The Shanghai Auto Show is officially open for business, and one of the first reveals is guaranteed to raise eyebrows. The 911 Spirit 70 is the latest addition to Porsche's Heritage Design Series, and is based on the hybrid 911 GTS Cabriolet – there will be no Coupe or Targa derivative. Limited to 1,500 units globally, the car pays tribute to the styling language of the 1970s and early 1980s.

Typical of a design exercise, there are no power hikes or handling upgrades – the turbocharged 3.6-litre boxer paired with a high-voltage hybrid system serves up the same 536bhp and 450lb-ft of torque. That translates to 0–62mph in 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 194mph.

While the styling of the car remains current, it's the specifications and details that have come over all disco. Most eyecatching – or retina-searing, depending upon your outlook – is the Olive Neo exterior paint, the only colour available. This is paired with Bronzite trim detailing on the bumpers, diffuser, and Fuchs-inspired Sport Classic wheels. Subtle, it ain’t.

Don’t let the contrasting black stripes running down the car fool you, they’re not of the racing variety – they’re actually inspired by the safety graphics used on high-speed Autobahn cars in the 1970s. There are also period references in the badging, with gold-plated ‘Porsche’ and ‘911 Spirit 70’ script at the rear, and a classic-style Porsche crest on the bonnet. There’s even a heritage grille badge recalling the commemorative plaques once awarded to 356 owners after 100,000km of use.

Inside, Porsche has again called upon the Pasha pattern – a geometric textile motif first used in 1970s 911s. It’s applied across the seat centres, door inserts, glovebox, and even the seat backrests and dash trim if selected. The material isn’t original jacquard velour but a modern textile using flock yarns for better comfort and durability. The rest of the cabin is trimmed in basalt black club leather with olive contrast stitching.

As with other recent Heritage models, the Spirit 70 includes a bespoke digital instrument cluster that mimics analogue dials. White needles and green numerals reference the 356, while the Sport Chrono stopwatch – and optional matching Chronograph wristwatch – are given the same treatment.

This is the third model to form part of Porsche’s Heritage Design strategy, following the Targa 4S Heritage and the 911 Sport Classic. Somehow, the Turbo Edition 50 seems to have been quietly forgotten about.

Purists may rally against the questionable taste and pricing of the Heritage cars, but there is a method to Porsche’s madness. Over the past five years, the number of cars sold with Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur options has doubled. Stuttgart’s board has therefore decided to significantly expand the capacity of the Exclusive Manufaktur division in the future, so expect to see more of the same.

The Porsche 911 Spirit 70 will cost £187,700 in the UK – a hefty £39,700 premium over the regular 911 GTS Cabriolet mit T-Hybrid. Order books are open now, and deliveries will begin in Europe from April 2025, with other markets to follow.