The 75th anniversary Porsche Vision 357

Is it one better than a 356? We’re not sure, but it kicks off an important year of celebration for Porsche.

Porsche has entered its 75th year, and you can expect many celebrations over the next 12 months. The first is the premiere of the Vision 357, a concept based on the 718 Cayman GT4 RS paying homage to the original Porsche, the 356.

“The concept car is an attempt to combine the past, present and future with coherency,” said Porsche design chief Michael Mauer in a statement, “featuring proportions that are reminiscent of its historical archetype and details that visualize the outlook for the future.”

The 356 influence is obvious in everything from the tall fenders to the rounded tail. There are a lot of little tribute details, too. The strakes running from the rear window to the bumper nod to the simple ventilation grille on the 356’s rear decklid, while the aero coverings on the 20-inch wheels are a tribute to the large hubcaps of the 356 A and B.

There are also a lot of modern, race-car-inspired details. A small splitter held up by cables and vents at the trailing edge of the wheels are the sort of thing you’d expect to see on a 911 GT3 R. The only clue of the 357’s GT4 RS origins are with the rear quarter-window intakes that direct air into the 4.0-liter flat-six.

While this is an homage to the past, there are some forward-looking design elements here. The blacked-out A-pillars create a wraparound visor look first used by Porsche on the Mission R EV race-car concept of 2021. Up front, Porsche’s now-familiar four-dot light motif has been reinterpreted in a circular shape that recalls the 356’s circular headlights, while the rear lights are so subtle, they can only be seen from certain angles. This is definitely not a production car.

Throughout its 75th year, Porsche will display the Vision 357 concept, and we presume you’ll be able to see it in the U.S. at Porsche’s Rennsport Reunion, set for Laguna Seca in late September.