Bringing back an iconic name could be another lucrative move for Porsche
- Porsche has trademarked the names ‘Flachbau’ and ‘Flachbau RS’ with European authorities.
- A new version of the 911 with a Slantnose and pop-up headlights could be an instant success.
- The brand built only 948 original Slantnose models, though they weren’t hugely desirable then.
Even in an industry that thrives on constant reinvention, some things remain stubbornly irresistible. And few cars exemplify that better than the Porsche 911. Somehow, Porsche continues to refine and evolve its flagship model without dulling the raw, analog charm that made it iconic in the first place.
Limited-edition variants like the 911 Dakar and 911 S/T have only stoked demand further, while a new GT2 RS looms on the horizon. But as it turns out, there may be another surprise in the works.
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Porsche has recently filed to trademark the names ‘Porsche Flachbau’ and ‘Flachbau RS’ with the European Intellectual Property Office. For those who don’t know, Porsche’s 911 Flachbau model, perhaps better known as the ‘Slantnose,’ was introduced during the 930 911.
The Slantnose took design inspiration from the Porsche 935 of the era. In total, just 948 units of the 911 Slantnose were built, and of these, just 160 are thought to have originally landed in the United States.
To create the car’s sleek new front fascia, Porsche ditched the 911’s iconic circular headlights in favor of a pair of pop-up lights. If it intends to make a new Flachbau and designs a modern interpretation of pop-up headlights, we’re sure it would send the internet into a frenzy and get 911 enthusiasts and collectors very excited.
As pointed out by Autoblog, which uncovered the trademark filings, the existence of two separate applications could signal plans for a pair of Flachbau variants. The RS version, if it materializes, would likely take the lead as the flagship, possibly borrowing motorsport-focused components from the GT3 RS and the forthcoming GT2 RS.
Porsche doesn’t tend to overproduce these specialty models. Just 2,500 units of the 911 Dakar were built globally, while the 911 S/T was limited to a mere 1,963 examples. If the Slantnose comes back, it’s a safe bet it’ll follow a similarly limited run, keeping demand sky-high and resale values even higher.
