Strange vehicles are beginning to land in over 16 countries across the globe. The invaders are Porsche-derived all-terrain MARSIEN supercars from Marc Philipp Gemballa and could probably eat a Dakar for breakfast.
The name may be familiar, but according to the legalese accompanying the news Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH is “not associated in any form with Gemballa GmbH” – the Porsche tuning company established by his father Uwe in 1981.
Imagine if Porsche built a 959 using today’s technology and you’ll have a good idea of what the MARSIEN’s mission is.
Based on a 992 Turbo S, the wide-bodied, long-tailed coachwork is all carbon fibre, designed by Alan Derosier, and comprises more than 85 pieces to make its whole. Buyers have an unlimited choice of paint hues and can also opt for exposed carbon elements such as the rear diffuser, front splitter and side skirts.
Inside the center console is raised higher to allow a Carrera GT-inspired aluminium gear selector, topped with a mahogany, carbon, Alcantara or leather shift knob, while the rest of the cabin is a smorgasbord of carbon, leather and Alcantara, completely tailored to the owner’s wishes.
Where the MARSIEN really is out-of-this-world is when it comes to its on and on-off road abilities. The suspension is said to feature more than 30 individual pieces milled from aluminium. KW Automotive solid piston dampers come with active control and a hydraulic lift system that can raise the MARSIEN to a ride height of 250 mm. There’s also a built-in tyre pressure system allowing the driver to inflate or deflate tyres on the move to adjust traction to conditions.
Owners will actually get two sets of forged aluminium wheels with their MARSIENs – one with Michelin Ultra High Performance tyres and one wearing Grabber AT 3 all terrain rubber. A Lightweight GT wheel set is also available.
Powering the MARSIEN is a RUF-tuned motor which delivers 750 bhp in standard tune or 830 horses with a stage two setup. Akrapovič provides the titanium exhaust system.
Tested in extremes from the deserts of the United Arab Emirates to Arctic Sweden and Austrian Glaciers, the MARSIEN has also done countless laps of the Nürburgring.
Only 40 MARSIENS will be made, priced at around £550,000 and they clearly can be driven absolutely anywhere. The question is, will they?
