Nardone Automotive unveils reimagined Porsche 928 at Milan Design Week
This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of Milan Design Week, the world’s most important design fair, presenting events and exhibitions showcasing exciting design of all disciplines in hundreds of venues across the northern Italian city. For this year’s gathering, two thousand exhibitors signalled a return to pre-pandemic participation after the event was cancelled in 2020 and organisers were forced to run a pared-down version of proceedings in 2021.
This time around, Milan Design Week’s star attraction was Nardone Automotive’s reimagined 928. Since since its debut forty-five years ago, Porsche’s V8-powered grand tourer has always been an unconventional car, completely different from all other Porsche products before or after model discontinuation in 1995.
Thierry Nardone, a marque enthusiast passionate about Porsche’s transaxle family of sports cars, felt the 928 could be reinterpreted for the modern age in a way remaining sympathetic to the design Anatole Lapine and Wolfgang Möbius created from a clean sheet decades previous. Consequently, following three years of development work, Nardone Automotive unveiled its reimagined 928 S4 at Milan Design Week just before this issue of 911 & Porsche World went to press.
A series of significant changes to the base model have transformed it into a special, tailormade grand tourer. The bodywork, boasting muscular quarters, is made almost entirely from composite materials, while the front and rear lights — the latter owing more than a passing nod to those of the 992 — have also been designed and manufactured specifically for this car. New forged eighteen-inch wheels equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres are a modern interpretation of the 928’s ‘manhole covers’.
The interior has been completely revised and welcomes Foglizzo leather and Alcantara. Infotainment equipment incorporates Porsche Classic Communication Management (PCCM) linked to high-end supporting audio gear and presented in a bespoke housing nestled in a custom centre console.
Mechanically, Nardone Automotive’s take on the 928 maintains reliance on the S4’s thirtytwo- valve five-litre V8, albeit modified. Managed by a standalone ECU and allied to a six-speed manual gearbox bolstered by a limited-slip differential, the unit produces a claimed 400bhp. The front and rear axles and spindle have been redesigned, the brakes enlarged and adaptive electric power steering has been introduced, providing variable action according to driving conditions and speed.
No limited volume production has been specified, but eight ‘launch edition’ cars will be available at a price of — wait for it — €480,000 each, subject to VAT at the applicable rate. Oh, and you’ll need to supply the donor S4.
Clearly, Nardone Automotive hasn’t been oblivious to the success Singer Vehicle Design and others have achieved with their reimagined 964 builds — this bespoke 928 has been developed with well-heeled fans of Porsche’s transaxle line-up in mind. Interested? Pre-order is open and first deliveries are expected in 2024. In the meantime, by the time this magazine hits newsstands, the car will have been given its UK debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.