1073-HP Porsche Vision 357 Speedster Loses Roof, Gains Electric Power

• The Porsche Vision 357 Speedster concept, an homage to the manufacturer’s first sports car, is the sister model to the 357 concept revealed in January.
• The chassis of the Vision 357 Speedster comes from the 718 GT4 Clubsport, while the electric motors and battery technology are borrowed from the 718 GT4 e-performance and Mission R.
• Much like the initial Vision 357 concept, the Speedster is jam-packed with special details and styling, hearkening back to the original 356.

Porsche is continuing its celebration of 75 years since the launch of its first sports car, the iconic 356. In January, the automaker revealed the Porsche Vision 357, a beautiful homage to that first Porsche sports car. The birthday celebrations haven’t stopped, with Porsche announcing a new Vision 357 Speedster concept overnight.

We were shocked (and thrilled) to learn that the initial Vision 357 concept was built on the bones of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, including the 4.0-liter flat-six engine in the middle—it is 2023 after all, and every new concept is electric. Unfortunately the Vision 357 Speedster is more in keeping with the trends in 2023 and does not share that powertrain. It instead borrows the chassis from the race-ready 718 GT4 Clubsport, while taking its electric motors and battery technology from the 718 GT4 e-performance and Mission R.

Just like in the 718 GT4 e-performance—which also shares a chassis with the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport—the Vision 357 Speedster features an electric motor on each axle providing all-wheel drive. The ePerformance motors produce a whopping 1073 horsepower in qualifying mode and 604 ponies for up to 30 minutes in race mode. According to Porsche, the e-performance car matches the current 911 GT3 Cup car when it comes to lap times and a top speed around 186 mph.

Design Focus

But as impressive as the performance figures are, the real draw of the Vision 357 Speedster is the design. In typical speedster fashion, Porsche shortened the windshield on the car. A cloth tonneau cover spans the right side of the cockpit, lending to a driver-centric experience. The ultra-smooth bodywork carries over from the sister concept, as do the nearly hidden headlights and taillights. According to Porsche, the two-tone Marble Grey and Gravel Grey Metallic were inspired by historic vehicles in motorsport, as well as to contrast the Miami Blue accents found throughout the car.

Just like on the coupe version, the speedster features large “75” logos, as well as “1948” and “2023,” though the speedster logos are finished in a Miami Blue accent. The speedster rides on 20-inch magnesium wheels equipped with carbon-fiber hubcaps and center locks, while also visually representing the large rims from the 356.

Following an appearance at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Porsche plans to bring the car to the U.S. where it will be showcased at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion in September.

Associate News Editor

Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.