7 stunning details behind Porsche’s new Vision 357 concept

The 20-inch wheels alone are a work of art from Porsche’s styling department. Made of super lightweight magnesium, with a centre-locking nut and aerodynamically optimised carbon fibre hubcaps, their basic spec screams modern-day motorsport. But take a closer look at the design and you’ll notice more than a passing nod to the earliest Porsche 356s, namely the large 205mm bolt circle as seen on models with those early drum-braked wheels. 

Porsche is quick to point out in its press release how the 356 pushed the boundaries of glass production, with post-1952 models featuring a bend in the middle of the screen. Inspired by such adventurous engineering, the team at Style Porsche have presented the 357’s A-pillars in black, giving the look of a swooping, singles piece of glass wrapping sharply around an extremely narrow cockpit. the appearance is said to resemble the visor of a helmet, though we think this looks uncannily like that of the 936 and even 919 race car’s window surfaces. 

Porsche sports cars have long featured decklid grilles to aid engine cooling, however since the 911’s arrival in 1963 these have sat transversely just above the car’s rump. The 357 pays homage to the early 356s however, which had narrow, longitudinally-positioned grilles. On the 357, its third brake light is integrated into this elongated design… and need we even tell you how many slats Porsche has decided to utilise?

Vehicle lighting is an increasingly significant brand marker for Porsche, which has used a typically dynamic, dramatic setup for its 357. Like all current Porsche models, the Vision 357 features a four-point light signet in front, though these are devoid of traditional lenses and are instead integrated seamlessly into the car’s body, thanks to an army of concentrated piercings. The same design principle is deployed on the rear of the 357. 

The Porsche 357’s bodywork is silky-smooth from all angles. A highlight of this is the front lid, which is a one-piece item and wraps around the 357’s entire front. It is fastened onto the contrasting front bumper by quick-release mechanisms. The concept’s super slippery appearance is compounded by slim cameras used instead of the traditional side mirrors seen on all production Porsches to date. 

Porsche has utilised many different elements to make the 357’s body too: the side sills are hemp-based natural fibre-reinforced plastic, as used on the Mission R Study. The tailpipes are made of ceramic, while the trim around them consists of titanium. 

The form of the 357 is most striking: it is easily recognisable as being related to the 356 thanks to its flyline, which doesn’t slope as dramatically as the 911 which went on to replace it. Its hips though are more muscular in appearance, housing large wheels and adopting a low, wide stance, and the trailing edge of both front and rear arches have been cut away for better high-speed airflow. The passenger cell is narrow, much in keeping with the original 356’s profile from the late 1940s.