The Porsche 911 is most likely the most desirable object for any company specialising in restomods – as exemplified by the likes of Singer, Gunther Werks or Tuthill, to name just a few. Airion Automotive (pronounced AIR-ON) from Berlin is a new player in that field, a small and dedicated team brought together by a shared passion for more modern-day, rather than retro-driven restomods, with expertise ranging from the luxury and motorsport world to tier-1 OEM suppliers and automotive-sector start-ups. For the world premiere of their first creation, a Porsche 911 "993", the Berliners, together with project partners BorromeodeSilva and HWA, chose the illustrious stage of this year's "The Quail – a Motorsports Gathering".
According to project leader Constantin Rau, this German-built and engineered Porsche 993-based sports car was conceived with a very specific premise in mind. "We do not believe that more power, more grip, and more aero inevitably equate to more driving enjoyment on public roads. Equally, recalling iconic design elements from the past does not necessarily add to the overall product substance", he notes. "Our aim was to reduce weight, improve safety and stiffness – an integrated carbon fibre structure increases rollover strength by 250 percent – and improve the mechanical package to express what we believe to be the core of an analogue driving experience, with uniquely beautiful details throughout."
On the design side, the team worked in close collaboration with Milan-based design studio BorromeodeSilva. The result is not an obvious retro-design but the embodiment of how the 993 might have evolved had Porsche not shelved the air-cooled engine and instead stayed loyal to the classic formula. Instead, it is a rather modern-looking 911 with organic, fluid forms, inspired by industrial design of the early 2000s, as exemplified by the works of Zaha Hadid and Ross Lovegrove. Every element of the exterior was redesigned and reengineered. This approach becomes even more evident in the interior, where a machined aluminium shifter, parking brake, pedals, and interior controls, along with components machined from European walnut, create the mechanical ambience of a fine watch, where every element sits at the intersection of art, function and creative ingenuity.
On the engineering side, Airion Automotive was supported by HWA AG — the Affalterbach-based powerhouse behind some of the most exciting race and road-going Mercedes models. The ambition was to engineer both the lightest road-going and the most powerful naturally aspirated variant of a 993. While Airion has not yet released an exact weight figure, the latter promise is fulfilled by a mighty 4.3-litre air-cooled six with 400+ hp and 430 Nm of torque. Constantin Rau stresses that the Airion was conceptually designed in accordance with German road certification requirements and therefore also retains the original Porsche VIN.
Airion Automotive intends to produce a limited run of 50 vehicles, each fully bespoke to its commissioning owner. Pricing begins at €895,000 (excl. VAT and donor vehicle). First deliveries are expected by Q3 2027.
Photos by Lina Zangers
