A pure electric Porsche Taycan sports car has been transformed into an amazing art car, ahead of a charity auction next month.
The unique Taycan Artcar has been created by American artist Richard Phillips, as part of a collaboration with Porsche.
Proceeds from the sale of the car will be used to support those in the Swiss culture and arts sector.
A stroke of genius
Born in Massachusetts, and now based in New York, Richard Phillips is known for his hyper-realistic paintings.
The design featured on the Taycan Artcar is a version of his 2010 Queen of the Night painting. Phillips says he was inspired by Swiss landscape artist, Adolf Dietrich, when making the original.
Applied to a Taycan 4S, it features an intricate floral scene. According to Porsche, this is intended to ‘give a feeling of speed with the leaves of the night bloom’.
Phillips explains that: “Conceptually, my Queen of the Night livery takes into consideration that the design of the Taycan is an instant icon of electric mobility and speed.”
Keeping things under wraps
This is the second time that Porsche and Richard Phillips have worked together. In 2019, the artist created a design worn by a Porsche 911 RSR, which won the GTE-Am class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Rather than painting directly onto the car, Phillips chooses to work with a traditional full-size canvas instead. His design for the Taycan Artcar was done ‘live’ in December 2020, at the Leuehof pop-up restaurant in Zurich.
The specialist SIGNal Design company scanned and printed the design onto vinyl, and then wrapped the Taycan’s bodywork.
Other custom touches for the car include illuminated door sills inscribed with ‘Queen of the Night’ text. Door projectors also display Phillips’ signature when opened.
Supporting culture and the arts
Porsche plans to display the Taycan Artcar at various dealerships in Switzerland throughout March. This will culminate in an appearance at the Porsche dealership in Zug.
The auction itself will be conducted online by RM Sotheby’s. Bidding will open on April 6, 2021, and run for seven days until April 13. Whoever manages to take home the Taycan will receive an exclusive tour of the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen Porsche factory.
All proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Suisseculture Sociale association. The association supports those who work in the Swiss creative and arts sector, offering hardship funding and emergency aid.
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