Designer of world’s most iconic sports car wants it to be SMALLER – but warns of huge ‘challenge’
THE CHIEF designer of Porsche has revealed he dreams of designing a smaller and more compact version of the brand’s most iconic model – in a nod to the earlier years of their history.
Car design guru Michael Mauer, who’s worked for the likes of Mercedes and Saab before joining Porsche in 2004, is keen for their next-generation 911 to be scaled-down – although he admits this could be a challenge.
In recent years, Porsche motors have grown in size, with newer models such as the Taycan and Panamera joining the Cayenne as some of the largest in the German marque’s history.
But even the iconic 911 model has grown in size, with the wheelbase of its recent models stretching by 247 millimetres between 1963 to 2011.
Indeed, the latest 911 has the same bloated dimensions as most other modern cars – although this is something Mauer would love to change.
In an interview published by Drive, he said: “Personally, I would love to [create a smaller sports car], to see what the possibilities are in terms of packaging.
“And in the end to come to an even more compact car, or [to] stop this growth.”
To this end, Mauer points to the average human size, which is bigger today than 50 years ago and means cars have to be bigger as a result.
He added: “But there, I think, it is then important to find the right balance to respect and address the requirements and wishes of the customers and still, how should I say, stay true to your brand identity.”
It’s also inevitable that with technological advancement, modern cars require extra equipment – all of which must be made to fit inside.
On this, Mauer said: “If you go back in 20, 30 years ago, how much horsepower the 911 had and how much it has today, that drives the size of the wheels, the size of the brakes, all this stuff.
“And this is very challenging, especially for me, since I believe a 911 sports car should be as compact as possible.
“And again, I would love to see where the boundaries are, how far could we push this to come back to a very compact little sports car.”
To find out how Porsche owners and enthusiasts felt about the growing size of the 911, Sun Motors reached out to the Porsche Club Great Britain.
Richard Gotch, who’s the club’s Head of Marketing & Communications, believes the growing size of the 911 has resulted in the world’s most famous sports car becoming something quite different to the motor of yesteryear.
He said: “Some people really love the new 911, it’s a different type of car.
“It isn’t that it’s a worse car, or a less capable car; in many respects, it’s a far better car and a massively more capable car, but it’s very different and that means it appeals to a different type of person.”
George explains that the last of air-cooled cars, the Porsche 993 – the fourth-generation 911 – is perhaps the last true 911, although he speaks fondly of the second generation of the water-cooled cars, the 997, which he describes as “an astonishingly capable sports car” that’s also “reasonably compact.”
He added: “After that, they became bigger, more comfortable, more refined, and some people absolutely love them.”
Interestingly, George believes Porsche enthusiasts looking for a nimble, compact sports car are now turning to an alternative to the 911.
He said: “The 911 is evolving, and I think when Mauer says he’d like to design a smaller sports car, it’s interesting because many of us who like the smaller, more compact 911, find that the Cayman is actually the new small Porsche sports car.
“Quite a few of our members have moved from the 911 to the Cayman, particularly the GT4 or even the Spyder.”
The Cayman, first released in 2005, sits below the 911 as an entry point to new Porsche ownership, with a starting price tag of £52,000.
Loved for its handling, it is widely considered one of the most accessible sports cars on the market – rivalling the Alpine A110 and Lotus Emira.
For his review of 718 Cayman GTS in 2020, Sun Motors supremo described the naturally aspirated, six-cylinder beast as “possibly Porsche’s best made model of all time.”
Porsche fans looking for a bargain modern classic that can be picked up for under £10,000 in 2024 might want to check out the Boxster.
Meanwhile, the latest 911 has ended a 60-year tradition by removing two iconic design features.