Porsche's Outgoing Design Chief Retires with Mission Accomplished

Porsches Outgoing Design Chief Retires with Mission Accomplished
Harm Lagaay, the designer responsible for Porsche's current face, will retire July 1. He'll be replaced on August 1 by Michael Mauer, a former Saab and Mercedes-Benz designer.

Lagaay has been credited with the design of the Boxster, the current and next Porsche 911, the Cayenne SUV and the Carrera GT supercar.

Lagaay spoke to Automotive News Europe's Diana T. Kurylko about his career at Porsche and about Mauer's future at the luxury sports car maker.

What do you consider to be the highlight of your career?

It is the Carrera GT, the car that started production at the beginning of the year.

What is Porsche design?

It is based on shapes that started in the early '50s and it has been further developed without losing its identity. The identity of Porsche design or shapes is based on the way we model the surfaces, the outer skin of our cars.

What styling cues always have to be on a Porsche?

We have an SUV, the Boxster, the 911 rear-engine car and the super sports car. Each model is extremely different. All the headlamps are different, but the ones we use have a family resemblance that gives you the identity regardless of the size and price.