the Return of the Pop-Up Light: Singer Reimagines the Legendary Porsche 964 as Art

as Porsche looks to the future with the introduction of the new 911 with hybrid technology, a piece of artwork has emerged that maximizes the sentimentality of the past to get everyone’s heart racing. singer, the artist who reimagines classic Porsches with modern technology, has been sending classic car fans into a frenzy with the unveiling of his new Singer Porsche 911, a 964-based 911with pop-up headlights.

‘Restomod’ as an art form

to understand Singer’s work, it’s important to understand the concept of “restomods,” a portmanteau of “restoration” and “modification,” which refers to the practice of upgrading a classic car’s engine, brakes, suspension, etc. with the latest technology while retaining the car’s beautiful exterior. singer is a brand that’s uniquely positioned in this space, going beyond simple tuning and turning cars into works of art. this is Singer’s fifth major project, and it represents the culmination of their accumulated skills.

a complete rebirth of the 964: highlights

heart: 4.0L high-revving engine, in collaboration with Cosworth

the heart of the car is a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine developed in collaboration with legendary racing engine manufacturer Cosworth. it revs well past 8,000 rpm and produces 420 horsepower. Notably, it combines a water-cooled cylinder head with air-cooled cylinders and variable valve timing (VVT) technology, a first for Singer, to capture both classic sensibility and modern efficiency. This powerful engine is sent to the rear wheels exclusively through a six-speed manual transmission.

the pinnacle of design: pop-up lights and carbon widebody

the biggest symbol of this model is undoubtedly the pop-up headlightson the bonnet. an icon of 1980s supercars, this design goes beyond functionality to showcase an aesthetic of detailing that maximizes classic sensibilities. the bodywork is completely reconstructed from lightweight and highly rigid carbon fiber, with a muscular silhouette inspired by the wide-bodied 911s of the 1980s with their ‘super sports equipment’.

chassis and electronic controls: Red Bull and Bosch technology

behind the beautiful exterior lies state-of-the-art racing technology. Red Bull Advanced Technologies, theF1 team’s renowned technology division, was responsible for stiffening the body, whileBosch co-developed the ABS, traction control (TCS), and electronic stability control (ESC) for the car. Add to that four-way adjustable electronic dampers and a nose-lift system for everyday driving, and you have a car with the stability and performance of the latest sports cars.

only 100 examples, a journey to create your own 911

this one-of-a-kind 911 is limited to just 100examples worldwide. true to Singer’s reputation, owners can choose everything from the paint color to the interior leather to the type of seats (lightweight sports or track) to suit their tastes. The hand-built analog instrument panel adds to the value of this car, giving it a mechanical aesthetic that has been lost in the digital age.