Tuner Marc Philipp Gemballa is set to build 40 units of this modified Porsche 911 intended for desert running.
Gemballa was previously known as one of the more outlandish of Germany’s aftermarket tuners of Porsches in the 1990s and 2000s—and was made infamous when founder Uwe Gemballa was murdered in South Africa in 2010, amid rumored links to organized crime. Though the original Gemballa was later sold and still exists, a new company has emerged that is led by (and named after) Uwe's son, Marc Philipp Gemballa
This off-road supercar designed for use in the desert is set to be Marc Philipp Gemballa's first product. Clearly inspired by the Porsche 959 that entered the Paris-Dakar rally in 1985 and 1986, it's called the Marsien; similar to the word for “martian” in French.
MARC PHILIPP GEMBALLA
Based on the current 992-generation 911 Turbo S, the Marsien has a taller and more muscular stance with large vents and a huge rear wing that wraps around the sides of the car. The bodywork is new and made from carbon fiber, and the company says it will be possible to order this unpainted if anyone wants to flaunt the material. The car’s aerodynamics have been optimized by KLK, a company that regularly works with racing teams.
Power comes from a tuned version of the Turbo S’s mighty flat-six engine, the work having been done by another famous German 911 fettler, RUF. Two versions will be offered, the less powerful one having 740 horsepower and 685 pound-feet of torque and the brawnier one raising peak output to 818 horsepower. An upgraded air filter designed to work in dusty desert conditions and an Akrapovic exhaust system will be standard.
Like the new GT3, the Marsien has a new unequal-length control-arm front suspension in place of the regular 911 struts. In addition to adaptive dampers, there is also a ride-height adjustment system through a hydraulic lift that is claimed to be able to increase ground clearance from the standard 4.7 inches to 9.8 inches. Cars will be supplied with two sets of forged aluminum wheels, one fitted with road tires and the other with all-terrain rubber. An optional off-road package will bring rally-spec dampers and an even higher (but fixed) suspension height.
Although the official release claims that the “horsepower game is over” the Marsien is set to be as fast as almost any supercar. The company claims a 2.6-second sprint to 62 mph when running on-road tires and a top speed of 205 mph. The all-terrain tires will be limited to 130 mph.
The company says it will produce no more than 40 of the Marsien, with each of these set to carry a pre-tax conversion cost in Germany of around $583,000—the base 911 will add roughly another $220,000 if bought in Deutschland. But for those with more money than roads, it’s not hard to see the appeal of becoming a Gemballer.
-by Amaan Attar
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