Vision 357 Speedster is Porsche's take on an all-electric sports car
Porsche Vision 357 Speedster breaks cover at 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed
This year's Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) has become the center of an EV revolution. With the industry heading towards electrification, it's not surprising to see that the annual motoring event has started to become populated with zero-emissions EVs that can go up against internal combustion cars.
Aside from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N wowing everyone at the festival, Porsche also made its presence felt in Goodwood with the Vision 357 Speedster. Not only does the special concept mark the 30th anniversary of the famed Goodwood Festival of Speed, but the single-seater EV also pays homage to the Porsche 356 of yesteryear.
With an emphasis on delivering performance without the guilt of carbon emissions, the Porsche Vision 357 Speedster is actually based on the 718 GT4 e-Performance which climbed Goodwood last year. Visually, however, the electric speedster is unique thanks to several key factors. For starters, it has a low-slung windshield that is typical for a speedster's design. It is then complemented by a unique bodywork painted in two unique gray tones – Marble Gray and Grivelo Gray Metallic.
The front end shows a darker shade of gray while the rear section comes with a lighter shade – resulting in a very distinct colorway for the all-electric concept. Also present are unique easter eggs in the form of comic-style unicorns in front of the rear wheels. The mythical creature was chosen to be added to the concept car by designers to highlight the car's unique identity.
Don't expect to see any side mirrors as these have been replaced by cameras which are placed further forward on the fenders as a callback to their forebearers. On the other hand, the LED headlights and taillights are hidden mesh that was incorporated directly into the bodywork. Even the rear section has a vertical grille design that hides the third brake light for extra style. Lastly, it has massive 20-inch alloy wheels made from magnesium and comes with carbon fiber hubcaps and central locks.
Over to the interior, the all-electric Speedster has a driver-focused cabin and heaps of exposed carbon fiber to make the vehicle more lightweight and rigid. Even the bucket seat is made from reinforced carbon fiber to make it more durable and lightweight. Another highlight inside the 357 is the digital instrument cluster with a transparent surface – highlighting the car's sleek and futuristic nature.
“The Porsche Vision 357 is a nod to the first Porsche model line, Ferry Porsche’s dream sports car. And since the 356 has burned itself into the collective brand memory as both a convertible and a coupé, the same logic applies to the concept car: there can only be two. The Porsche Vision 357 Speedster embodies the essence of the brand. Driving pleasure and driving dynamics combined with an extremely purist form. As with the Mission X that we presented just a few weeks ago, this model demonstrates that even with fresh design genes, the Porsche DNA shines through,” said Michael Mauer, vice president of Style Porsche.
While Porsche has already said they will not make an electric 911, the concept they showed at Goodwood this year has somewhat proven they can make one. But until Porsche actually reveals or makes one in the future, all we can do for now is imagine.
