How Porsche created a rare Mirage for the next 'Transformers' movie

AUSTIN, Texas — Cool cars are essential to the "Transformers" movie franchise, with vehicles such as the Chevy Camaro inextricably connected to Autobots characters such as Bumblebee. The star car of the latest installment, "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts," out June 9, is the rare and revered Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8, which transforms into the cocky Autobot Mirage voiced by Pete Davidson.

Little is known about the movie and Mirage other than what fans could glean from a 30-second teaser for the film that debuted during the recent Super Bowl. But it’s clear the silver and blue-striped classic Porsche has a starring role since it’s the ride of leading man Anthony Ramos, and that it can create multiple versions on itself to evade police and likely any Decepticons in pursuit.

At South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, this past weekend, the movie’s producer and several principals from Porsche who supported the making of the film shared a stage and revealed a bit more about the iconic car’s role and what it takes to prepare a classic Porsche for the rigors of a big-budget action movie.

Only 55 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8s were built as a one-off homologation special for the 3.8 RSR racecar, and the model has sold for more than $1.5 million at auction. So replicas had to be built for the movie. “We wouldn’t want to wreck a historic car like that,” said Owen Shively, CEO of RTTM, which represents Porsche Cars North America in entertainment and product placement.

Shively oversaw building of the 911 Carrera RS 3.8 replicas. “I’ve never even seen one, but I had to go out and make five of them in a very short order,” he said. It helped that, while the 911 Carrera RS 3.8 is unique, it shares a chassis with 911s across more than three decades.

“It has the same general shell,” said Shively. “What allows us to do that is the 911 tub from 1965 to 1998. You can use that base and build it into a RS 3.8.”