Tangent Urban Safari 911: Porsche Lifted Three Inches
Tangent Design Group transforms a 2021 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 into the Urban Safari with a custom three-inch lift and rugged off-road features.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Tangent Design Group converts a 2021 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 into an Urban Safari
- The build features a custom three-inch lift, chunky off-road tires, and a front bull bar
- Utilizes 3D scanning and full-scale 3D-printed parts for custom body modifications
- Finished in Paint-to-Sample Black Olive with a roof rack carrying recovery gear
A 992-generation Porsche 911 sits unusually high off the ground in a striking new custom build by Chicago-based industrial design studio Tangent Design Group. Dubbed the Urban Safari, the project lifts a Carrera 4 by three inches, equips it with chunky off-road tires, adds a front bull bar, and straps recovery equipment to the roof. While the core proportions remain instantly recognizable as a 911, every surrounding element has been thoughtfully re-engineered.
The project kicked off in 2019 after Tangent completed another 911 commission and decided to build one for its own studio. Using a 2021 Carrera 4 as the donor vehicle, the team opted for all-wheel drive, ordered the car in Paint-to-Sample Black Olive, and explored how far the standard 992 could be modified without turning it into an exaggerated rally car caricature.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The development process began with the actual Porsche inside the studio. Tangent removed sections of the bodywork and performed 3D scans of the bumpers, fenders, wheel wells, and rocker areas, bringing the resulting geometry into CAD. The team then designed the most visible exterior modifications, including widened wheel arches, the front bull bar, and a rear ducktail spoiler.
The trend of converting high-end sports cars like the Porsche 911 into rugged all-terrain builds has gained momentum among independent designers. Combining advanced digital workflows like CAD and 3D scanning with physical prototyping allows studios to achieve factory-level integration while drastically altering a vehicle's utility and stance.
The build process remained remarkably hands-on. Full-scale components emerged from Tangent’s large-format 3D printer so designers could bolt them directly onto the vehicle to judge proportions in person. Even the wheel designs were printed at full scale on paper and held next to the 911 before the final forged aluminum wheels were produced in collaboration with Brixton Forged.
The most prominent visual upgrade is the custom three-inch lift, which retains the factory suspension while accommodating much larger off-road tires. The Black Olive paint shifts tones depending on the light, appearing deep green in some photos and nearly black in others, complemented by yellow side graphics. Amber lights adorn the bull bar, and the roof rack secures recovery boards alongside a Gerber axe.
At the rear, Tangent added a ducktail spoiler that lends the raised 992 a classic rally car attitude, alongside a factory rear windshield wiper. Operating as an industrial design consultancy, Tangent applied the same rigorous scanning, prototyping, and full-scale testing workflow to this 911 that it would typically dedicate to consumer products or transportation design.
Source: designboom
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