► First production car from Marc Philipp Gemballa
► Based on the 911 Turbo S, only 40 will be made
► A 21st Century Porsche 959?
Marc Philipp Gemballa has unveiled its first production car, an off-road supercar called the Marsien. Led by the son of the late Uwe Gemballa, Marc Philipp Gemballa, the car is based on the latest 911 Turbo S and will go on sale later this year.
Is this like one of those Safari 911s that litter the internet?
Think of the Marsien as the ultimate Safari-911. It features completely bespoke suspension provided by KW Automotive and makes use of double-wishbone suspension at the front with solid piston damper technology.
Ground clearance can be raised from 120mm (road mode) to 250mm when in off-road mode.
There’s even an optional off-road package available that adds Reiger suspension and further upgraded dampers for greater ground clearance.Even the name is inspired by harsh terrain. Marsien is the French word for Martian and stems from the reddish sand dunes the car was developed on in the UAE.
It looks like a Porsche 959 doesn’t it?
You wouldn’t be wrong for thinking that, the Marsien shares more than just a hint of Porsche 959 in its design. Officially it’s an off-road capable supercar but there are clear nods to the iconic 959 super car of the 1980s, the rear wing design looking particularly familiar. As to be expected in a bespoke supercar, the bodywork is made entirely from carbonfibre.
The interior too features several upgrades over a standard 911 Turbo S. Full Alcantara or leather are available but extra customisation is available if a customer requests.
Power is up thanks to engine tuning from German tuning expert Ruf. As standard the Marsien produces 740bhp and 686lb ft of torque, allowing for a top speed of 205mph and a 0-60 stime of just 2.6 seconds.
A ‘second stage’ option is also available, which includes enhanced turbochargers, a revised ECU and transmission updates which allows the Marsien to produce 830bhp. Both setups are Euro 6 compliant.
Prices start at €495,000, and that’s not including the cost of a Porsche 911 Turbo S base car. The Marsien will also be limited to a production run of 40 cars.