Watch Porsche Designers Transform Clay into Your Fantasy Car

Porsche reveals the compelling creativity that goes into crafting the world’s greatest cars in newly released video.

The 2019 Porsche Cayenne is the German automaker’s latest addition to its extensive stable. And while the machine looks extremely similar to other vehicles from the company, Porsche put out a video that provides a more in-depth look at the SUV and all of the minute details that help the new Cayenne stand out from the crowd.

As Michael Mauer, vice president of styling at Porsche, says, the design philosophy behind the new Cayenne heavily relies on two pillars – brand identity and product identity. Those two major aspects will see the automaker’s design team put a lot of effort into creating a look that’s quintessentially Porsche, while ensuring that the SUV differentiates itself from the other vehicles, like the Macan or 911.

The Cayenne started out as a sketch, which then found its way into the digital world before becoming a life-size model made out of clay. Any necessary revisions are then made by hand and then transferred back onto the digital layout. This excruciating process results in small details that are easy to miss.

The front end, as Mauer points out, has more pronounced wings, while the inlet vents remain true to Porsche’s design, but now feature functional fins. The flat roofline provides a sportier look for the SUV, while the dynamic outline for the side windows help give the Cayenne the same hunkered down look as a sports car. While the majority of the vehicle, up until the rear end, focuses on product identity, the designers honed in on brand identity at the back with the same taillight design from the new Panamera.

It may be easy to criticize Porsche for the design of the new Cayenne and call it safe or lazy, but the attention to detail is just staggering. And it’s the same situation on the inside of the vehicle where the designers were trying to give passengers the feeling of being at one with the car.

After watching the video above, it’s clear to see that Porsche put a lot of thought and effort into the design of the new Cayenne. And while it may not be a radical departure from the previous model, it screams Porsche and at the end of the day, that’s what’s important.