Porsche dio a conocer una gran cantidad de prototipos nunca antes vistos en noviembre de 2020, pero este pequeño roadster no era uno de ellos. Concebido en 2008, el 550one fue encargado por el ex máximo mandatario del Grupo Volkswagen, Ferdinand Piëch , como un tributo moderno al Porsche 550 Spyder de James Dean. Walter de Silva, el hombre detrás del diseño de este biplaza, utilizó Instagram para publicar imágenes de un deportivo con cierto toque retro.
Escondido durante 13 años
Porsche unveiled a host of never-before-seen prototypes in November 2020, but this little roadster wasn’t one of them. Conceived in 2008, the 550one was commissioned by former Volkswagen Group CEO Ferdinand Piëch as a modern tribute to James Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder. Walter de Silva, the man behind the design of this two-seater, used Instagram to post images of a sports car with a certain retro touch.
Hidden for 13 years
The 21st century “Little Bastard” was kept under wraps all these years and took the form of a mid-engined roadster with design cues such as air intakes and central exhaust similar to those of the aforementioned 1950s Porsche. At the rear, there appears to be a spoiler that would make an appearance at some speed electrically, although the 550one is likely to be a full-scale static display model as the exhaust does not appear to have any physical connection.
With regard to the interior , this convertible exhibits a leather upholstery in shades of gray, a center console that seems to be inspired by the Audi R8, including the six-speed manual gearbox, as well as a flattened steering wheel at the bottom and some outputs of air with three slots so much in the doors - they open and they are closed by means of a strap - as in the dashboard. We can also appreciate metal surfaces, aluminum pedals and an instrument panel with the tachometer mounted in the center and the speedometer to its left.