Dubai doesn’t do “small,” and Porsche clearly got the memo. At the Icons of Porsche Media Preview Night, held at the Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, six brand-new models rolled out under the spotlights. Media guests from over 30 countries packed the arena.
The headline act was the Cayenne Electric, seen in the metal for the first time after its digital reveal just days earlier. And because Porsche loves its high-performance line-up, they also pulled the covers off the Cayenne Turbo Electric.
Manthey Racing 911 GT3
This was the purist’s moment: the world premiere of the 911 GT3 with the Manthey Kit. Andy Preuninger, the godfather of modern Porsche GT cars, walked everyone through the upgrades, while Porsche Ambassador and racer Joerg Bergmeister explained how Manthey turned the GT3 into an even bigger cornering psychopath.
Basically, more aero, more grip, and more “send it.” Manthey looked at the GT3 and said, “Let’s make this thing faster everywhere.” From extensively revised aero elements to adjustable race suspension, the changes made to the new MR GT3 made it 2.76 seconds faster at the Nurburgring compared to its predecessor.
Macan GTS Goes Electric
Porsche also gave journalists a first close look at the all-electric Macan GTS, ahead of its public debut at Icons of Porsche. Joerg Kerner, VP of the Macan line, detailed how the GTS takes everything people love about Porsche’s sportiest SUV trim and electrifies it, quite literally.
This is Porsche’s first high-performance electric compact SUV, slotting under the upcoming full-size Cayenne Electric. Expect it to be the “sweet spot” Macan: sharper than the standard electric model, but not as overkill as a Turbo. In Porsche speak, the GTS is traditionally the one enthusiasts want, and this looks no different.
911 Turbo S, Sonderwunsch Magic & The Macan Gems
Porsche also hosted the regional premiere of the new 911 Turbo S, shown in both Coupe and Cabriolet forms. Then came the unexpected crowd-pleaser: a Panamera Turbo built under the Sonderwunsch (Special Request) program, designed by journalists.
Imagine letting car writers spec a car. Of course it’s wild. Inside and out, it’s Porsche’s bespoke division showing off what happens when people have an imagination and an unlimited options list. In addition, Porsche also revealed the Macan Gems Collection, a regional customisation project making its first appearance in Dubai.
A Star-Studded Porsche Lineup
Backstage, Porsche heavyweights like Dr Sebastian Rudolph, Dr Christiane Zorn, and Dr Manfred Braeunl were on deck, ensuring the night ran with Stuttgart precision. Hosted by Chris Jordan, the event felt less like a preview night and more like the opening ceremony of a motorsport Olympics. Six cars. Two world premieres. One very overwhelmed petrolhead audience.
