Porsche’s head of design sheds light on his 20 years with the legendary brand.
Regarding style, it’s hard to match the icon status of many Porsche cars. Its lineup combines futuristic looks with signature details and instantly recognizable features that have been around for decades. Of course, the 911 is one of the sports car world’s most essential legends, and its formula has remained largely unchanged for the 60 years it’s been around. For 20 years, Michael Mauer has served as Porsche’s head of design, and after two decades of having a hand in Porsche’s creations, he’s sat down for an interview about his experience.
Only the Boxster, 911, and Cayenne were offered when Mauer started at Porsche. Since then, he has had a significant hand in creating the Panamera, Macan, 918 Spyder, Taycan, Macan Electric, and plenty of other concepts, future models, and new generations of Porsche’s icons. In his time with the legendary manufacturer, digitalization has changed and evolved the design process. However, for Michael Mauer, the human factor in automotive design is still paramount to what makes Porsche’s cars unique.
Three of Michael Mauer’s favorite projects during his time at Porsche are the Taycan, one of the most ambitious projects in recent Porsche history as the manufacturer’s first all-electric model; the first generation of the Macan, with a simple look and the opportunity to work with a new platform; and the 997-generation Porsche 911, which was the first 911 that he was fully involved in.
As for the future of Porsche, Michael Mauer believes that the importance of driver-focused design will prevent cars from becoming excessively touchscreen-heavy, and head-up displays with voice control are also changing how infotainment is arranged. Going forward, he says that Porsche will continue to be evolutionary and futuristic while paying respectful homage to the timeless classics the manufacturer is known and loved for. The recent Mission X concept car exemplifies the approach.
The Porsche Spyder 551, shown in “Porsche Unseen,” is the manifestation of Michael Mauer’s perfect dream car with its thrilling, purist-oriented design. It’s what Mauer would bring forth if he, like Ferry Porsche, decided to bring his dream car to life. However, the Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder RS is also Mauer’s dream car. With its agility and compact dimensions, it’s a thriller that’s easy to enjoy, like many of Porsche’s most celebrated icons should be.
Image Source: Porsche
