The 1954 550-1500 RS Spyder has been adapted for 2020.
The retro-inspired Porsche has finally been released, following a somewhat cryptic teaser campaign. The Vision Spyder, which is a modern interpretation of a classic model from 1954, is as we expected. The “Little Rebel”, license plate, is a nod towards James Dean’s 1955 550 Spyder, also known as the “Little Bastard”, to further connect with the classic sports car.
While it retains Porsche’s current design language, it adopts retro-inspired cues of the 550. This includes the tiny windshield and vented engine lid at the back. The interior of the Vision Spyder has been reduced to its essentials. There’s also an “ultramodern roll bar” that was specifically designed for it. This is technically not a car, as it’s a 1:1 scale model. It’s part of a series of designs that the company has created between 2005-2019. This design was created last year and is one of the most recent. Although there is no plan to make it commercially available, Porsche claims that the Vision Spyder was used to generate new ideas for cars customers might be able to purchase in the future.
To make way for a rectangular arrangement of lights, the round headlights from its predecessor have been removed. The overall design is much more aggressive than that of the 550 Spyder’s sleek and simple appearance. The Vision Spyder’s unique feature is the large front air intake and vented fenders.
Porsche has not yet provided any details about the car’s dimensions and powertrain, but the car looks very compact. It likely has enough room for the 718’s four-cylinder engine. The company may have imagined the modern 550 Spyder with an electric powertrain in order to keep up with times.
The Vision Spyder will not be produced, as it was with other secret designs. It will be on display at the Porsche Museum next season. You can also read more about it in “Porsche Unseen”, a book that is out today. It is actually fifteen different cars that were built in the past 15 years. This book should be interesting.