The way Porsche and Tesla unveiled their new vehicles—Porsche with the Mission S and Tesla with the Roadster—yesterday, coincidentally on the same day, could not have been more different. On one hand, Porsche’s retro style; on the other, a future from Tesla that we never thought possible. Here, the latest sports car deliberately replicates and celebrates the past; there, rocket technology is showcased—both figuratively and literally.
Of course, nobody needs vehicles like these. But the visions being conceived clearly illustrate the difference in the mindset of automakers—and of countries and people—very clearly. Here—at Porsche—they remain nostalgically and sentimentally stuck in the past, fall back on old design elements, reject digital technology, and focus on physical craftsmanship, while there—at Tesla—they boldly and fearlessly break through the boundaries of what’s possible, redefine the framework, and clearly show how much fun they’re having with it.
The reactions on social media and at the manufacturers’ corporate headquarters are predictable.
This article was also published in German.
1 Comment