In October, we revealed that Porsche has very long-term plans for its business, not just on Earth but in galaxies far, far away. To prepare for this, the sportscar maker got together with LucasFilm, the creators of Star Wars, to develop a starship as a first step. Over a period of 2 months, a project team consisting of designers from Porsche and LucasFilm worked together at their respective design studios in Weissach (Germany) and San Francisco to create initial ideas and drafts before finally coming up with a concrete concept.
The fantasy starship, named Tri-Wing S-91x Pegasus Starfighter, is presently in concept form so it is small – just 1.5 metres. While legal requirements impose certain restrictions on creativity in the classic design process for a series-production vehicle, this project opens up a whole new dimension of freedom.
At the same time, the Style Porsche team faced fresh challenges, since creating a purely virtual design is demanding, too. On the screen, the starship is only seen in two dimensions, while classic series-production vehicles appear physically in three dimensions. In addition, starships usually only appear dynamically in the film and are only visible for a brief moment – so the design has to create an impression and be recognisable within a matter of seconds.
Porsche details in the starship
A glance at the details reveals a number of features familiar from the Porsche design style. The front is reminiscent of the so-called ‘air curtains’ (air inlets) that go together with the headlights to create a single formal entity in the all-electric Taycan sportscar. In addition to the 4-point daytime running light typical of Porsche, the so-called ‘blasters’ – long gun barrels at the front – are located at the tip. The rear grid with the louvres and integrated third brake light was inspired by the current 911 generation, and the rear section of the starship bears the brand’s hallmark light bar.
Porsche design criteria have been applied to the interior, too: the instruments in the cockpit are clearly aligned with the driver’s axis, while the low seating position is reminiscent of the sporty ergonomics in the 918 Spyder. All in all, the design follows a basic principle that is characteristic of the brand. All the elements on the exterior have a clear function, and purely visual features have largely been dispensed with.
“The design of the spaceship is harmoniously integrated into the Star Wars film world while at the same time demonstrating clear analogies with the characteristic Porsche styling and proportions,” said Michael Mauer, Vice-President Style Porsche at Porsche AG. “The basic shape of the cabin, which tapers towards the rear, and a highly distinctive topography from the cockpit flyline to the turbines establish visual parallels with the iconic design of the 911 and the Taycan. The very compact layout conveys dynamism and agility, lending emphasis to the Porsche design features mentioned.”
The development process of the starship can be viewed online at www.thedesigneralliance.com. The Tri-Wing S-91x Pegasus Starfighter will make its first public appearance at the film’s special premiere of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ tomorrow in Los Angeles. The global release is set for Thursday, December 19, 2019.
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