heads at Porsche, even stated that the idea was on the table, according to Engadget. Although this discussion was quite a few years ago, so we never know what direction the company may have moved in.
However, if there is one reason why the company wouldn’t bring the car back, it’s the current existence of the 911. As we mentioned before, the contemporary 911 has become much more like the 928. Because of this, it may be a difficult decision for the company to bring it back to the market, even with the fact that the reimagining found a way to establish a separation between the two. However, we’re still hopeful that the heads over at Porshe are at least aware of this CGI version of the 928.
Barnell Anderson is a writer from Louisiana, USA with a real passion for cars and motorcycles. His biggest areas of expertise are car history and concept cars. Barnell's favorite car is the Ford Mustang. He also wants to one day own a Tesla!