Singer Vehicle Design: Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer Debuts in Japan

CORNES Day 2025 First public appearance in Japan at Fuji Speedway: Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer

On October 19, 2025, "CORNES Day 2025 in Fuji Speedway" was held at Fuji Speedway.

I would have liked to spend the whole day there and enjoy myself, but I had other plans that day, so I thought, "I guess I can't go this time."

But then...

At this event, I heard that Singer Vehicle Design's "Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer" would be making its Japanese debut, and I knew I had to go.

So I quickly headed to Fuji Speedway and had a great time, even though it was only for the morning.

The car being unveiled here was already announced in May 2025, and was shown at the following events:

• July 2025: UK Goodwood Festival of Speed
• August 2025: Monterey Car Week (The Quail), USA

Following those, this will be the third time the car has been shown off in the world, making for a spectacular debut in Japan.

That was the event that Corns Day 2025 was about.

Cornes Motors and Singer Vehicle Design announce partnership for 2024Currently, Cornes provides information about Singer Vehicle Design in Japan, as well as support for purchasing and maintenance.

So if you are interested in purchasing a Singer Vehicle Design, please contact Cornes.

Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer Launched in Japan

The event took the form of a press conference/talk show, and began with an explanation of the Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer by Rob Dickinson, founder and chairman of Singer Vehicle Design.

This Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer is equipped with a naturally aspirated engine (NA) that was restored by Singer. Rob says that he had received a lot of feedback from customers saying, "Turbos are good, but I want a naturally aspirated engine," so the reaction from customers after the car was announced was very positive.

The restoration is limited to 100 units, but all 100 have already been sold out.

What, you can't buy it anymore? That's too bad (←I can say this with peace of mind because I know you can't buy it anymore (lol)).

Singer Vehicle Design is known for reconstructing the 964 Porsche 911, but this particular car was inspired by the 911 G model, paying homage to the muscular turbo body of the 1980s with naturally aspirated engines, while being optimized for modern times.

Incidentally, Singer Vehicle Design is known for never restoring a vehicle to the same specifications twice, and it is said that the vision of the Porsche 911s rebuilt by Singer is to realize the ideal classic Porsche 911 imagined by the customer through the lens of Singer.

Available in two versions

This restoration can be ordered in two different styles: a touring version and a sports version.

The car on display that day was the touring version, but it is said that there is another sports version that generates even more aerodynamic downforce.

The two versions can be changed by changing the "front bumper" and "rear spoiler" (as well as the tires), and the replacement parts are provided in a flight case that matches the body color.

Rob says that, for example, you could go on a tour to Fuji Speedway (FSW), swap out the parts you brought in a flight case at FSW, then drive on the circuit with the sports version, and then when you're done, swap them back into the touring parts and go home.

Wow, what a luxurious plan.

However, by swapping parts, you can enjoy two identical cars at the same time.

By the way, replacement parts for the Touring or Sports versions are of course chosen at the customer's discretion, so two sets of parts do not come standard with one bike and must be purchased separately.

engine

Next, he explained about the engine installed in this car.

The Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer offers several firsts, including:

• NA specification uses a combination of a water-cooled cylinder head and an air-cooled cylinder
• Variable valve timing

Two of.

The naturally aspirated engine was developed in collaboration with Cosworth, a long-established British racing engine builder.

What they wanted to do was extract the maximum amount of horsepower and torque.

To extract maximum power, the engine needs to be rotated at high speeds, and the heat generated at that time needs to be managed, so the engine head is cooled with water. The fan has also been moved from its usual position to the top of the engine for more effective cooling.

The reason why it is possible to move it is because the fan is powered by an E motor.

If you take a look at the position of the fans, you can see it clearly... Yes, since we're here, I'll ask Rob to explain it to us.

"In other words, the original position of the fan is from here..."

"I brought it here"

...Got it (lol)?

Another new feature is the adoption of variable valve timing, which greatly improves drivability and dramatically expands the range of torque that can be used, making the engine easier to use and drive.

