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News

Porsche Opens a New Chapter in Urban Retail with Studio Istanbul

In the heart of Etiler, Porsche blends design, culture, and community—redefining what a showroom can be.

Porsche has never been content with standing still, and its latest move in Istanbul proves that the brand’s vision for the future extends far beyond the cars themselves. With the opening of Porsche Studio Istanbul, Porsche AG introduces one of the most comprehensive interpretations of its global Studio concept to date, placing experience, lifestyle, and local culture at the center of the brand’s urban strategy.

Developed in collaboration with Porsche Central and Eastern Europe (PCEE) and Doğuş Otomotiv (Porsche Türkiye), the new Studio sits in Etiler, one of Istanbul’s most vibrant and creative districts. Spread across 680 square meters over two levels, it is less a traditional dealership and more a curated meeting place—one where enthusiasts, customers, and newcomers alike are invited to engage with Porsche on their own terms.

A Studio, Not a Showroom

The Porsche Studio concept deliberately breaks away from the classic showroom formula. Rather than focusing solely on vehicle display, the emphasis here is on interaction, community, and lifestyle. The Istanbul location fully embraces this philosophy, offering a welcoming and intimate atmosphere designed to reflect the city’s unique rhythm and cultural diversity.

Inside, visitors can experience the latest Porsche models, explore extensive personalisation options through Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, and spend time with brand consultants in relaxed, private settings. Two dedicated digital configuration areas allow customers to tailor every detail of their ideal Porsche before refining their choices with expert guidance—transforming the configuration process into a considered, almost bespoke experience.

Istanbul as Inspiration

As the 28th Porsche Studio worldwide—and the second in Central and Eastern Europe—the Istanbul opening represents a significant step in Porsche AG’s global urban retail strategy. These Studios are conceived as spaces that adapt to their surroundings, and Istanbul’s creative energy is deeply woven into the design and function of this one.

“Istanbul’s creative energy and entrepreneurial spirit make it the perfect home for our Studio concept, which turns a car purchase into a lifestyle experience,” says Michael Kirsch, CEO of Porsche Central and Eastern Europe. “Turkey plays a strategic role in our regional growth, and the Studio is an important addition to our presence in one of the most dynamic markets in the region.”

That local connection is evident not just in the architecture, but in how the space is intended to be used. Cultural events, community gatherings, and brand experiences are integral to the Studio’s role, positioning it as a living part of the city rather than a destination visited only when it’s time to buy a car.

“Istanbul has its own rhythm and character, and we wanted the Studio to reflect that,” adds Anıl Gürsoy, General Manager at Doğuş Otomotiv. “We’re building a more open and dynamic relationship with our local community. Porsche Studio Istanbul is proof of that commitment.”

Lifestyle Takes Center Stage

Beyond the cars, Porsche Studio Istanbul elevates the brand experience through carefully curated lifestyle and hospitality offerings. On the ground floor, the Porsche Lifestyle Boutique showcases a wide selection of products that echo the brand’s sporty dynamism and design-led approach to luxury.

The experience continues in the Porsche Café and lounge area, a space designed to encourage visitors to linger. Drawing inspiration from Istanbul’s rich urban fabric and modern luxury architecture, the café highlights Porsche’s global partnership with La Marzocco. Premium Italian coffee is served alongside authentic Turkish coffee, complemented by a selection of high-quality local pastries—an understated but thoughtful nod to the city’s culinary traditions.

A Glimpse of Porsche’s Electric Future

The opening of Porsche Studio Istanbul was also marked by a significant product milestone: the first presentation in Turkey of Porsche’s new fully electric SUV, the Cayenne Electric. Its debut immediately positioned the Studio as a key touchpoint for the brand’s future direction, underlining Porsche’s commitment to electrification while maintaining its core values of performance and design.

More than just a new retail location, Porsche Studio Istanbul offers a clear glimpse into how the brand sees the future of automotive retail—where emotional connection, community, and experience are as vital as horsepower and heritage. In a city defined by contrast, movement, and creativity, Porsche’s latest Studio feels not just appropriate, but inevitable.

Source: Porsche

NEW CARS

Red, White, and V10: The Salzburg Carrera GT

Some racing liveries transcend time. They stop belonging to a single car, a single year, or even a single victory, and instead become part of a brand’s DNA. For Porsche, few paint schemes carry the same emotional weight as the red-and-white Salzburg Design—forever linked to the marque’s first overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970, when Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood guided the short-tail 917, wearing starting number 23, into history.

