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Singer Vehicle Design

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Not to be confused with the defunct British car company Singer Motors.
Singer Vehicle Design
IndustryAutomotive
Founded2009
HeadquartersLos Angeles, CA, USA
Key people
Rob Dickinson (founder) Mazen Fawaz (CEO)
ProductsAutomobiles
Websitehttp://singervehicledesign.com

Singer Vehicle Design is an American company that specializes in restoring and modifying Porsche 911s.[1] It was founded by Rob Dickinson in 2009, who is also known as former frontman and guitarist of the English rock band Catherine Wheel.[2] The company is based in Los Angeles, California.

Rob Dickinson (on the right) with the Singer 911

Name

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The name Singer Vehicle Design pays homage to Porsche engineer Norbert Singer as well as acknowledging Dickinson's previous career as a vocalist.[3]

Models

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Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Classic Study

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Singer Classic Study
Singer Classic Study Interior

The company's main product is a "re-imagined" 911, which is a heavily modified coupe or targa Porsche 964.[4] Singer's most well-known and sole model for 9 years, was originally simply known as the "Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer". After the introduction of other models, it began to be referred to as the "Classic Study" model.[5]

Much of the bodywork is replaced with carbon fiber body panels and the engine is reworked by engine manufacturers such as Cosworth, Ed Pink Racing Engines[6] and Williams to produce significantly more power.[7] The long hood of the Porsche 911 classic replaces the shorter hood of the Porsche 964. Relocated fuel filler and oil filler caps are a nod to historic Porsche race cars, and many of the components are bespoke and/or motorsports-grade.[8] The tachometer is often colored in Singer Orange and displays values up to 11, a reference to the up to 11 meme (though engine redline is 7,200 RPM, with 7,300 RPM limiter).[9]

The price of a 911 re-imagined by Singer starts at over $475,000.[10] Examples have sold at auction for well over $1 million.[11][12]

Dynamics & Lightweighting Study

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Singer DLS

Introduced in 2018 in partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering, the Dynamics & Lightweighting Study (DLS) features an all carbon fiber body with widened fenders, highly-tuned chassis and suspension engineering, and specially tuned motor built in partnership with Hanz Mezger.[13][14]

All-terrain Competition Study

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Singer released the All-terrain Competition Study (ACS) in January 2021[15] in collaboration with Richard Tuthill of Tuthill Porsche, who specializes in rallying and safari-style Porsche 911s. The ACS is a special client request offered in two versions, for both off-road and tarmac rallying. Even as a client commissioned model, Singer announced the readiness to build for other clients as well. The ACS is Singer's first off-road and rally intended model, inspired by Porsches used in rally racing such as the 911 SC/RS, 953, and 959, but with an all-original and heavily modified design by Singer and Tuthill.[16][17]

The chassis is heavily reinforced, and features carbon fiber bodywork. The ACS has a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six paired to a five-speed sequential race transmission and permanent all-wheel drive system, with three differentials. Singer rates engine's output at 450 hp and 420 ft-lb of torque, but with tunability for different outputs catered for use in different environments. The suspension features eight total dampers, each five-way adjustable, with long suspension travel and increased ride height. The ACS interior features competition-spec bucket seats and full roll cage, with typical Singer infotainment and comfort equipment.[18][19]

The Singer ACS is priced at over $1 million.[20][21]

Porsche AG objected to Singer's usage of Porsche branding on the All-terrain Competition Study in March 2021, as Porsche had no direct involvement in the creation of the heavily-modified car based on their 911.[22] Singer then removed the ACS from its website and social media.[23][24]

Turbo Study

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Singer Turbo Study

In June 2022, Singer unveiled the Turbo Study, their first turbocharged model to celebrate the Porsche 930 Turbo based on a 964 chassis. It features a 3.8L twin turbocharged, intercooled flat-six producing either 450 in the standard trim or 510 HP in the sports focused trim.[25] Power is sent through a 6-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel-drive drivetrain. The suspension is touring-focused, and it features carbon-ceramic brakes. It also features modern amenities such as electrically adjustable and heated seats.[26] The Turbo Study was later debuted at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed.[27] With first deliveries in 2024. [28] A slant-nose version was made available with a maximum of 25 vehicles to be produced. [29]

Dynamics & Lightweighting Study – Turbo

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Singer DLS Turbo

In June 2023, Singer presented the turbocharged variant of the DLS, entitled the Dynamics & Lightweighting Study – Turbo (DLS Turbo). Also based on the 964 chassis. Which production is limited to 99 vehicles [30] The DLS Turbo features more aggressive and race-inspired body styling, in homage to the Porsche Type 934/5. The DLS Turbo has a 3.8L, 4-valves per cylinder flat-six with twin turbochargers, electric wastegates, air-to-water intercooling and a horizontally mounted, electrically powered fan. This engine produces over 700 HP at more than 9000 rpm.[31]