Furthermore, this 4.0-liter horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine is said to produce 420 horsepower (PS), and it is said to be designed to be low-emission, so it will be able to produce 420 horsepower in any country in the world without having to reduce power to comply with environmental regulations.

The engine has

• 4.0L Air-cooled Flat Six
• Naturally Aspirated
• Variable Valve Timing
• Water-cooled 4 Valves per Cylinder

There was also a plate attached that said:

Talk show session

After Rob gave a brief explanation, the event moved on to a talk show session.

The talk show will feature:

• Rob Dickinson, Founder and Chairman of Singer Vehicle Design
• Marino Franchitti, Chief Driver, Singer Vehicle Design
• Shiro Nakamura, CEO of SN Design Platform Inc.

The event featured the three speakers, along with a moderator and an interpreter. The moderator was automotive content creator Dino Dalle Carbonare.

Nakamura began by asking, "Why am I here, someone who at first glance seems to have nothing to do with being a singer?" and what he said next was very interesting to me.

The reason is that Rob, the founder of Singer, was originally a car designer for Lotus.

Nakamura was also a car designer, so they had many mutual acquaintances, and after being impressed by Singer's reconstructed Porsche 911 for the first time, he was introduced to Rob and went to meet him. That's how it all began, and now he describes himself as Rob's supporter (without pay, of course (lol)).

Now, when Nakamura first visited Rob, the singer's facility was a dingy place in the north of Los Angeles...but he said that was what made it cool, and it was actually like a backyard where you couldn't even tell where the entrance was.

The contrast between Rob, who showed up at the dingy (sorry lol) facility dressed casually in shorts and a hat, and the beautiful 911s that had been reconstructed from singers that were placed there, was amazing.

As I listened to this story, I felt as if the scene was unfolding before my eyes.

As mentioned above, each car on display there was a different color, interior, and material, and they had all been restored with incredible attention to detail, so much so that it seemed like there was nothing more amazing.

Nakamura said he was surprised that "this is something that ordinary talent can't achieve," to which Rob replied, "You are too kind," which was so cute ^^

Nakamura also commented that this coupe (Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer) feels the most orthodox to date, and that he thinks it represents Rob's pure vision of the 911.

Next, we heard from Marino, a test driver for Singer Vehicle Design.

I didn't know this, but in 2012 Marino raced in Super GT (GT500) with FSW as part of the same team as Seiji Ara.

As a result, he seemed to be very familiar with FSW, and praised our passion and knowledge for Japanese car culture, saying that coming to Japan made him feel like he was coming home.

Marino's first memory of a Porsche was when he was about two years old, when his father was driving a 930 Turbo. So Porsche was a familiar presence from a young age.

When asked what's so special about this coupe, he replied that the car is still in development and a proper answer might not be available until next year.

Next is Rob.

Rob's first encounter with Porsche was when he was about 5 years old and his father showed him a 911.At the time, he was overwhelmed, but rather than feeling like he wanted it, he felt a strange sense of "what kind of car is this?"

After that, he was amazed to see a 911 speeding by on a family trip, and his interest in cars was already growing from the age of about five.

Furthermore, Rob was actually quite good at drawing, so when he heard that he loved cars and could draw, he thought, "Oh, then I guess I'd be a car designer," and after studying car design at university, he became a car designer.

He was invited by a Lotus designer to join Lotus and begin his career as a car designer, but it was around this time that he discovered the guitar, and Rob says, "(Meeting the guitar) was the beginning of my problems" (laughs).

Rob joined Lotus, and it seems that he thought, or rather realized, that he didn't want to be a car designer.

Apparently, Lotus' design centre at the time was a prefabricated building next to a race track, and as he sat there thinking about the idea of spending the next 30 years designing cars like this, he decided that this wasn't what he wanted to do, so having already discovered the guitar and been in a rock band, he left Lotus to pursue a career in music.

By the way, it is a well-known story that the company name "Singer Vehicle Design" is a tribute to Porsche engineer Norbert Singer, and that the name Singer came about because Rob was originally a vocalist.

After starting his music career, Rob moved to Los Angeles in 2003, and at that time he restored his own Porsche 911 for himself.