More than half a century later, that iconic look has found a new canvas. Not on a museum-bound prototype or a static showpiece, but on one of the most revered road cars ever built: the Porsche Carrera GT.

This extraordinary transformation comes via Porsche’s exclusive Sonderwunsch programme, specifically through a Factory Re-Commission project commissioned by Puerto Rican Porsche enthusiast Victor Gómez. The result is a 2005 Carrera GT that doesn’t merely pay tribute to motorsport heritage—it revives it, meticulously and authentically, for the modern road.

Recommissioned, Not Restored

Calling this project a repaint would be a severe understatement. The Factory Re-Commission process effectively resets a car’s life clock. Gómez’s Carrera GT was completely disassembled, with every major technical component inspected, revised, or rebuilt. The naturally aspirated V10 was overhauled from the ground up, carbon-fiber components were recoated, and the entire vehicle was returned to what Porsche describes as a “zero-kilometer condition,” fully documented in the factory archive.

Only then did the aesthetic transformation begin.

Adapting the Salzburg Design from the slab-sided, purpose-built 917 to the flowing, organic form of the Carrera GT was anything but straightforward. The geometry, proportions, and surface transitions of the two cars are worlds apart. What worked on a long-distance prototype designed for the Mulsanne Straight would not automatically translate to a mid-engined road car sculpted for both speed and beauty.

Porsche designer Grant Larson and his team approached the task with the same discipline applied to a new production model. Initial sketches gave way to detailed renderings, followed by a hands-on phase where the Carrera GT was physically taped to evaluate how the red-and-white lines would move across its body. Only after this painstaking process were the final paint templates created.

The finished result is striking without being forced. Indian red flows across the Carrera GT’s carbon-fiber skin, balanced by crisp white sections and anchored visually by the famous number 23. A transparent protective film ensures the hand-painted finish is preserved, even as Gómez intends to drive the car on the public roads of Puerto Rico rather than confine it to a collection.

Carbon, Contrast, and Cohesion

Beyond the headline livery, the exterior detailing is a masterclass in restraint. Matte black carbon fiber provides contrast against the bold paintwork, appearing on the roof halves, A- and B-pillars, mirror caps, front air duct, and rear diffuser. The engine cover grilles are finished in black matte anodizing, while the original five-spoke Carrera GT wheels are painted black and fitted with colored Porsche crests—a subtle nod to tradition.

Inside, the personalization continues with equal intent. Large sections of the interior are trimmed in Indian Red Alcantara, including the dashboard, door panels, steering wheel rim, center console, and even the front luggage compartment lining. The effect is dramatic but cohesive, enveloping the driver in a cockpit that feels both bespoke and motorsport-inspired.

Matte carbon fiber once again plays a supporting role, used on the seat shells, air vent surrounds, and instrument cover. For the seat centers, side bolsters, and headrests, Porsche’s upholstery specialists selected black FIA-certified textile originally developed for the 918 Spyder—a non-flammable material rooted firmly in racing practice. It’s a fitting detail, especially when one remembers that even the original 917 endurance racer was required to carry two seats.

Sonderwunsch, Defined

Projects like this define the modern meaning of Sonderwunsch. More than a customization department, it is a collaborative process where customers work directly with Porsche designers and engineers to turn personal visions into factory-approved reality. Every idea is vetted for technical feasibility, durability, and brand integrity. Every modification is recorded in Porsche’s archives, ensuring complete transparency and long-term traceability.

In Gómez’s case, the process involved multiple visits to Germany, following the project closely from concept to completion. His verdict speaks volumes: a Carrera GT restored to new condition, tailored inside and out to his personal vision, and infused with one of the most storied liveries in Porsche history.

A Modern Classic Meets a Racing Soul

When the Carrera GT debuted in 2003, it stood among the fastest production cars in the world, capable of 330 km/h. Its carbon-fiber monocoque and mid-mounted engine layout were direct transfers from racing technology, and its 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V10—originally conceived for Le Mans—produced 450 kW (612 PS) while propelling a curb weight of just 1,380 kilograms.

