Porsche celebrates 75 years in Oz

PORSCHE unveiled four commemorative models at last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, to mark 75 years Down Under, with each drawing on natural settings found in the country’s north, south, east and west.

The special models are all extensively detailed by Porsche’s Exclusive Manufaktur program and the even more exclusive Sonderwunsch – which translates to ‘special request’ – initiative.

Customers will have access to the various upgrades, from colours to one-off details like colour-matched keys branded with ‘75 Years of Porsche in Australia’, should they wish to recreate one of the celebratory models.

The first of Porsche’s commemorative creations is the ‘Go North’ Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, which features a Paint to Sample Emerald Green Metallic finish that pays homage to the dense rainforests of tropical North Queensland.

According to Porsche, the 21-inch Exclusive Design wheels, finished in Neodyme, intend to resemble the Daintree’s Fan Palm, while the espresso-hued leather interior is said to reflect the rich red dirt found at the top end.

Moving through the line-up, Porsche’s ‘Go East’ Taycan 4S Cross Turismo draws from Australia’s world-famous east coast, featuring Paint to Sample Ipanema Blue Metallic paint that mimics the colour of the ocean.

Porsche says the Exclusive Design wheels, with crayon-coloured aero blades, represent marine life and coral formations, while the two-tone black and crayon interior plays to the beachy duality of warm sands and cool shade.

Heading down, the ‘Go South’ Macan 4S, wearing a sophisticated Paint to Sample Gold Bronze Metallic hue, pays tribute to the South Australian coastline.

Intricate 22-inch RS Spyder Design wheels are “a nod to the dolerite sea columns that produce from the waters of the southern Tasman Peninsula,” Porsche says, which is a long-winded way of saying they’re a work of art.

Inside, the Macan is said to resemble South Australia’s Limestone Coast, with black and beige hues, while stark orange accents “mimic the coastal snags and rocks that run along Victoria’s coastal edges”.

Lastly, the ‘Go West’ Cayenne S is an outback-inspired overlander finished in a deep, Paint to Sample Ipanema Brown that mirrors the harsh land in remote Western Australia.

Porsche’s off-road package adds protection to the outback-focused model, although the enormous 22-inch Exclusive Design Sport wheels, finished in a black silk-gloss in drawing inspiration from the state’s Wave Rock, aren’t likely to fare too well on remote tracks.

Inside the Cayenne, Bordeaux red seat centres reference the ochre-hued soil of the west while the Mojave beige compass is said to evoke “memories of the blonde sand at Broome’s Cable Beach”.

“These four special cars symbolise the legacy and future of Porsche across Australia,” said Porsche Cars Australia chief executive and managing director, Daniel Schmollinger.

“Each car has been styled to reflect different iconic Australian landscapes, specifically the rugged west, the country’s eastern surf coastline, the top end’s tropical rainforests and the southern cliffs along Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

“These four cars align timeless Porsche design with regional identity, culture, lifestyle and purpose.”

Alongside the four bespoke models, Porsche commissioned award-winning Australian artist Vincent Fantauzzo to paint the bonnet of a 911 Carrera as part of its anniversary celebrations.

The artwork, titled ‘Sundown - Red Centre’, is inspired by the intense, shifting colours of a sunset at Uluru, and it was auctioned off to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish foundation during the Grand Prix event.