Airstream And Studio F.A. Porsche Reveal The Ultimate Camping Trailer Concept

Airstream has unveiled a stunning new trailer concept it designed in partnership with Studio F.A. Porsche ahead of its live debut at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, which kicks off this week. The images you're looking at are renderings of a "what if" collaboration between the two famous companies. Each entity was assigned specific tasks.

Studio F.A. Porsche designers were asked to create what the next-generation Airstream trailer could look like by combining signature styling elements from both brands. Designers based in Zell am See, Austria and Los Angeles worked with their Airstream counterparts and engineers at the latter's Jackson Center, Ohio headquarters.

The result is renderings of a 1/3 scale model featuring an update of Airstream's famous riveted aluminum styling, complete with computer-assisted aerodynamic testing. But it's not entirely old school.

Designers acknowledged changes in the RV market over the years, so they only partially replicated the original styling. They incorporated modern elements like a pop-up roof and a lowered suspension - both firsts for Airstream. Aerodynamics, compared to other Airstreams, are significantly improved thanks to that pop-up roof, lowered suspension, a smaller frontal area, and lightweight construction materials like carbon fiber.

"Innovation is the art of discovering the possible," said Airstream President and CEO Bob Wheeler. "Our collaboration with Studio F. A. Porsche brought talented new eyes and minds to our never-ending process of improving the Airstream experience. It's a fresh design approach to reach a broader, more diverse base of potential customers."

The exterior boasts a new rear shape to help improve airflow while in motion and a flush underside to help reduce protrusions and create aerodynamic drag. Numerous "essential systems" have been included in the concept's chassis and interior. One example of this is the air conditioning system, which is located above the trailer's floor.