Question: Singer is now presenting a turbo study and a convertible has been announced. What’s next? Robert Dickinson: I can’t reveal too much just yet, but I’m currently modeling the tone of the next Porsche reinampined by Singer. The car will be unveiled at Monterey Car Week next year, another big step for us and another celebration of the Porsche 911. The fact remains: For us, the Porsche 911 is the most important sports car in the world. Question: What distinguishes a Singer Porsche from other Restomod models? Dickinson: Many others follow our example. But these companies celebrate themselves and not the car. Anything Singer will do with a Porsche 911 going forward will be something with the car at its core, not to build something that hasn’t existed before. Question: What’s next? Does the 964 series remain the basis for the Singer creations? Dickinson: Our plan for the next five years is in place. And the Porsche 964 will always be the basis for our Reimagined models. For me, the Porsche 964 is the most important air-cooled Porsche 911, but ironically not the most visually successful. We understand the car quite well and focusing on the 964 series is correct. That’s why we’re staying true to this model for the next five years. Question: And after these five years? There are other exciting air-cooled Porsches like the 993 or the 996… Dickinson: I think after that time we did everything we could for the Porsche 911. Question: Oh, that sounds exciting. Will it then continue electrically? Dickinson: No one has asked us to do a project like this before, and we’re not particularly keen on doing it of our own accord. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t find an electric drive interesting. However, not for the Porsche 911. Question: Are you becoming unfaithful to Porsche? Dickinson: That’s one of the questions we ask ourselves. Are we going to continue with Porsches? Do we build our own car with a Singer emblem on the front? We have different options. Question: Developing and producing your own car is quite ambitious… Dickinson: Yes, that’s right. That would be a billion dollar endeavor. But I don’t think it would be a problem for us to raise the money. The key question is whether it makes sense for Singer to become a manufacturer. But I can assure you that Singer will not become a technology company. If we go in this direction, we will work with the best. So with people like Mate Rimac, Peter Rawlinson or Elon Musk, with whom we have an excellent relationship. Question: That sounds a lot like electrification… Dickinson: We are very interested in battery technology and the speed at which batteries are becoming lighter, more powerful and more compact. Electric cars are currently still too heavy, but that will change. Also, I believe that synthetic fuel will be part of our future. We are observing developments very closely and know where the journey will take us over the next two to five years. Question: What are the attributes that will define a singer in the future? Dickinson: The low weight that we achieve with new innovative technologies and materials will be very important. A singer must be exclusive and perfect down to the smallest detail. But one thing is very important: It doesn’t matter what we do. The car has to trigger a wanting reflex as soon as you see it.
Interview: Singer Vehicle Design founder Robert Dickinson: We have different options
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