)
Porsche has built its first experience center in Canada in Toronto, allowing fans to actually drive, practice in simulations, and even customize their own Porsche models in the same space. "Supreme" was invited to the trial operation site to experience every detail, from track driving to the brand's space design.
Rediscover Porsche from the Inside and Outside
We visited the Porsche Experience Center in Pickering. Not far from downtown Toronto, it's Porsche's tenth experience center globally and its first in Canada. The entire building emphasizes a connection to the local community, not only using Quebec timber for the exterior but also displaying works by local artists at the entrance. Sustainability was also considered in the design, including a geothermal system and solar panels on the roof, with some of the building's energy coming from its own generated electricity. These arrangements give the impression that Porsche aims to do more than just showcase cars; it wants to embody the brand's values throughout the entire space. The center isn't just a place to see cars; the first floor also houses a café and a brand boutique, offering drinks and light meals, as well as selling Porsche model cars, accessories, and apparel. The overall atmosphere is relaxed, lacking the pressure of a traditional auto show, and instead feels like a comfortable way to get to know the brand.
Our focus this time was on the driving course. Each guest was initially paired with a dedicated instructor, starting with basic operations and gradually progressing to defensive driving, emergency braking, and slip control techniques. The center's main track is approximately two kilometers long, incorporating designs from classic corners around the world, such as the spiral corner of Laguna Seca, the Nürburgring's slalom, and the Porsche Corner of Le Mans. Driving on these corners, we realized they weren't just challenging the cars, but also testing the driver's reaction and judgment. One section involved slippage and spinning tests on a wet surface, in which we drove the brand-new 911 GTS Hybrid. The vehicle's stability control system reacted quickly, correcting slippage rapidly, making the entire experience safe yet thrilling. In addition to the live car experience, the center also has a simulator space, where we had the opportunity to practice various driving scenarios, allowing us to learn driving skills in a stress-free environment.
From a cup of coffee to building your own sports car
After the test drive, we went to the indoor customization area. It felt like a workshop, with various wheel rims, leathers, stitching, and instrument panel design templates displayed on the walls. We could actually touch the materials, compare colors, and even see simulations to understand how our choices affected the overall appearance and style of the car. There was no sales pressure throughout the process; instead, it felt like participating in the creation of a product, which fostered a new connection with the car. After completing our customizations, we returned to the café and ordered a latte with the Porsche logo. It wasn't just a drink; it felt like the closing ceremony of the experience. Here, you don't just test drive a sports car, but gradually build a relationship with the brand through multiple stages. From speed to design, from performance to details, it was a complete and tangible Porsche experience.
Porsche has created its first experience center in Canada in Toronto, allowing car enthusiasts to actually drive, practice in simulations, and even customize their own Porsche models in a single space. The magazine *Supreme* was invited to the trial operation site to experience every detail, from track driving to the brand's spatial design. Rediscovering Porsche inside and outside the car, we visited the Porsche Experience Center in Pickering. Located not far from downtown Toronto, this is Porsche's tenth experience center worldwide and its first in Canada. The entire building emphasizes a connection to the local community, using Quebec timber for its exterior and displaying works by local artists at the entrance. Sustainability is also considered in the design, including a geothermal system and solar panels on the roof, with some of the building's energy coming from its own generated electricity. These arrangements give the impression that Porsche aims to do more than just showcase cars; it wants to embody the brand's values throughout the entire space. The center is not just a place to view cars; the first floor also houses a café and a brand boutique, offering drinks and light meals, as well as selling Porsche model cars, accessories, and apparel. The overall atmosphere was relaxed, lacking the pressure of a traditional auto show, and instead felt more like a comfortable way to get to know the brand. Our experience focused on driving lessons. Each guest was assigned a personal instructor, starting with basic operations and gradually progressing to defensive driving, emergency braking, and slip control techniques. The main track within the center is approximately two kilometers long, incorporating designs from classic corners around the world, such as the spiral corner of Laguna Seca, the Nürburgring's slalom, and the Porsche corner of Le Mans. Driving on these corners, we realized they weren't just challenging the cars, but also testing the driver's reaction and judgment. One section involved slippage and spinning tests on a wet surface, where we drove the new 911 GTS Hybrid. The vehicle's stability control system reacted quickly, correcting slippage rapidly, making the whole process safe yet thrilling. In addition to the live car experience, the center also had a simulator space where we had the opportunity to practice various driving scenarios, allowing us to learn driving skills without pressure. After the experience of building your own sports car from a cup of coffee, we moved to the indoor customization area. This place is like a studio, with various wheel rims, leathers, stitching, and instrument panel design templates displayed on the walls. We can actually touch the materials, compare colors, and even see simulations to understand how our choices affect the overall appearance and style of the car. There's no sales pressure throughout the process; instead, it feels more like participating in the creation of a product, which fosters a new connection with the car. After completing our selections, we returned to the café and ordered a latte with the Porsche logo. It wasn't just a drink; it felt like the closing ceremony of the experience. Here, you're not just test-driving a sports car, but gradually building a relationship with the brand through multiple stages. From speed to design, from performance to details, it's a complete and tangible Porsche experience. …
