Hidden Passion

As was the case with an art car she created in collaboration with the Ljubljana Porsche Center in 2022. An opulent rose design covers a 911 Carrera 4 GTS – a pattern you’d expect to find on a nostalgic tea set, rather than a thoroughbred sports car. Zupanc therefore follows a long tradition of female artists like Georgia O’Keeffe and Judy Chicago, who used flowers as a powerful symbol in unexpected contexts to question clichés and provide new perspectives on feminine strength and self-determination. “The abundance of large flowers on such a powerful car creates a sense of tension that’s hard to put into words,” explains Zupanc. The design previously adorned her surfboard in her workshop and today also adorns the 911 GT3 RS of a friend who was visiting her that day in the Slovenian capital.

But a Taycan 4 Cross Turismo in Coffee Beige Metallic has played a special role in Zupanc’s private life for the past year or so. “This car has changed me,” says Nika Zupanc, full of conviction. That’s because the electric sports car has awakened in her new passions once hidden: the joy of winding roads, dynamic drives, and even racecourses. “It has opened up a whole new world.” Ever since she began driving the Taycan, she’s been so inspired that she’s now interested in exploring automotive design professionally.

She and her 18-year-old son, Boris, have begun testing their driving skills on the winding roads between Sodražica and Loški Potok, about 100 kilometers south of Ljubljana. Around 12 kilometers in length, this stretch of road winds its way through breathtaking wooded hills and offers a variety of impressive curves – a good place to practice driving techniques and precision. Zupanc longs for the challenge. “I love things that scare me at first.” Her dream is to participate in the Porsche Ice Experience in Finland. She’s already acquired some initial racecourse experience on the Grobnik Circuit in Croatia and the Hungarian Balaton Park Circuit. Now she’s ready to further expand her skill set.

But for Zupanc, driving is about more than just technique and speed. She also loves roads through picturesque landscapes. “What I enjoy most just might be that feeling of freedom – being wild at heart,” she says. The joy of movement also shapes her everyday routine, with the Taycan by her side as a true companion in her double life. Zupanc, who enjoys the close proximity to nature in Ljubljana, spends time in the forest and mountains, drives to the sea to go windsurfing, and enjoys peace and quiet at home. She also regularly travels almost 500 kilometers to Milan to meet with customers and supervise projects. “I spend so much time in the car that it has become a place of inspiration, where I can think about my work and develop new ideas,” she says. Plus, the Taycan’s electric mobility offers plenty of benefits. “I can park the car at home and charge it overnight,” says the Slovenian, beaming. “It really doesn’t get any more practical than that.” But for her, it’s about more than just convenience. The environmental aspect plays a key role, too. “The Taycan is a great example of how a sports car can be sustainable, without compromising passion and power. In the future, I want to apply this aspect to my designs.”