Porsche’s Marsien GT Is Plush but Pointless

Marc Philipp Gemballa started with a great idea. The Porsche 959 took the bones of the 911 and turned them into a road-to-rally supercar, so why not take a current-generation Porsche 911 Turbo S and give it the same treatment?2022 Marc Philipp Gemballa Marsien. Courtesy of Marc Philipp GemballaThat was the brand’s Marsien, unveiled in 2021. With an all-new carbon-fiber body inspired by the 959 Paris-Dakar racer and bespoke suspension providing as much as 9.8 inches of ground clearance, it was a Porsche-looking hypercar that could do just as well in the dunes of Saudi Arabia as it could on the streets of Monaco. It was expensive — about $700,000, plus a donor car — but it looked special and had a great story behind it, so customers bought it.Marc Philipp Gemballa Marsien. Courtesy of Marc Philipp GemballaMarc Philipp Gemballa Marsien. Courtesy of Marc Philipp GemballaApparently, not enough. With its latest model, the brand has tried to make the Marsien a little tamer and more street-focused — seemingly to make it more accessible — but in doing so, it has also made the Marsien GT somewhat pointless. It shares much of the original’s stretched carbon-fiber bodywork but loses the rally tires and adjustable off-road stance. But that also makes it far closer to the normal Porsche 911 Turbo S, whose transmission and all-wheel-drive system it shares. Once the donor car is included, the Marsien GT costs more than four times as much.Marc Philipp Gemballa Marsien. Courtesy of Marc Philipp GemballaMarc Philipp Gemballa Marsien. Courtesy of Marc Philipp GemballaIt does have some upgrades. RUF modifies the twin-turbocharged flat-six to produce 830 horsepower and 686 pound-feet of torque, and the carbon-fiber bodywork makes the Marsien GT 165 pounds lighter than the donor car. Active louvers in the front fenders help with cooling, and the KW double-wishbone suspension is meant to sharpen the handling. The interior is basically the donor car’s but with a raised center console, new carbon-fiber seats, and Alcantara everywhere.Marc Philipp Gemballa Marsien. Courtesy of Marc Philipp GemballaBut the Turbo S is already outrageously fast, comfortable, and competent. The biggest critique of that car is that it’s a bit soulless and automatic, and nothing about the Marsien changes that. Only 30 examples are planned, but I would be utterly shocked if they sell out, particularly given the price. The conversion starts at about $889,000 before taxes, options, and the donor car, which you may as well just drive.

Porsche’s Marsien GT Is Plush but Pointless

Porsche’s Marsien GT Is Plush but Pointless

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