Marc Philipp Gemballa has just unveiled Marsien, an off-road-ready, bespoke supercar that is a wondrous blend of modern and classic design. You may know Marc Philipp Gemballa as the son of late Uwe Gemballa, but he has just launched Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH and this is the company’s first creation. It should be noted that this company is not related to Gemballa GmbH.
The design of the 992 911 Turbo S-based Marsien was inspired by Paris Dakar Rally era cars. In charge of the design was Alan Derosier who is known by many for his Porsche 908 design study. From the integrated rear wing to the massive side vents and sleek lines, Derosier has created an automotive masterpiece. Making up the design is a full carbon fiber body that has undergone intensive testing for the sake of aerodynamics, efficiency, and safety. When ordered, customers can choose to have their Marsien completed with a fully exposed carbon fiber body. The exterior is also highlighted by a stunning bespoke rear light that was designed by GERG Lighthouse. As for the wheels, the off-road supercar comes with two sets of specially designed aluminum center-lock wheels shod in Michelin Ultra High-Performance tires for the road and all-terrain tires for off-road escapades.
For those off-road moments, Marsien has been equipped with a bespoke suspension system that Marc Philipp created in partnership with KW Automotive. This suspension system allows the supercar to have its ride height increased to an overall ride height of 9.8-inches at the push of a button. Working with this suspension system are the driving modes that can automatically adjust the damper, transmission setting, engine mapping, and ride height. And no matter how high or low the Marsien sits, the entire underbody is protected by a solid aluminum skid plate. Customers can also choose to have their Marsien equipped with a Reiger Suspension rally specification that increases the suspension travel and ground clearance with a fixed off-road ride height.
A supercar can’t be super without power, and Marsien most definitely has plenty of power thanks to a collaboration between Marc Philipp and RUF Automobile. The engine found in the off-road-capable supercar is an upgraded six-cylinder boxer engine that produces 750 horsepower and 686 lb-ft of torque. This power can be enhanced even further with a second stage power upgrade by RUF Automobile that takes power output up to 830 hp. Mated to the engine is a revised PDK transmission that sends massive amounts of power to all four wheels. Pumping out the engine sound for the Marsien is a new Akrapovič titanium exhaust system designed exclusively for the project.
Inside Marc Philipp Gemballa’s Marsien is a handcrafted Alcantara interior with a Carrera GT-inspired carbon fiber center console and GT-style door lashes. There are carbon fiber accents found throughout the cabin, further hinting at the Marsien’s supercar capabilities. Customers also have the ability to have the interior of their Marsien completely personalized.
Finally, we should talk about the name. Where does ‘Marsien’ come from? It actually comes from when the supercar was being tested in the Al Faya desert. The red desert sand and jagged rocks the car sped around reminded them of the surface of Mars. Thus, the team picked the name Marsien, which is the French word for ‘martian’ or ‘from Mars.’
Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH will be offering a 40-example production run of the Marsien, with more than half of them already spoken for before the official launch. The Marsien conversion price is set at EUR 495,000, not including taxes, shipping, or special options. That equates to about $583,000 USD. That price does not include the cost of a Porsche 992 Turbo S base vehicle, as well. Marc Gemballa expects serial production to start later this year.
Source: Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH