The Porsche Macan Vision Safari is a 1:1 hard model based on the first-generation, pre-facelifted Macan crossover, featuring just two doors and a bunch of off-road modifications. Porsche designers were inspired by the 911 Safari as well as the iconic 959 Paris-Dakar racer, so in a sense, you could call the Macan Vision Safari the unofficial heir of the 959 Paris-Dakar, even though it’s never seen any action.
According to Porsche, the Macan was
already “pre-destined to prove its versatility on gravel roads and rally
tracks” seen as how it features an active all-wheel drive system, a sporty
dual-clutch gearbox and an adaptive chassis that can be calibrated for off-road
driving at the push of a button.
It definitely looks like it wouldn’t have
a hard time venturing off the beaten track with its increased ride height and
chunky tires – and if you look inside, you’ll see that the cabin has been
fitted with a roll cage just like a true race car.
Of course, in the end nothing came of this
design exercise, which dates back to 2013. Porsche owners rarely, if ever, take
their SUVs off-road, and the Macan was meant to be a high-volume product, tailored
for city streets and, at best, winding roads.
