Airstream and Porsche Join Forces to Reimagine the Travel Trailer
When Airstream went looking for a design partner to help reimagine the aluminum travel trailer, it found an eager partner in Studio F. A. Porsche. The two iconic companies joined forces to create a new concept towable designed for RVing in the 21st century. That vehicle was unveiled last week at the SXSW show in Austin, Texas, giving us a glimpse of what could be the future of camping.
Dubbed the Airstream Studio F. A. Porsche Concept Travel Trailer, the RV, is an example of what two top engineering teams can do when they work together. The goal was to create a next-generation Airstream model that utilizes design elements pulled from the playbooks of both brands. The result is a towable that features a forward-thinking design meant to make modern camping more convenient.
While a full-size version of the concept trailer has yet to be built, the two companies have released photorealistic renderings and a 1/3 scale model to demonstrate their shared vision. That includes a pop-up ceiling that expands the interior living space and an air suspension that lowers to allow for storage in a residential garage.
Photo Credit: Airstream/Studio F. A. Porsche
The RV also features Airstream’s trademark aluminum design, with a few Porsche tweaks to make it more aerodynamic. One way the engineers accomplished that was by embedding the camper’s HVAC system, water heater, holding tanks, and lithium house batteries into the floor. This significantly reduces drag and makes towing much more efficient, even for an electric vehicle.
The towable is just as innovative inside as it is out. The trailer’s interior has a lounge area that sits adjacent to a rear hatch. That same space converts into a large bed with room to comfortably sleep two adults. The trailer also comes with a private wet bath and a well-equipped kitchen that includes a two-burner induction stove and sink. A hinged countertop folds into place when needed but shifts out of the way when not in use. Meanwhile, Airstream and Porsche designers made extensive use of windows and skylights, allowing plenty of natural light to filter in.
“For me Airstream has always been an iconic brand that has thrived by evolving its products while remaining true to its design DNA – an approach very similar to the philosophy of Studio F. A. Porsche,” Roland Heiler, Managing Director of Studio F. A. Porsche and Chief Design Officer of the Porsche Lifestyle Group says in a press release. “So, it is not difficult to imagine that we were more than excited when the idea to develop a new iteration of Airstream’s travel trailers finally became reality.”
Photo Credit: Airstream/Studio F. A. Porsche
“Innovation is the art of discovering the possible,” said Airstream President and CEO Bob Wheeler. “Our collaboration with Studio F. A. Porsche brought talented new eyes and minds to our never-ending process of improving the Airstream experience. It’s a fresh design approach aimed at reaching a broader, more diverse base of potential customers.”
For now, the travel trailer is just a concept vehicle, but it could join the Airstream lineup in the future. To learn more about this exciting camper, watch the video above.
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