Other products

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Singer has also begun selling wrist watches.[32]

References

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  1. ^ Torchinsky, Jason (2013-05-13). "The Best Porsche 911s Ever Come From This Magical Workshop". Jalopnik. Gawker Media. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  2. ^ Smith, Sam (2015-06-05). "Flat Sex: Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer". Road & Track. Hearst Digital Media. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  3. ^ Trop, Jaclyn (2017-12-24). "The Ultimate Porsche 911 Comes From California". Fortune. Time Inc. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  4. ^ Ford, Tom (2018-04-27). "The latest Porsche modified by Singer is a map". Top Gear. BBC Worldwide. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  5. ^ "Singer Has "Taken A Pause" With Porsche 911 Classic Study Orders". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  6. ^ Hagerty (2017-01-25), The Engine Builder - Ed Pink Racing Engines | The Craftsmen Series, retrieved 2018-10-14
  7. ^ Florea, Ciprian (2017-08-11). "Singer Teams Up With Williams To Create 500-horsepower Porsche Engines". TopSpeed. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  8. ^ "Here's how Singer restores and beautifies the Porsche 911". Top Gear. 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  9. ^ Cross, Alan (2017-08-26). "The Musical Reason This Porsche's Tachometer Goes Up to 11 (You Already Guessed, Right?) | Alan Cross". Alan Cross' A Journal of Musical Things. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  10. ^ drinkcaffeine.com; admin (2019-05-22). "Model Masterpiece: Porsche 911 Restored by Singer Vehicle Design". Premier Financial Services. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  11. ^ "Don't Want to Wait for a Porsche Reimagined by Singer? Buy This One for $1.1 Million". Road & Track. 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  12. ^ Jurnecka, Rory (Aug 6, 2019). "A 911 Restored By Singer Is Being Auctioned for the First Time—and It Could Fetch $1 Million". MotorTrend Magazine.
  13. ^ "What Makes Singer and Williams's Reimagined 911 So Wild". Road & Track. 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  14. ^ "Singer and Williams join forces to build light, 500-hp Porsche 911 DLS". Autoblog. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  15. ^ Kierstein, Alex (Jan 12, 2021). "Singer's Reimagined Porsche 911 Rally Racer Is Perfect for Getting Dirty". MotorTrend Magazine.
  16. ^ laura (2021-02-07). "Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer - All-terrain Competition Study unveiled". Tuthill Porsche. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  17. ^ "Singer Just Built The Safari 911 Of Your Dreams". Jalopnik. 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  18. ^ "The Singer ACS is the ultimate off-road 911 | GRR". www.goodwood.com. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  19. ^ "What Makes the Singer ACS a Real Desert Race Car". Road & Track. 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  20. ^ "Singer ACS: This Safari Porsche 911 is the last word in off-road perfection". OPUMO Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  21. ^ "Singer's Custom Porsche 911 Safari, The ACS". COOL HUNTING®. 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  22. ^ "Singer ACS Heads Back To Drawing Board After Porsche Protests Design". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  23. ^ Tsui, Chris (2021-03-09). "Singer Pulls Safari ACS From Its Website and Social Media After Porsche's Lawyers Get Involved". The Drive. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  24. ^ "Why Did Porsche Draw the Line at Singer's Viral Off-Road 911?". InsideHook. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  25. ^ Street, Matthew (2022-06-14). "Results of Singer's Turbo Study with Added Power and Sports Focus". Singer Vehicle Design. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  26. ^ Street, Matthew (2022-06-06). "Singer Presents Results of Turbo Study". Singer Vehicle Design. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  27. ^ Neupert, Benjamin (2022-08-15). "Singer Presents Global Debut of Turbo Study at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2022". Singer Vehicle Design. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  28. ^ https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/porsche-911-reimagined-by-singer-turbo-study-first-drive [bare URL]
  29. ^ "VW ID.Buzz upfit brings peace, love, and electrons". 9 August 2024.
  30. ^ "What Singer did next: We hitch a ride in the 911 DLS Turbo Study – and meet its makers | CAR Magazine".
  31. ^ Street, Matthew (2023-06-27). "Singer Presents Dynamics & Lightweighting Study - Turbo". Singer Vehicle Design. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  32. ^ Perkins, Chris (2017-06-08). "Singer is Now Selling a $41,000 Watch". Road & Track. Hearst Digital Media. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
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