Few cars embody the spirit of pure engineering quite like the Porsche 904. Sixty years on, Dutch startup Aerfal Automotive has channelled that same mechanical purity into something new: the Æ94, a modern reimagining of Porsche’s experimental mid-engine racer.
The original 904 of the 1960s was a testbed for innovations that would define Porsche’s motorsport success — fibreglass construction, mid-engine balance, and a chassis tuned for endurance. While privateers relied on proven flat-four and flat-six engines, works entries featured a flat-eight derived from Formula 1.
Aerfal’s Æ94 revives that spirit, blending modern craftsmanship and materials with the stripped-back philosophy that made the 904 so special. Using the mid-engined 914 from the late ’60s to mid-’70s as its donor chassis, the result is a respectful evolution — the kind of car Porsche’s engineers of 1964 might have built with today’s tools.
Visually, the Æ94 retains the timeless proportions of the original — low, lean, and purposeful — with carbon-fibre body panels helping achieve a target kerb weight of just 900 kg.
At its heart lies a reborn, air-cooled, naturally aspirated flat-eight, now expanded to 4.0 litres and producing 400 hp. Aerfal says it’s “not about chasing numbers, but about creating an engine that breathes character — a soundtrack and sensation that connect the driver directly to Porsche’s primal racing heritage.”
The company remains tight-lipped about its collaborators, revealing only that a British engine manufacturer is involved. The first production prototype is expected in 2028, giving Aerfal time to perfect what promises to be a stunning revival.
