Porsche Minivan Concept Is the Cool Family Hauler That Will Never Be Built

Living Room on Wheels

There was a time when it seemed blasphemous for Porsche to build and sell SUVs, so we can only imagine what people might think about this new Porsche minivan concept dubbed Renndienst. Of course, the longtime sports car company isn't planning on building this family-hauling box, but needed a vessel to show off its futuristic, living-room-like interior design, and what better way to do that than with a van?

Photos: Porsche

Comfy Space

Most automakers believe there will be a day when our vehicles do the driving for us, and when we're no longer needed behind the wheel, why not have a comfy space to stretch out in? Renndienst is one of 15 design studies that were recently published in the book Porsche Unseen, all of which were previously unknown to the public, and we can pretty much imagine why.

Photos: Porsche

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Inspired Concept

Renndienst was inspired by the VW racing service van that once served the factory Porsche racing team, and has room for six people inside. The futuristic-looking machine offers a truly modular travel experience inside, though unlike many other future self-driving vehicle concepts, this one still has a steering wheel, because it is a Porsche, after all.

Photos: Porsche

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Future of Driving

The central driving position is one of the more interesting aspects of the concept, and the driver's seat also swivels around so that person can leave the driving to the car and interact with other occupants when desired. Porsche focused on both the digital future, as well as the relationship between driver, passengers, and vehicle when imagining what the future of autonomous driving would be like.

Photos: Porsche

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Protective Capsule

There are also large windows strategically positioned within the van, which is designed to give occupants an unobstructed view of the outside world when desired, while also feeling like a "protective capsule" that provides a sense of security and comfort. Even the floating headrests contribute to this, as they give passengers a clear view of the rear window.

Photos: Porsche

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Buttons and Switches

Regardless, it's clear that Porsche isn't giving up on controls in this imagined future, where the car does everything for us. "The balance between analog and digital control panels is shifting," said Markus Auerbach, Porsche's head of interior design. "Nevertheless, haptic buttons in the vehicle cockpit are perfect because you don’t have to take your eyes off the road. However, if one day, as the driver, I have much less to do, that may change too. But we cannot solve everything through optics, because otherwise, we lack dimensions."

Photos: Porsche

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Vehicles with Soul

If one thing is clear from this exercise, it's that Porsche isn't content with creating interiors that are drab and boring like many are these days, but instead, it wants to give their cars soul. "K.I.T.T., the talking car, fascinated me," said Ivo van Hulten, Porsche's director of user experience design (UX). "The strong team of the protagonist and his vehicle really captured my imagination. I connected with the car because it had a soul. What kind of daily interactions do we plan - in 30 years, will we call our car, and then it will come around and pick us up?"

Photos: Porsche

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