Porsche unveils Australian-inspired one-off

Porsche Australia’s 75th birthday celebrations have been capped off in style with the unveiling of its most special car yet, the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under.

Made to mark three-quarters of a century for Porsche’s Australian operations, the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under is a bespoke creation by the Porsche Sonderwunsch (special request) and Style Porsche teams, in collaboration with South African-born, Sydney-based artist, Werner Bronkhorst.

Based on the rapid 911 Turbo S coupe, Bronkhorst – who has previously worked with Porsche and Tag Heuer on projects – wanted the special commission to reflect his work, which is “rooted in texture, depth and the emotional energy of the Australian landscape”.

“I’ve had a lifelong admiration for Porsche – not only for its design purity but for its commitment to craft,” he added. 

“Collaborating with the Sonderwunsch team was a genuinely inspiring process, where artistry and engineering pushed each other forward. Seeing these elements come together on such an iconic canvas feels like a truly inspirational celebration of both Australia and Porsche.”

The 911 Land Down Under is the first Porsche in Australia to feature specially developed Chromaflair paint colours, with its Terra Australis Red (lower body) and Southern Cross Blue (shoulderline and above) finishes hand-painted on the body to create a visual smorgasbord of hues, depending on lighting and angles.

A total of seven layers were applied by hand, with the paintwork itself requiring more than 300 hours of labour to complete, extending to the unique Southern Cross Blue wheels.

On the roof, Bronkhorst developed a font to subtly include the number 75 on top of the 911, while under the rear spoiler there’s a secret message which isn’t revealed until it extends in Sport Plus mode or above 80km/h: ‘See ya later mate’.

There are a few additional nods to Australiana across the bodywork, with miniature paintworks of a farmer and their dog, a rock climber, a surf rescuer and a stockman on a horse adorning the exterior.

As you’d expect, there’s been no detail spared in the cabin either, where the sports seats feature 14,417 perforations, each unique to the Land Down Under 911, designed to reflect Bronkhorst’s brushstrokes, while complimenting the Kalahari and Coolibah Brown leather.

Blink and you’ll miss it, but the head restraints also feature an embossed ‘75 years

Porsche in Australia’ motif, while the roof lining showcases the Southern Hemisphere constellation map, as it was at night over Uluru in 1951 when Porsche first arrived here.

Elsewhere in the cabin, Dark Night Blue leather contrasts the brownish hues of the seats and door cards, while there’s also hand-finished Australian Silky Oak wood inlays on the dashboard and rear seat inlay.

On the upper dashboard and side trim, topographical references to the Blue Mountains are printed, meanwhile there are more miniature paintings by Bronkhorst, including a kangaroo, koala, and wedge-tailed eagle.

There’s no mechanical changes to the Land Down Under special, still utilising the mind-warping underpinnings of the Turbo S, which last year became a hybrid.

Powered by a twin-turbo 3.6-litre flat-six engine with Porsche’s own ‘T-Hybrid’ system, the 911 Turbo S is capable of producing 523kW and 800Nm, thank to its n electric exhaust gas turbocharger, a permanent magnet synchronous motor in its eight-speed dual-clutch (PDK) automatic transmission, and a 1.9kWh battery pack.

With all four wheels driven, the 911 Turbo S can sprint from 0-100km/h in 2.5 seconds, push on to 200km/h in 8.4 seconds and top out at 322km/h. It also features electro-hydraulically controlled sway bars due to its 400-volt system.

The 911 Turbo S Land Down Under is being celebrated as a major milestone for Porsche Australia, ahead of its local ‘curated’ tour around the brand’s dealerships.

“This unique 911 Turbo S demonstrates the power of combining Porsche craftsmanship with bold artistic vision,” said Porsche Cars Australia CEO and Managing Director, Daniel Schmollinger. 

“From the Chromaflair gradient to the bespoke interior storytelling, every detail reflects an appreciation for Australia’s remarkable natural beauty. It is a true showcase of what bespoke Porsche design can achieve.

“The partnership between Porsche Sonderwunsch, Style Porsche, our Australian team and Werner Bronkhorst have brought this vision to life in an extraordinary way.

"This car is a curated expression of place, craftsmanship and imagination – a testament to what becomes possible when creativity and engineering unite without limits on a Sonderwunsch journey.”