Porsche Trademarks Point To 911 Slantnose Revival

There isn’t much that Porsche likes more than special editions. Low-volume cars like the GT3 and the 911 Dakar, ultra-limited models like the 911 R, and even the slightly more common ones like the 911 Spirit 70 bring in plenty of customers and lots of demand and with that come high prices.

So it’s not much of a surprise that Porsche is looking to bring back models from its long history to make new special edition models. A pair of trademark applications in Germany hint that the latest might come with a flat nose.

Porsche Applies For Slantnose, Slantnose RS

In the two filings, dug up with the European Intellectual Property Office by Autoblog, Porsche is looking for “Porsche Flachbau” and “Flachbau RS.” The trademarks are applied for under Nice Classification 12. That means “Vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air, or water.” In short, for new cars.

Flachbau is German for Slantnose. For 911 enthusiasts, this is a siren’s call to the 930 Porsche Turbo.

Early in the 930’s life, Porsche offered a new nose. Pop-up headlights replaced the traditional 911 fenders. The package was available through Porsche’s Sonderwunsch, or “special request” program, and it was inspired by the German automaker’s 935 race car. On the track, the 935’s slant nose improved aero and top speed.

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Off the track, customers demanded the look for their 930 Turbo. Important customers, like Mansour Ojjeh, the owner of TAG, which worked with Porsche to build its F1 engine for McLaren.

According to Porsche, only 948 copies were ever built. The first 58 didn’t have pop-up lamps, and the later cars added optional air intake vents. At the time, companies offered kits to convert a standard 911 to Slantnose spec, because so many buyers wanted one.

Today, the Flachbau cars are rare and valuable. Which, of course, makes them the perfect car for Porsche to bring back as an extra-expensive, very special edition.

Modern Slantnose Could Be The Most Desirable New 911

What could Porsche be planning? Well, obviously a flat nose design, but what about the pop-up lamps? The pop-up lamp disappeared nearly two decades ago, but there are ways around that. Mazda tried one way with the Iconic SP. It has tiny flaps that hide its LED lights when they aren’t in use, though it’s not yet a production car.

Porsche could also take a page from a car like the Ferrari F40. It had a clear cover over its lower set of lamps that might not have popped up, but did give it the sleek nose look. And yes, the F40 also had pop-ups, but ignore those for a moment.

Porsche has already recently brought the idea back to life in the form of the 2019 Porsche 935. Like the race cars from which it got its name, this long-tail 911 had a flat front. Porsche put the headlights in the bumper air intakes on that one. Just 77 were built, and it was not street legal. So we’re not sure if that solution is roadworthy.

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If we’re being really out-there, Porsche could use that style lamp and make the cover electrochromic. Hidden headlights when you want, with a clear lens when it’s time for some illumination. This is something Porsche’s sister company Audi patented a few years ago.

That’s just speculation. We can’t confirm what Porsche has planned for its new-old name. But any Porsche with a flat front is good in our books.

Source: Autoblog