Porsche has built some truly spectacular one-off creations through its Sonderwunsch (Special wishes) programme over the years. From bespoke customer commissions to special anniversary models, the German marque has shown that if your wallet is big enough, the possibilities are just endless. Its latest creation is no exception. Meet the Porsche 911 Turbo S ‘Land Down Under’ — it’s a one-off that’s built to celebrate 75 years of Porsche in Australia, and quite possibly one of the most beautiful Sonderwunsch projects yet.
Based on the latest 992.2-generation 911 Turbo S, the unique commission was developed jointly by Porsche Cars Australia, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur and Sonderwunsch, with the help of Sydney-based artist Werner Bronkhorst. At first glance, it appears to be finished in a subtle silver shade, but spend a little time around the car and its incredible paintwork begins to reveal itself. The highlight is an all-new Chromaflair paint finish developed specifically for this project. The lower half of the car wears Terra Australis Red, while the upper body is finished in Southern Cross Blue. Thanks to a painstaking seven-layer hand-painted process that required more than 300 hours of work, the colours constantly shift depending on the light and viewing angle, mirroring Australia’s ever-changing deserts, skies and rugged landscapes. Even the wheels receive the same bespoke finish, making this one-off unlike any other Porsche ever built for the Australian market.
Look a little closer and you’ll discover dozens of hidden tributes scattered across the car. Tiny illustrations inspired by Australian wildlife, surfing, farming and mountain climbing have been discreetly painted onto the bodywork. Beneath the active rear spoiler lies perhaps the cheekiest detail of them all. Once deployed, it reveals the message, ‘See ya later, mate’ — a playful Australian farewell that’s invisible when the spoiler is tucked away.
The cabin is every bit as special as the exterior. It gets Dark Night Blue leather paired with bespoke Coolibah Brown upholstery and Australian Silky Oak wood trim. The sports seats feature an astonishing 14,417 individually positioned perforations designed to mimic an artist’s brushstrokes, while topographical graphics inspired by the Blue Mountains appear across the dashboard and door trims. Above the occupants is perhaps the most meaningful detail of all: an embroidered headliner depicting the Southern Hemisphere night sky over Uluru exactly as it appeared in 1951, the year Porsche officially began operations in Australia.
The Land Down Under edition retains the standard 911 Turbo S’s hybrid-assisted 3.6-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six engine, producing 710 bhp and 800 Nm. Drive is sent to all four wheels through Porsche’s eight-speed PDK transmission, allowing the supercar to sprint from 0 to 100 kph in just 2.5 seconds before continuing to a top speed of 343 kph.
Unlike many Sonderwunsch commissions that disappear into private collections immediately, this unique 911 will first embark on a tour of Porsche dealerships across Australia before its long-term future is decided.
