Cover The all-electric Porsche Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade
The all-electric Porsche Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade
1 / 1
This majestic creation of the highly exclusive Porsche Sonderwunsch (Special Requests) team is a signal the German car manufacturer is building more tailored, individual cars—bringing dreams to life
When it comes to dream cars, aspirations are often fuelled by a need for speed, state-of-the-art engineering, and traffic-stopping aesthetics—and aerodynamics. For many enthusiasts, this journey is not just about driving a car, but leading a lifestyle.
A German manufacturer of high-performance sports cars, but also a maker of dreams, is Porsche. And taking things one grand leap further, is its Sonderwunsch programme—a highly elusive department handling customisations.
This is where the dream car of dream cars is built. Each Sonderwunsch project would typically cost six to seven figures and take around one to three years. For the really rare one-off creations, the waitlist goes up to ten years.
Don't miss: A Mediterranean dream: Willabelle and Ryan Ong uncover the treasures of Spain
Above The evolution of car customisation has moved into electric vehicles, with the all-electric Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade as a beacon of exclusivity and engineering
Above Celestial Jade was dreamed up with the precious gemstone in mind, materialising in one-of-a-kind paintwork and interiors
The evolution of car customisation has moved into electric vehicles, with the all-electric Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade as a beacon of exclusivity and engineering
1 / 2
As rarefied as this sounds, Sonderwunsch—or special requests in German—existed as early as the 1970s, to create individualised Porsches. Fast forward to today and the scope of Sonderwunsch is far wider, with high-value commissions ranging from Factory One-Offs to classic car refurbishments, and the few but increasingly growing requests for electric car customisations.
Aside from the fact that electric cars have existed en-masse shorter than fossil-fuel driven ones, we are cognisant that they are battery-powered, just like our mobile phones. Would people spend significant amounts tailoring an electric car, akin to creating a work of art?
Porsche seems to think so.
Like how it went from air-cooled to water-cooled cars, and from naturally aspirated engines to turbocharged ones, Porsche once again turns conventional thinking on its head with the all-electric Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade, a Sonderwunsch Factory Commission built to the highest degree of customisation.
Taking around one year to realise, the Celestial Jade is the brainchild of Clemens Negele, the Sonderwunsch team member tasked to oversee this project. Having worked in China before, Clemens is well-versed with oriental culture. In consultation with Porsche design legends like Grant Larson (director Special Projects, Style Porsche) and Alexander Fabig (vice president Individualisation and Classic), Clemens conceptualised Celestial Jade with the precious gemstone in mind. The painstaking formation of jade produces unique patterns of colours that have a depth of sophistication. This was the inspiration for Celestial Jade’s one-of-a-kind paintwork.
Read more: Sustainability isn't just a destination for Porsche, it's a holistic commitment
Above There are 182 hues available on the Porsche Car Configurator. PTS Plus, a new offering, and allows you to create your own colour and name it
Above A combination of green-gold Urban Bamboo at the front and blue-black Shifting Carbon at the rear, the hand-painted creation took some 80 work hours to accomplish
There are 182 hues available on the Porsche Car Configurator. PTS Plus, a new offering, and allows you to create your own colour and name it
1 / 2
In the Porsche world, Paint-to-Sample (PTS) colours is where it all begins. There are 182 hues available on the Porsche Car Configurator. PTS Plus, a new offering, allows you to create your own colour and name it. The Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade takes it one step further.
It features Porsche’s first-ever Chromaflair paintwork with a colour gradient. A combination of green-gold Urban Bamboo at the front and blue-black Shifting Carbon at the rear, the hand-painted creation took some 80 work hours to accomplish. Already stunning as separate colours containing thin flakes 50 times thinner than human hair, to see them applied to a car in a gradient is sublime.
Up to five test body shells were used to test the blends, and only one Sonderwunsch staff is skilled enough to do this. Just like an alchemist, Porsche struck the perfect balance: eight segments of colours are required to make the blend look harmonious from front to back. Incredibly, this colour adorns not just the car: the rear model designation, the ‘Electric’ side logos and even the key fob all receive the same treatment. On the key, four segments of colours were required.
Above The Celestial Jade features another world's first: two-tone interiors in English Green and Slate Grey—a product of the Leather to Sample Plus, which offers around 150 leather colour options as well as custom hues
Above Varnished carbon was selected for the Celestial Jade, adding a different dimension of elegant reflection on its exterior
The Celestial Jade features another world's first: two-tone interiors in English Green and Slate Grey—a product of the Leather to Sample Plus, which offers around 150 leather colour options as well as custom hues
1 / 2
Another world’s first, a two-tone Leather to Sample interior in English Green and Slate Grey, makes its premiere in Celestial Jade, offering around 150 leather colour options available. Like PTS Plus, there is also Leather to Sample Plus where virtually any colour can be concocted.
Celestial Jade features a combination of Slate Grey (a standard colour) and English Green (a Leather to Sample option). Blending in beautifully with the stunning exterior, the elegant interior is a subtle nod to the eco-natural theme of Celestial Jade.
Porsche hasn’t forgotten the details which aren't obvious initially to the naked eye. The standard Turbonite coloured exterior carbon parts were deemed too brutal for the Celestial Jade, so varnished carbon was chosen instead, with its ability to shimmer in different hues.
In case you missed it: Beyond the waves: A glimpse into the extravagance of the Seven Seas Grandeur
Above There is a “longma” (龙马), or Dragon Horse logo that features prominently on Celestial Jade’s door sill guards, door projectors and headrests—combining the symbols of the year of the dragon for 2024, and the horse, referencing the origin of Taycan
Above A work of fully-electric automotive art, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade will be auctioned off with proceeds going to a good cause
There is a “longma” (龙马), or Dragon Horse logo that features prominently on Celestial Jade’s door sill guards, door projectors and headrests—combining the symbols of the year of the dragon for 2024, and the horse, referencing the origin of Taycan
1 / 2
Furthermore, there is a “longma” (龙马), or Dragon Horse logo that features prominently on Celestial Jade’s door sill guards, door projectors and headrests. 2024 is the year of the dragon, while the horse references the origin of Taycan, meaning ‘young horse’. Additionally, a dragon’s head (龙) and the body of a horse (马) is a symbol of power and auspiciousness.
With its seven-figure price tag, the one-off Celestial Jade is likely the priciest ever Taycan produced to date. It and other Sonderwunsch cars would be a great revenue generator for Porsche, a publicly listed company with eager shareholders.
However, Celestial Jade achieves more than just that. While challenging conventional thinking with one of the most elaborate Sonderwunsch projects ever conceived, and on an electric car at that, it is at the same time contributing back to society.
After a premiere in Singapore followed by a static tour around Southeast Asia, Celestial Jade will be auctioned off with proceeds going to a good cause. It’s a virtuous cycle that makes Celestial Jade a true trailblazer.
NOW READ
Highlights from Tatler GMT’s evening of horology, featuring 3 luxury watch brands
Asia’s Most Stylish 2024: Jasmine Sokko on how she blends fashion with music
