Porsche Studio Chevy Chase nears completion in Friendship Heights

The new Porsche Studio at the Collection at Chevy Chase is nearing completion in Friendship Heights. Construction workers could still be seen at work inside the art gallery-inspired interior of the showroom late last week. Design touches range from the modern - furniture and a flatscreen video display in the front window - to the whimsical (a children's ride-on toy Porsche). Porsche Studio Chevy Chase is located at 5471-C Wisconsin Avenue, and is affiliated with the Porsche Bethesda dealership further up MD 355 at Pike & Rose.

Porsche Studio opening at Collection at Chevy Chase

Porsche has announced it will open a Porsche Studio next year at the Collection at Chevy Chase in Friendship Heights. The new urban dealership concept is similar to that of Tesla, and the recently-opened Koons Lincoln showroom in downtown Bethesda. A handful of vehicles on display in a modern, art-gallery-inspired environment. In fact, like the Lincoln showroom, the Porsche Studio will have actual art pieces on display alongside Porsche memorabilia. 

The first Porsche Studio that opened in the United States in Portland, Oregon, includes a cafe and bar area serving regional cuisine and coffee. That amenity has not been confirmed for this location as of this morning. In the Porsche Studio's upscale setting, potential buyers can review and customize vehicle and options. While a Chevy Chase location might sound like it would steal business from Porsche Bethesda at Pike & Rose, the Porsche Studio is being opened by the owner of Porsche Bethesda. The Chevy Chase Porsche Studio is expected to open in late summer 2024.

Bethesda construction update: Bethesda Porsche at Pike & Rose (Photos)

The new Bethesda Porsche dealership building is turning heads on Rockville Pike. Nearing the finish line at Pike & Rose, the new building will house Rockville Porsche, which will move down the Pike and get a name change with even more cache. The curved, modern lines of the building stand out from the typical boxy car dealership you find along the Pike. It does look like a building you might find in the former West Germany, very appropriately. At night, you can get the full effect of the lighting.

Pike & Rose as you've never seen it before (Photos)

Pinstripes building under
construction (at left)

Here's a view you can't likely get of the Phase 2 construction at Federal Realty's Pike & Rose development in North Bethesda, unless you own a drone or a helicopter. These photos were taken by Clark Construction from the tower crane high above the property.

Future apartment building
under construction along
Grand Park Avenue adjacent
to iPic and garage ramp

Porsche dealership under
construction at upper right

REI under construction (top)
on Rockville Pike; solar panels
atop Trade Street Garage
(bottom right)

Photos courtesy Federal Realty

Porsche dealership coming to Pike & Rose

Here's some big retail news from Pike & Rose - the new Federal Realty development will have its own Porsche dealership. Porsche of Rockville will eventually move from its current location it shares with Rockville Audi at 1125 Rockville Pike to a new facility in the northeast corner of Pike & Rose, where the Pike crosses Montrose Parkway.

Unlike the traditional dealerships that have been a fixture along the Pike for decades, Porsche will store all of its inventory and service vehicles within its building, rather than on surface lots. Expect the showroom facilities to be more ample than the urban Ourisman VW/Volvo on Arlington Road, the most recent Bethesda example of an auto dealership leasing in a new urbanist development.

The Porsche dealership is part of Phase 2 at Pike and Rose, the first buildings of which will likely be completed in 2017, with others to follow in 2018. There is no announced moving date for Porsche at this time.

EuroMUSCLEcars! AMERICAN SUPERCARS INVADE EuroMotorcars AT BETHESDA ROW (PHOTOS)

I couldn't help but notice when three of my dream cars appeared at the corner of Bethesda Avenue and Arlington Road.

"Would you like Freedom Fries with that?"

 But what an ironic scene it is!  Three of the finest pieces of American horsepower cooling their wheels, surrounded by sophisticated European sports and luxury cars at Bethesda's venerable EuroMotorcars.

"Cute spoiler, Porsche."

Which dream car would you pick in this lot?

Sure, not many of us would turn down a 911 (although I'm a 928 and 944 man myself when it comes to Porsches), but it's safe to say the Old World sports cars are outpowered and overmatched by the Viper, Corvette and Challenger - even in the faux-European environs of Bethesda Row.