If you are a Porsche enthusiast, then, without doubt, you have heard of Gemballa at some point.
Gemballa was a tuning company based in Leonberg near Stuttgart, Germany, which was founded by and named after Uwe Gemballa in 1981. Gemballa provided aftermarket parts for Porsche and created some of the most incredible and iconic tuned Porsches.
In May 2010, the Gemballa factory was seized by German authorities and shut down following the disappearance of Uwe Gemballa who was later found dead. The company went on after his death when CEO Andreas Schwarz and investor Steffen Korbach bought the brand and name rights from Gemballa in August 2010 and created the new company Gemballa GmbH. With the death of its namesake, the company never regained its once dominating status in the Porsche community although they made some attempts with the Mistrale and Tornado in 2011.
A NEW ERA BEGINS
Marc Philipp Gemballa is the the 27-year-old son of the late Uwe Gemballa and has recently formed his own company called MARC PHILIPP GEMBALLA GmbH (not associated in any form with Gemballa GmbH)
Born and raised in a 911
Born and raised in a sports car enthusiastic family, Marc Philipp developed his passion for automobiles from a very early stage. After completing his business studies at EBS University of Economics and Law, he gained professional expertise in the automotive industry, working for various sports car manufacturers, including Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche.
Growing up in an environment where building the fastest and most powerful production car on the planet and setting the next world record on the Nürburgring was key, now over a decade down the road, the market has changed radically. Marc Philipp believes the horsepower game is over, that tuning is done by the OEMs themselves and that the market is constantly being flooded with an influx of new supercars with brandishing hyped horsepower figures. Marc Philipp realized, when aiming to build a successful company for the future and not just toss the next imitator product onto the market, he needed to come up with something very special for his clients.
MARC PHILIPP GEMBALLA GmbH is launching his very first project starting a new era in 2021.
As an entirely new concept and defining a new supercar segment Marc Philipp Gemballa has created the MARSIEN. Inspired by the legendary Paris Dakar rally era and more than two years of intense design and engineering development has resulted in the young entrepreneur’s first project: an ultramodern yet timeless looking supercar. The new concept of the vehicle forms a hybrid between a modern-day supercar with all its comfort and day-to-day practicality combined with off-road capabilities enabling the ultimate driving experience for both on and off-road with the latest technologies.
The MARSIEN features a full carbon fiber body. All exterior components are produced in pure carbon fiber, exclusively designed for performance, light weight and cooling. Each body panel is manufactured by a leading German carbon fiber specialist who also supplies leading OEM supercar manufacturers and several leading Formula one teams. For the design, Marc Philipp Gemballa left nothing to chance and brought on board designer and Porsche aficionado Alan Derosier, known for his stunning Porsche 908 design study, who has been responsible for the ultra-modern yet timeless looking design of the MARSIEN.
His artistry can be found in every smooth curve and sophisticated lines of the MARSIEN’s spectacular and timeless design. Besides the full carbon fiber body, the exterior features functional design upgrades such as a completely bespoke taillight. Featuring the latest LED technology, the rear light has been developed together with light specialist GERG Lighthouse, enabling a completely holistic design appearance of the MARSIEN. The shape of the MARSIEN had to prove its aerodynamic efficiency and undergo intensive CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis. A development effort that is crucial for optimum driving dynamics at all speeds, efficiency, and maximum safety. A task which has been accomplished by engineering partner KLK, who has gained expertise in developing aerodynamics for LMP1, Formula E, and Formula One racing teams for over 20 years
A truly bespoke vehicle requires a unique powertrain of the highest quality. Consequently, Marc Philipp Gemballa teamed up with legendary Porsche engine specialist RUF Automobile for the engine development of the MARSIEN.
Founded in 1981, RUF Automobile is known for its Porsche engine expertise, having already worked with Marc’s father Uwe Gemballa to produce powertrains for various vehicles in the 1980s. The engine upgrade ‘POWERED BY RUF’ enables the six-cylinder boxer engine to deliver over 750 horsepower and 930 Newton meters of torque.
The MARSIEN is currently undergoing full road homologation process by renown and certified German technical service provider FAKT, who has been integrally involved in the development of the body. Marc Philipp Gemballa’s technical team are working hand in hand with FAKT to ensure the vehicle successfully passes the relevant crash tests required for approval and road homologation in Europe (including Switzerland), Middle East, the USA, as well as other major global markets in the future.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Marc Philipp Gemballa and his new company. Hopefully he can continue to bring to market some more amazing Porsche vehicles to further the Gemballa name and continue his fathers legacy.
Source/Photos: Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH
