Marc Philipp Gemballa, a renowned tuner of Porsche cars, has unveiled the Marsien, an extreme-looking rally racer inspired by the Porsche 959 that won the gold of the Dakar Rally back in 1980.
The company takes a stock Porsche 911 Turbo S (992) and upgrades its engine to the latest RUF specification, which gives it 750 PS (740 hp / 552 kW) and 930 Nm (686 lb-ft) of torque. Bolstered like this, the coupe snaps off the start line and reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.7 seconds. Those who still want more may opt for upmarket turbos and a different ECU tune, which culminates in 830 PS (819 hp / 610 kW). Thanks to a bespoke titanium exhaust system, the car is not only road-legal, but actually Euro-6 compliant.
Elsewhere, the project introduces the latest 911 to a retro-styled body kit and all-new double-wishbone suspension system. You can drop the ride height to as little as 120 mm (4.7 inches) and raise it to 250 mm (9.8 inches) when necessary. And if you were wondering what ‘Marsien’ stands for, Gemballa Jr. explains that it is French for ‘Martian’. Apparently, the rally racer was designed for the UAE first and foremost, a country of plentiful deserts and landscapes that look like they might have been photographed on the surface of Mars.
Only 40 cars will be made, and the deliveries are set to begin later in the year. Converting your 911 Turbo S is possible starting from €495,000, but you will be looking at spending around €600,000 if a donor vehicle is required.