Inside Look at Porsche's Exclusive Manufaktur Program
Watch as a very special 911 comes to life under its owner's watchful eye.
Inside Look
Porsche's Exclusive Manufaktur Program has been around almost as long as the automaker, at least in spirit. Many customers of the brand want to put their own special touch on their special rides, and that's exactly what around 30 to 50 people per year are able to do. And when Jorge Carnicero came down to the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta, Robb Report was able to get an inside look at how this fascinating process works.
Photos: Porsche
Change of Plans
Carnicero is a big fan of the color blue, having owned several blue cars and lots of blue clothes. He was also going to order another blue Porsche to add to his extensive collection until a Porsche manager convinced him otherwise. When he laid down a sample painted tile bearing a vibrant green color, he just couldn't resist.
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Surprisingly Detail
Surprisingly, as Yana Perros, one of three Exclusive Manufaktur managers explains, not everyone really knows what they want when they arrive. "Many customers say, 'I want to build the most perfect Porsche for me,' but don’t know how to get there," Perros said. "I ask questions like, 'What do you do in your daily life? What are your passions?'"
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Trio of Greens
Carnicero maybe goes a little further than most, and as he says, likes to "stick my toe in creatively." Two years after building his first green Porsche, he arrives back in Atlanta to take delivery of yet another one - a 911 Speedster in British Racing Green. And that isn't even the end, as he's also in town to design a third green Porsche, this time a GT3, to complete the trifecta.
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Wide Range
Only a small handful of the 911s produced each year receive the depth of customization that Carnicero is seeking. His new GT3 Touring, in fact, features 48 bespoke touches that took an extra 38 hours to implement. Porsche is always open to requests, which can range from simple to complex, and cost anywhere from $15,000 extra all the way up to $150,000.
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Just Caretakers
Regardless, this is not a one-sided effort by any means. "The Speedster is not a car that we built for Jorge. We created the car together," said Boris Apenbrink, director of Exclusive Manufaktur Vehicles. "Going into the process, these customers must be highly dedicated. They become part-time designers and engineers. It is very important to underline that they have very precise and specific ideas. It is not 'Hey, I’m willing to pay a lot of money, so send me ideas.' We are simply caretakers to try and birth a dream car."
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Emotionally Involved
And thus, it's pretty clear that Porsche's Exclusive Manufaktur Program isn't just about the car. "It was such a pleasurable experience," Carnicero said. "It becomes like an addiction. It’s about people, being able to share these feelings. Without Boris and Yana, I couldn’t have done this. They love their jobs and are passionate about what they do. They get emotionally involved."
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