What is the Porsche 911 Turbo S Land Down Under, the special car inspired by Australia?
The unique 911 with handcrafted design elements, created to celebrate 75 years of Porsche in Australia
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The story behind a special 911, created by Porsche Sonderwunsch, Style Porsche, Porsche Australia and artist, Werner Bronkhorst, featuring handcrafted touches inspired by the landscape and culture of Australia
In detail: 911 Turbo S Land Down Under, celebrating 75 years of Porsche in Australia• The exclusive Porsche 911 Turbo S Land Down Under has been created to celebrate 75 years of Porsche in Australia• The car is a joint project between Porsche Sonderwunsch, Style Porsche, Porsche Australia and Sydney-based contemporary artist, Werner Bronkhorst• The design of the car is inspired by the dramatic landscapes and distinctive character of the southern sky, with two specially-created Chromaflair paint colours, hand-painted miniatures by Werner and a range of materials developed for the project The dramatic landscape of Australia is shaped by myriad elements. Its wide-open skies and deep blue oceans. The rich colours of its soil and vast, rugged terrain. Iconic panoramas and ever-changing hues as day moves into night and back again.All these were the inspiration behind a unique Porsche 911 Turbo S. Full of intriguing details, distinctive colours and specially-developed materials, the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under has been created to celebrate 75 years of Porsche in Australia in 2026. Here’s its story.• Everything you need to know about the Porsche 911 Turbo S• Who are Sonderwunsch?• The Porsche 911 models inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 characters• What is the Taycan Turbo S Soho House One?• What is the 911 GT3 with Touring Package “Tree of Life” – and what inspired it?• Four tailor-made Porsche Sonderwunsch carsThe 911 Turbo S Land Down Under features hand-painted artwork by contemporary artist Werner Bronkhorst – pictured here with the car – on its exterior and interior Photo: PorscheWhy did Porsche Australia commission the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under?At Porsche, landmark moments are something to be celebrated – whether that’s pioneering technology, a lap record or special birthdays. And it’s the latter that is being marked by the reveal of a unique 911 Turbo S, created to mark 75 years of Porsche in Australia in 2026.The 911 Turbo S Land Down Under celebrates 75 years since Porsche first arrived on the continent with a memorable collaboration between Porsche Sonderwunsch, Style Porsche, Porsche Australia and the Sydney-based artist, Werner Bronkhorst. While nothing has been left to chance in the development of this distinctive-looking car, chance certainly played a part in how Porsche landed Down Under back in 1951. It began with a man called Norman Hamilton, a Melbourne resident who was in Europe to investigate pump technology that could be used in the construction of Australia’s Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme.The car features beautiful hand-painted motifs by Werner, like this representation of a kangaroo with its joey Photo: PorscheOne day Norman was driving his rented American sedan up the famed Grossglockner pass in Austria – a location that holds a special place in the development of Porsche cars, as it’s often used as a proving ground for new models. As he wound his way up the breathtaking switchbacks, Norman was overtaken by a sleek, silver sportscar. A little later, he spotted the car at an inn in a nearby village and struck up a conversation with its driver – German motorsport legend, Richard von Frankenberg. The car was a Porsche development vehicle and Norman was somewhat smitten by it. This serendipitous meeting put in motion a chain of events that led to Norman being the first person to import a Porsche into Australia in the form of two 356 models – a coupé and a cabriolet – back in 1951. Now, 75 years on, the moment that a Porsche first arrived in Australia is being marked by the creation of the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under.Sydney-based Werner painted miniature artworks comprising of fauna and human-inspired motifs for the car. Here he works on the 20/21-inch Turbo Exclusive rims in Southern Cross Blue at the Sonderwunsch facility in Zuffenhausen Photo: Porsche',Artwork depicting a climber scaling one of the wheel spokes Photo: Porsche',Surf’s up! Another of Werner’s creations nods to a famous Australian cultural touchpoint Photo: Porsche',The 911 Turbo Land Down Under is full of beautiful craftsmanship and elegant design, including a roof lining which shows a constellation map depicting the southern hemisphere sky in 1951 Photo: Porsche',The experts at Sonderwunsch are renowned for their craftsmanship and attention to detail, helping customers to achieve the ultimate in Porsche individualisation Photo: Porsche',Werner works on the rear seat inlays for the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under, painting details on hand-finished Australian Silky Oak wood, a material also used in the car’s dashboard Photo: Porsche'What’s special about the exterior colour of the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under?One of the defining characteristics of the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under is its bespoke exterior colour. For this project, two new Chromaflair paint colours were developed exclusively for the vehicle – a first for a Porsche in Australia. Called Terra Australis Red