Porsche’s Most Famous Hypercar Could Have Been A Coupe

The Porsche Carrera GT stands as one of the finest and most celebrated road cars ever developed by the German automaker. Its striking design, powerful V10 engine and analog driving experience have secured it a place among the all-time greats. But recently surfaced concept sketches suggest that it almost took a different shape entirely, one that included a fixed roof rather than the removable hardtop that made it to production.

Read: Porsche’s V10 Legend Needed A Tree-Clearing Rescue

As part of a partnership between Porsche and Adrien Brody, the actor spent several days working at the brand, discovering what it’s like to not only build a Porsche, but also to design one. Roughly halfway through the clip below, Brody sat down with the director of special projects at Porsche, Grant Larson, who briefly spoke about the Carrera GT.

An Alternate Design Path

According to Larson, “before the Carrera GT existed as a roadster, it was just a mid-engined, V10 supercar.” He then shows off a detailed sketch of an early take on the Carrera GT from 1999, the year before it was first previewed as a concept at the 2000 Paris Motor Show.

Obviously, there are similarities with the car in this sketch and what would eventually become the Carrera GT, but there are also noticeable differences. Beyond having a fixed top, this car also includes a large roof scoop and full aero-disc wheels, inevitably aiding in its aerodynamics. It also includes a large lip spoiler at the rear and a motorsport-inspired diffuser, which appears to incorporate the tailpipes into the diffuser’s fins. It looks great, albeit not quite as special as the Carrera GT we have come to adore.

Factory Tour and Porsche Culture

Brody’s video with Porsche is well worth watching in full. Beyond getting some interesting insights into the brand’s history, Brody also tours its factory and helps assemble several cars. He also speaks with several enthusiastic workers who consider working at Porsche their dream job.