Porsche Varrera – Volkswagen Sharan prototype with boxer engine from Porsche 911

In 1988, Porsche felt great from a financial point of view, so it was not afraid to experiment, entering niches that were unusual for itself. This is how the concept of the Porsche Varrera minivan appeared, about which not much is known.

It was planned to make it based on the production Volkswagen Sharan, but with many modifications to the chassis and a proprietary six-cylinder engine from the Porsche 911.

Porsche made its first attempt to create a high-capacity car in the sixties. The project, codenamed EA226, was a car with a large boot volume and an engine from the Porsche 911. Needless to say, the EA226 was cancelled, but Porsche decided to return to a similar car in the coming decades.

The result was the Porsche Varrera, based on a heavily modified Volkswagen Sharan minivan chassis, but with a flat-six engine and gearbox from the 911. The Varrera would also use a body very similar to the Sharan, with different headlights and bumpers.

The design was developed by Harm Lagay, who participated in the creation of the Porsche 911 and 924 in the 70s. The interior was also noticeably different from the VW Sharan – the Varrera received a different front panel, a steering wheel from a Porsche of the eighties and leather seats with developed lateral support. The equipment included all kinds of electric drives and a powerful audio system.

The prototype was finished in light gold metallic and equipped with Cup wheels. The project proved too daring for Porsche and was scrapped, but its spirit lives on today in the Porsche Cayenne. Apparently, the prototype was destroyed.

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