The film, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, will debut on December 20. The result of Porsche and Lucasfilm’s joint venture will appear at the same time, along with a Taycan EV.

The spacecraft design, now underway simultaneously by Porsche and Lucasfilm in Stuttgart and San Francisco respectively, is apparently based on the Taycan but plays no role in the actual film.

DougChiang vice president and executive creative director of LucasFilm Michael Mauer vice president style Porsche

This is not the first time Porsche has jumped into an ‘off-Broadway’ project. It announced last month that it would partner with Boeing to explore a market for premium flying taxis.

Porsche’s design concept for Star Wars is under wraps but the sportscar-maker’s vice-president of Style Porsche at Porsche AG, Michael Mauer, said it’s “exciting and challenging”.

“Even though they do not seem to share many elements at first glance, both worlds have a similar design philosophy,” he said.

“The close collaboration with the Star Wars design team inspires and fascinates us – I’m sure that both sides can draw major benefits from this exchange.”

The design brief is for the Rebel Alliance craft – called the Designer Alliance – to be a combination of craft featured in previous Star Wars episodes, such as the Rebel X-Wing, Y-Wing and U-Wing fighters.

The new craft should have a minimum of two engines and a maximum of four engines, two pilots and up to three additional crew, two front entrances and a large rear cargo door. Yes, just like a Cayenne Hybrid.

Lucasfilm vice-president and executive creative director Doug Chiang said: “The worldwide appeal of the Star Wars and Porsche brands is shaped decisively by their iconic designs.

“We are bringing together two worlds with this project: the exotic film design of a galaxy far, far away and the precision work that goes into developing emotive Porsche sportscars.

“This collaboration promises to produce an innovative design that will blend the best of both brands to create an exciting new starship worthy of Porsche and Star Wars.”

The development process of the starship can be followed online at: www.thedesigneralliance.com

By Neil Dowling