Luftgekühlt 12 debuted at Trilith near Atlanta on Oct. 10, welcoming 8,000 attendees and presenting more than 300 air-cooled Porsches. Located just down the road from the Porsche Cars North America headquarters, Luft 12 brought together a wide spectrum of the Porsche community for a diverse mix of programming, event organizers said in a press release.
The 12th major Luftgekühlt event drew a crowd from 23 countries and 45 U.S. states. Founder Patrick Long remarked that “Luft has always been about celebrating culture, style and the brilliance and attraction of Porsche’s legacy. It’s a community, but one that welcomes new audiences to one of the most recognizable brands in the world, Porsche. Atlanta was an ideal destination to bring in the global community and celebrate the diversity of this community we love.”
Organizers Adjust Schedule Amid Severe Weather
Despite a state of emergency with flash flooding alerts and forceful winds, the organizers navigated the severe weather by adjusting the start time to produce the event under clear skies, the release noted.
Long said that “the safety of our guests, partners and staff is always paramount. Adjusting the event within just 24 hours turned out to be our greatest production pivot and enabled the best solution for safe event conditions.”
Luft 12 included a full day of curated automotive displays, historic exhibitions, film screenings and community engagement. The setting at Trilith, a cultural and creative hub known for its film and television production, provided a distinctive backdrop for Porsche’s racing, road-car and cultural legacy, organizers said.
Porsche 935 Race Cars Spotlight Georgia Motorsport History
Georgia’s motorsport history took center stage through a collection of Porsche 935 race cars, marking 50 years since the model’s debut in 1976 and tracing the evolution of the race car. Brought together for the first time since the period, three yellow 935s owned and raced by Don and Bill Whittington served as the centerpiece. The display connected Porsche’s competition history with Georgia’s own Road Atlanta racing heritage, illustrating how innovations developed on the track continue to influence the marque’s road cars, the release noted.
Targa Florio Exhibit Marks 120 Years of Endurance Racing
Luft 12 also celebrated 120 years of the Targa Florio with four historic Porsche race cars that helped define the marque’s legacy in the famed Sicilian endurance race. The collection included the 1959 718 RSK, which led much of the 1959 race and set its fastest lap before a suspension failure on the final lap; the RS 60, which won overall in 1960; the 904 Carrera GTS, victorious in 1964; and the 1971 908/3, developed specifically for the Targa Florio and Nürburgring. The exhibition also explored the Targa Florio’s influence on the Porsche 911 Targa, whose distinctive open-roof design helped establish a new category of sports car.
Inside Trilith Live, a special display connected Porsche’s racing legacy with its place in film history. Presented by the Brumos Collection, a Gulf-liveried 1970 Porsche 917K offered a direct link to Steve McQueen’s 1971 film “Le Mans.” Previously owned by Jo Siffert and leased to McQueen for the production, the car brought together Porsche motorsport, cinema and the event’s distinctive setting with a unique opportunity for attendees to enjoy the car and film together.
“Every event is an evolution on an evolution,” said Luftgekühlt’s creative director, Jeff Zwart. “We want to find new stories to tell.”
Luftgekühlt’s approach to automotive storytelling extends beyond the cars themselves. Each edition is built around a carefully curated selection of vehicles, with owners invited to apply to display their Porsches by submitting the car’s history, description and photographs for review by the Luft team. A wide diversity of cars is showcased, from original preserved examples, daily drivers, race cars and custom one-off builds.
Luft Cinema & Event Programming
Hosted by Hall of Fame racing driver and broadcaster Tommy Kendall, Luft 12 unfolded across the venue through curated displays, three primary feature exhibitions and the first public activation of Luft Cinema. Known as “TK,” Kendall brought his perspective as a four-time Trans-Am Series winner, two-time Le Mans competitor and youngest IMSA champion in history, guiding attendees through the cars and the stories that shaped Porsche culture and motorsport.
Luft Cinema extended the event’s storytelling into film, presenting the first public screening of Mobil 1’s latest feature-length film following Zwart’s experience racing an air-cooled 911 in the East African Safari Rally. Special screenings from Type 7 and Hagerty further explored Porsche’s cultural and motorsport heritage.
Partner Brands Drive On-Site Activations
More than 16 partner brands contributed to the on-site activations, enhancing the event experience with unique displays, sales and giveaways. Activations included everything from cars, parts, history, art and more.
In addition, The Ingram Experience returned as the presenting partner to The 1948 Partner Lounge and offered an elevated space for both VIPs and partners to mingle. Luft 12’s extensive list of partners showcased the strength of the air-cooled community with contributions from TAG Heuer, Porsche Classic, Mobil 1, Dunlop, Singer, Meguiar’s, Gunther Werks + GW9, Revs Institute, Graham Rahal Performance, Hagerty, Type 7, GHAS WTER, and Intercity Lines.
With its Southern debut in Atlanta, Luftgekühlt 12 brought together Porsche’s international racing achievements, Georgia’s motorsport heritage and the marque’s broader cultural influence in an experience designed for enthusiasts and newcomers alike. From historic race cars and rare road-going models to film and community, the gathering celebrated the stories that continue to connect generations of Porsche fans, event officials said.
Luftgekühlt 13 & Air|Water Dates Announced
The date for Luft 13 has been set for Oct. 2, 2027. The Luft production team is currently focusing on its sister brand, Air|Water, with a showcase of both air- and water-cooled Porsches, along with expanded event offerings and an exhibitor hall trade show coming back to Costa Mesa, California, on April 24, 2027.