Even today, the Carrera GT remains a benchmark for purity: no turbos, no hybrid assistance, no electronic dilution of the driving experience. Wrapping that mechanical masterpiece in the Salzburg Design doesn’t dilute its identity—it amplifies it.

This is not nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It is a reminder that Porsche’s greatest road cars are inseparable from its racing past. And in this singular Carrera GT, Le Mans history doesn’t just live on—it drives on.

Source: Porsche

News

Air-Cooled Endurance: Jeff Zwart’s Safari Rally Challenge

At 70 years old, Jeff Zwart is not a man with many unfinished chapters. Between directing award-winning commercials, redefining hillclimb heroics at Pikes Peak and curating the now-mythical Luftgekühlt gatherings, his life has long existed at the intersection of speed, aesthetics and endurance. When he isn’t flat-out in a Porsche, he’s back home on his Colorado ranch, posting serene images of snow-draped landscapes, air-cooled icons and his beloved Bernese Mountain Dogs.

And yet, even for Zwart, there remained one box unticked.

More than half a century after first reading about it as a teenager, the American Porsche racer has finally conquered what he describes as “probably the hardest event I’ve ever done”: the East African Safari Classic Rally. Not in a modern weapon, but in a competition-prepared classic Porsche 911—exactly the kind of car that helped ignite his passion all those years ago.

For someone with multiple marathon rallies to his name, that statement carries weight. This year’s Safari Classic stretched across nine days and 2,220 competitive kilometres of some of the most punishing terrain imaginable. Heat shimmered relentlessly, dust and mud alternated by the hour, water crossings tested both nerve and machinery, and wildlife ensured concentration never wavered for a second. It is rallying distilled to its rawest form—and that is precisely the appeal.

“I read about this race while I was in high school and I’d always hoped that I’d one day do it,” Zwart explains. “To be able to compete here in a car from the same era as my school days has made the whole experience feel even more special.”

Alongside co-driver Alex Gelsomino, Zwart finished an impressive 17th overall from a starting field of around 60 cars. Remarkably, more than half were classic 911s, underlining just how well Stuttgart’s air-cooled icon continues to thrive under extreme conditions. The overall victory went to British endurance racer Harry Hunt and co-driver Steve McPhee—also in a 911—further cementing the model’s legendary resilience.

The East African Safari Rally traces its origins back to 1953, created to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Traversing Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, it quickly earned a reputation as motorsport’s ultimate endurance test. After evolving through multiple formats, the event was reborn in 2003 as the East African Safari Classic Rally, now run biennially for historic machinery. This year’s route carved through Diani, Voi and Amboseli, framed by the dramatic silhouette of Mount Kilimanjaro—beautiful, unforgiving and utterly relentless.

“In the 1970s this was considered the most difficult automotive event in the world, and I don’t think it’s got any easier,” Zwart says, smiling. His early F-series 911 was packed to the roof with spares and tools, a necessity rather than a precaution. “It was super rough and super fast, with lots of wild animals on the course. But the scenery was unparalleled, the people were incredible, and being in a classic 911 just feels like home. Every day the car surprised me with how well it handled things.”

That sense of meaning was amplified by the man in the right-hand seat. Gelsomino was the long-time co-driver of the late Ken Block, who contested the rally in 2022. For Zwart, their partnership carried emotional weight.

“I remember Ken telling me how incredible this rally was. He said, ‘Jeff, you’ve got to do it,’” he recalls. “So to be here with Alex as my co-driver feels like coming full circle. At times it’s been pretty emotional for both of us.”

The rally was far from trouble-free. Suspension damage on day three and a transmission issue late in the event forced the pair to crawl nearly 40 kilometres of a stage in first gear. Yet time loss was minimal, a testament to both mechanical sympathy and the extraordinary durability of the car. Zwart describes the 911 as having taken “an incredible beating” while still running flawlessly as it crossed the final finish line, moments before celebrations on the beach.

Exhausted but elated, Zwart is still processing what he calls “the adventure of a lifetime.”

“It was definitely the toughest event I’ve done,” he says, “but it challenged us in so many ways that I’m incredibly glad we went for it. That said—after all that heat and humidity—I’ll be very happy to be back in the snow.”

Even at 70, Jeff Zwart has proven that some dreams are worth waiting half a century to fulfil—especially when they end, fittingly, behind the wheel of an air-cooled 911.

Source: Porsche