Porsche Experience Centre Toronto now open

The centre in Pickering features a two-kilometre driver development handling circuit, driving simulators and more.

Lineup of cars outside Porsche Experience Centre Toronto building — *The Porsche Experience Centre Toronto is now open. – Porsche AG photo*

The Porsche Experience Centre Toronto is now open.

Porsche Cars Canada opened the facility Wednesday, June 18.

It is the 10th such facility in the world and third in North America.

The centre features a two-kilometre driver development handling circuit, dynamics area, low-friction handling circuit and low-friction drift circle.

These tracks are designed to demonstrate the capabilities of Porsche vehicles.

Porsche Experience Centre Toronto driving simulators — *Driving simulators are located inside the lab at the Porsche Experience Centre. – Porsche AG photo*

There’s also a lab with driving simulators, which allows guests to take the wheel of a virtual Porsche and compete on racetracks from around the world.

On top of the driving features, there’s the Carrera Café and the Porsche Lifestyle Shop. The shop contains apparel, accessories, model cars and lifestyle products.

“Unbridled excitement and performance await visitors at the Porsche Experience Centre Toronto,” said Trevor Arthur, president and CEO of Porsche Cars Canada, in a news release. “This unique environment proudly showcases our sports cars’ heritage of driving dynamics, design, technology and passion.”

Buyers of eligible new Porsche vehicles delivered through the centre will receive an invitation to a 90-minute session at the facility.

Porsche Experience Centre Toronto sculpture — *This 23-foot-tall sculpture greets visitors arriving at the Porsche Experience Centre. – Porsche AG photo*

Art sculpture

A large-scale public artwork greets visitors on the exterior of the facility.

The sculpture, called LÜMEN, was commissioned by Porsche Cars Canada and is comprised of more than 800 engineered parts.

It is intended to represent a sculptural expression of the Porsche ethos of uniting precision engineering with poetic symbolism, the automaker said.

The 23-foot-tall artwork was designed and fabricated by Toronto-based architect Javid JAH and maker Alex Akbari, in collaboration with calligrapher MEDĒIO.

Cars on track at Porsche Experience Centre Toronto — *Drivers hit the track at the Porsche Experience Centre Toronto. – Porsche AG photo*

The Porsche Experience Centre is located just east of Toronto, at 356 Porsche Dr. in Pickering, Ont.

More information is available at porscheexperience.ca/centre.