Having lived in LA, Rob was able to incorporate the free-spirited feel of California and create a restoration that was perfect for him.

He drove the car around the Hollywood area on a daily basis, and people who saw it took photos of it, wanted it, and it even ended up being featured in a magazine. Through these experiences, he realized that "maybe other people have the same passion for the Porsche 911 as me."

It was there that he first came up with the idea of offering the Porsche 911s he had restored to others, and in 2009 he founded Singer Vehicle Design.

Respect for Porsche

Whenever Rob talks about his company, Singer Vehicle Design, one thing that always comes across is his "respect for Porsche."

Once again, Rob says that what makes Singer Vehicle Design different from other car makers and shops is that they don't want to be praised, but rather "to praise Porsche, the world's best sports car."

They emphasized very strongly that "Celebrated Porsche, and we did not celebrate us."

He said that everything he had done up until now had been a "Celebration of Porsche, the world's best sports car (in Rob's opinion)."

Will manual transmission and ICE cars remain in the future?

He also answered a question about what he thinks will happen to manual transmission vehicles and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the future, given that there are currently many environmental regulations and other changes happening throughout society.

Here again, the words that Mr. Nakamura spoke really resonated with me.

His response was, "I'm sure both manual and ICE vehicles will remain. There will still be people who ride horses. This is because there are things that cars have never been able to replace: the excitement and beauty that can be gained from riding a horse."

This made me think, "That's true!" I had vaguely thought, "But ICE will remain, right?", but now I felt like this book had clearly put it into words.

"The warmth created by humans remains. (For example, the 911 that Singer has reconstructed this time) I think that things that allow you to feel the passion, philosophy, and warmth of people through them will continue to be necessary and remain in the future, even if the number of items that exist themselves decreases."

Well, I really think so. I can only empathize.

Regarding electric vehicles, Rob apparently drives a Macan EV in LA, and said that in the city of LA, the electric Macan is convenient and easy to use, and that he thinks that so-called EVs can also be "right in the right place."

But how many Singer customers have said to Singer in the past, "I want to order an electric motor (EV model) car from Singer?" The answer is "zero." Not a single person has said that.

Even now, at exhibitions, I see young people reacting to new and classic ICE cars with amazement, and I believe that people's feelings for ICE cars will never disappear.

Finally, regarding the "Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer," which made its Japanese debut on the same day, the car uses the latest technology (including carbon fiber and magnesium), but this has been used to maximize the analog experience of the Porsche 911.

There is also another first for the interior this time, and that is that corduroy fabric has been used.

It's a homage to Porsche's traditional use of corduroy.

He also says that he has taken inspiration from various sources in various aspects, such as the leather edge finishing, which recreates the signature Hermès style.

Of course, these will vary depending on the wishes of each individual customer, so each Porsche 911 rebuilt in the future will have a different color and interior.

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The aim of this Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer is to achieve everything at a high level, and it has a European atmosphere inspired by the Passalacqua Lake Como Hotel on the shores of Lake Como in Italy, and the body color is ``Celeste Passalacqua.''

It was a vibrant but slightly toned down pale, beautiful color.

After all the press announcements were finished, we were free to take photos of the cars, etc. Rob happened to be there, so I asked him if I could take a photo with his car.

I only managed to snap one photo with my smartphone, but it turned out to be this cool. It was a testament to Rob and his "Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer."

Of all the Porsche 911s reimagined by Singer that I have had the opportunity to see, I personally like this Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer the most.

It's such a shame that I can't buy it (← that's why I'm scared to say it because I know it's already sold out and I can't buy it anymore (lol))!

I also managed to get Rob's autograph again. I'm so happy ^^

The press conference on this day was not just a chance to unveil a new car, but it was also a very valuable opportunity for me to hear a lot about the beginnings of Singer Vehicle Design and Rob and his team's thoughts.

Thank you Singer Vehicle Design and Cornes Motors!

*I only had a quick look around Corns Day 2025 on this day, and I'll post some photos of it separately later.

Related Sites:
◆Singer Vehicle Design
◆singervehicledesign
◆Cornes Motors (Singer Vehicle Design)

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