and Southern Cross Blue, the former envelops the lower body then seamlessly blends into the latter in a gradient effect from the shoulderline. Applied by hand on each of its seven layers, its shimmering finish is down to ultra-thin flakes of Chromaflair pigment that create a colour-shifting effect, depending on the changing angle and light. Desert orange, dusk-sky blue, eucalyptus green and sunrise gold combine for a bold representation of the colours of the Australian outback at dusk. It’s a refined look that’s matched by the car’s 20/21-inch Turbo Exclusive rims finished in Southern Cross Blue. The exterior showcases the unmistakable creative influence of contemporary artist Werner Bronkhorst. The roof features the number 75 in Werner’s very own typeface, delivered using a subtle ‘ghosting effect’ painting technique. The number, of course, relates to the Porsche Australia anniversary, but also 75 years of Porsche Motorsport, which is also being marked in 2026.The warmth, richness and vibrant colours of the Australian landscape is reflected throughout the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under, including its striking interior Photo: PorscheThe playful nature of Werner’s art is also present in the form of a hand-painted graphic on one of the wheels as well as a hidden message he created under the rear spoiler. It features a time-honoured Aussie farewell in the form of the phrase “See ya later mate”, revealed when the Sport Plus driving mode is activated or auto-deploying the rear wing at speeds above 80 km/h (50 mph).How the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under interior is shaped by Australia’s landscapeWhen you sit inside the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under, there are plenty more visual markers to the country that inspired it. The standout interior materials are a bespoke combination of Dark Night Blue leather and Coolibah Brown, a colour created especially for this project by Porsche Sonderwunsch and Style Porsche. The interior features 18-way Adaptive Sports Seats Plus that incorporate a newly developed, paintbrush-style perforated seat centre. Designed to echo the textural qualities of Werner’s brushstrokes on canvas, each of the seats features a visually arresting pattern made of exactly 14,417 individual perforations combined with fine embroidery. The seats’ contrasting Kalahari and Coolibah Brown leather are a further strong artistic presence, with headrests featuring a 75 Years of Porsche in Australia motif.The roof features the number 75 in a font created by Werner to celebrate both the 75th anniversary of Porsche in Australia and Porsche Motorsport in 2026. A subtle painting technique was introduced to create a ‘ghosting effect’ Photo: PorscheThe car’s dashboard features hand-finished Australian Silky Oak wood, with the seat inlays in the same material. The latter are adorned with hand-painted motifs by Werner that further enhance the distinctive character of the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under. Meanwhile there are topological references to the Blue Mountains – the dramatic mountain range west of Sydney – on the upper dashboard and side trims in a further example of the storytelling quality present throughout the car.The roof lining features a constellation map of the Southern Hemisphere’s night sky as it appeared over the vast, world-famous sandstone monolith of Uluru in, appropriately, 1951. Everywhere you look, this is a car that is connected with the Australian landscape – a connection reflected in the collaboration itself between Porsche Sonderwunsch, Style Porsche, Porsche Australia and Werner Bronkhorst.Who is artist Werner Bronkhorst and what is his creative concept for the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under?The Sydney-based artist Werner Bronkhorst brings his distinctive artist aesthetic to this singular creative collaboration. Hand-painted miniatures were applied to the interior and exterior of 911 Turbo S Land Down Under by the South African/Australian artist. They pop up like easter eggs throughout, depicting both human and fauna elements, channelling the character and energy of Australia and its people. You see it in the climber painted on one of the spokes of the wheels, the surfer inside the door frame and several typographic elements too, including the number 75 on the car’s roof. The 18-way Adaptive Sports Seats Plus of the 911 Turbo S Land Down Under feature a newly developed paintbrush-style perforated centre and reflect the textural feel of Werner’s brushstrokes on canvas Photo: PorscheAustralia’s landscape – its sky, its earth and its textures – were significant touchpoints for Werner, who made a visit to the Sonderwunsch facility in Zuffenhausen to work side-by-side with the Sonderwunsch experts.“Much of my work is rooted in texture, depth and the emotional energy of the Australian landscape. And bringing those ideas to life on a Porsche required a fresh level of precision and experimentation,” explains Werner, who adds that the project was an opportunity to translate his artistic language into an “entirely new form”.“Collaborating with the Sonderwunsch team was a genuinely inspiring process, where artistry and engineering pushed each other forward,” says Werner. “Seeing these elements come together on such an iconic canvas feels like a truly inspirational celebration of both Australia and Porsche.”The 911 Turbo S Land Down Under is a unique example of storytelling, delivered through craftsmanship and imagination.
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