Latest news with #Flachbau
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Major sports car brand ‘could revive weirdest model' 40 years being discontinued – and it would leave drivers ‘tripping'
A MAJOR sports car could be set to revive its "weirdest model" some 40 years after it was discontinued. This iconic 1980s model could be a massive hit with car enthusiasts who would be "tripping over themselves" to get their hands on one. 3 3 3 The incredible Porsche Flachbau was sold throughout the 80s with just 58 first generation cars constructed, reports Motor 1. Translated to "slant nose" in English, the 911 model is recognised for its flat nose instead of the car's trademark raised fenders and frog-eyed lights. Although having only produced a few of the vehicles, the car company did revive the option for the 964 Turbo S, with exposed 928-style pop-up lights. This isn't the first vintage vehicle to have a reboot. The 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition was inspired by the 1950s, while the 911 Sport Classic referenced models from the 60s. Last year, the Porsche 959 made a reappearance some 37 years after it was first released. The supercar is an icon of the 1980s and, at the time of its debut, was the world's fastest street-legal car with a top speed of 197 mph. The incredible Porsche 959 was sold between 1986 and 1993, and just 292 units were built - according to Porsche themselves. Among the car's famous owners included Bill Gates, the billionaire owner of Microsoft, comedian and Porsche aficionado Jerry Seinfeld, and even former Ferrari F1 driver Eddie Irvine. However, 959-ownership might be about to get a tiny bit easier for Porsche fans... if you're happy to sit behind the wheel of a high-class knock off. Porsche Cayenne fitted with brainy 'matrix headlights' that change nighttime driving forever That's because engineering firm Kalmar Automotive from Estonia have revealed their own take on the iconic 959 - called the 9X9. Set to be available in standard, Sport and 'Leichtbau' forms, just nine examples of this extra special motor will be created as a tribute to one of history's most famous fast cars. The top-spec of these features a bonkers 3.8-litre twin-turbo engine capable of delivering an eye-watering 930 bhp to all four of its wheels. If that isn't enough, the experts at Kalmar have tweaked the car's bodywork to generate a claimed 1,450kg of downforce. Possibly to keep things retro, the 9X9's interior combines digital displays with analogue dials, with both the navigation system and radio removed - although Bluetooth remains to allow for phone calls and media playback. The company says each one will be coach-built to be totally unique, and that buyers can expect to take delivery of their one-of-a-kind 9X9 in July 2025. Jan Kalmar, the founder of Kalmar Automotive, said: 'The 9X9 is Kalmar Automotive's tribute to one of the greatest road-going sports cars of the millennia, enhanced to the highest possible degree that technology today allows. 'The result is our creation of a brand-new class of vehicle, retro-hyper-car.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Is Porsche About to Revive the 911 Slantnose?
There's no car currently on sale today that's as instantly recognizable as the Porsche 911. The brand's designers have done an incredible job maintaining the form of the icon over the decades, gradually evolving the shape as time goes on. That said, there have been the occasional deviations from the pattern — and while many might consider the 996 generation to be the odd man out, that honor truly belongs to the Flachbau. And, according to recent European Trademark filings, it appears that Porsche might be gearing up to bring the ugly duckling back once again. The Flachbau, or 'slantnose' as it's known colloquially, was a product of Porsche Motorsports in the 1980s. The look was first seen on the brand's 935 racers, with Kremer Racing developing body kits that mirrored the look in 1981. A year later, Tag Heuer owner Mansour Ojjeh tasked Porsche with building him a road-legal 935. The resulting project was based on a 930 Turbo, and featured a ton of bespoke hardware. That car proved to be so popular with enthusiasts that Porsche would start offering the flat fender look under the Sonderwunsch program in 1986. The package wasn't cheap, adding as much as 60% to the price of a standard 930. Still, according to 911Flachbau, 948 cars were ultimately converted to the slantnose spec, although only 160 found their way to the United States. A great many more were built in the aftermarket, but genuine cars carry significantly more value in today's market. The decades since have seen the 911 stick by its traditional face we all know and love. But earlier this May, as brought to broader attention by Autoblog, the European Union Intellectual Property Office received request for trademarks on the terms 'Porsche Flachbau' and 'Flachbau RS.' It'd be easy to assume that the brand plans to use the nameplate on a special edition 911 — particularly a Turbo given the history. That said, the 'RS' moniker throws a bit of a wrench into the mix. Perhaps Porsche is looking back at the 935 heritage behind the Flachbau name, with plans to bring a more genuine motorsports connection. Either way, we'd love to see what Porsche's modern team of designers is able to do with a slantnose design. Their recent take on the 935 itself remains one of our favorite modern Porsches. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
Motor 1
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
The Weirdest Factory Porsche 911 Could Make a Comeback
Porsche does a great business with special-edition 911 models. These extremely profitable limited runs are like gold to collectors, who are all willing to pay big prices to get their hands on one, and spend even more money on further customization. Recent trademark fillings with the EU Intellectual Property Office hint that its next could be a revival of a 1980s icon, the Flachbau. Road & Track first drew our attention to fillings for "Porsche Flachbau" and "Flachbau RS," both of which are dated May 14th, 2025. The name translates in English to "slant nose" and refers to a special option for the 911 Turbo that replaced the car's trademark raised fenders and frog-eyed lights with a flat nose and pop-ups that aped the look of the 935 race car. Porsche built the cars in extremely small numbers throughout the 1980s, and revived the option for the 964 Turbo S of 1994, though this time with exposed 928-style pop-up lights. Of course, automakers trademark old names all the time to protect their intellectual property. But, Porsche has been doing all sorts of retro-inspired 911s of late. Throughout the life of the current 992-generation 911, it's done tribute models to specific decades. The 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition was inspired by the 1950s; the 911 Sport Classic referenced models from the 1960s; and the recently revealed 911 Spirit 70 obviously pays homage to the 1970s. Porsche has said it planned to do four of these models, and a revived Flachbau would be an ideal 1980s tribute. The name Flachbau RS is especially intriguing, too. We know Porsche is also working on a new 911 GT2 RS, so maybe it's planning a special slant-nose version of that car. If it were to build it, collectors would be tripping over themselves and each other to get an allocation. This might all be nothing. But, we'd hardly be surprised to see a modern Flachbau. It's almost too good of an idea. More on Porsche The Porsche 911 GT2 RS Might Be Back as a Hybrid Is Porsche Delaying The Electric 718 and Three-Row SUV? Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Porsche's 1980s Icon May Return as the 911 Flachbau RS
Porsche seems to be prepping a modern incarnation of a totem of 1980s 'greed is good' culture, the 911 Turbo Flachbau. In addition to recently registering the name Flachbau with the EUIPO, Porsche has also registered the name Flachbau RS. This appears to signal a new exclusive edition 911, melding track-bred dynamics with a heavy aero-influenced frontal restyling. Porsche has recently been mining its history with a succession of models, each harking back to a previous decade. The latest is the 911 Edition 70, which recalls the body stripes and psychedelic Pascha seat fabric of the 1970s. We might now have a clue to the next celebration model, recalling the 1980s. Completists of the 911 will immediately recall that the original 911 Flachbau – or 'slantnose' – was an ultra-expensive limited edition from the factory's Sonderwunsch (special wishes) program. In that era, racing 935s from teams including Kremer flattened the 911's nose for aero purposes. The street 911 Turbo Flachbau replaced the tall front fenders with a line that matched the front hood. To fit the headlamps, they used that symbol of 1980s automotive potency, big pop-up units. Ahead of the rear wheels were giant intakes, with horizontal strakes as per a Ferrari Testarossa. Dominating the rear was the iconic Turbo tea-tray wing. Of the 950 or so built, many ran a 3.3-liter engine instead of the 3.0 that was standard with Turbos from 1978. They also mostly got a power boost to 330 horsepower. So what about a high-price revival using the modern 911 as a base? We called a Porsche source, who said he'd never heard of this trademark registration. But he also said it wouldn't be at all surprised if the factory is planning such a car. Porsche has officially said it will build four Heritage Design series. First, in 2019 was a Targa 4S with 1950s' style paint and corduroy upholstery. More significant was the 2022 911 Sport Classic, a celebration of the late-1960s race 911s. It also had classic trim, including wood on the dash, but it had mechanical back-up. It was the most powerful 911 Porsche had made at the time, with 550 hp, hooked to a manual transmission and RWD-only. So we know the Heritage Design program can do more than just trim. Calling a car the Flachbau RS would signify the involvement of the GT department, developer of the GT2 and GT3 series cars. We're licking our lips. But what about the pop-up lamps, critical to the vibe of mullet hairstyles and big shoulder pads? While they're no longer legal in most markets due to pedestrian safety regulations, our Porsche source suggested that modern ultra-slim LED technology could offer a clever workaround.
