Bangkok. An Electrifying City.

Bangkok and Porsche. It’s an infectious, inspiring, and yet irresistibly natural combination—as demonstrated by Sihabutr “Tenn” Xoomsai and his Asian cult event Das Treffen. Under Tenn’s direction, the community has been gathering once a year for the past four years. The filmmaker and journalist organizes the event for Porsche drivers and fans from all around Southeast Asia. On hand for the first time in December 2019: the new, all-electric Porsche Taycan Turbo. Tenn in the Taycan, the Taycan in Bangkok. Electrifying.

Bangkok is thrumming outside—loud, colorful, moved by a rock-around-the-clock ethos—but we begin with a polite “Hello!” at the front door. An attentive glance through the windows of a striking pair of glasses meets our gaze. Sihabutr Xoomsai quickly runs his fingers through his tousled locks, almost bashfully, and then waves us in with a sweeping gesture: “Come on in. Something to drink?” This is manifestly the home of someone who likes art and architecture, masculine coolness, and the air of stylish nonchalance. With its glass elements, steel structures, and exposed brick walls, the home of “Tenn,” as friends, colleagues, and associates of the filmmaker and journalist call him, could easily be in the Hollywood Hills.

Having noticed our sidelong glance into the open garage, the grinning Tenn stays put, casually leaning against the wall with crossed arms. “I seem to have a thing for Porsche; there’s no denying it.” He laughs: “I currently have a few friends’ 911s here—the yellow 993 GT2, for example—but the 911 short-wheelbase is mine, as is the 997 Carrera S. There’s generally a lot of coming and going here.” Tenn has already moved on to the living room, where he’s looking at a silver 930 in a glass case that has levitated from the entrance area by means of a lift system. “It took a while before my wife agreed, but now I can actually wash cars in the living room,” Tenn says with a sly wink. “I must be crazy.” No, not really.

Indeed, his story doesn’t sound crazy at all. There’s an irresistible logic to it. Born in Bangkok in August 1970, he attended high school in the United States and later studied filmmaking there. Not quite twenty at the time, Tenn was in Bangkok over the summer when one of his father’s friends stopped by for a visit, but not alone—he had come in a Porsche 911 Carrera. Color: Amethyst Metallic. Built: 1991. Tenn recalls every detail, every moment. “At some point, he tossed me the key to his Porsche and said: ‘Why don’t you go grab us some beer?’ I could hardly believe my luck. I took off right away before he could reconsider and when I got to the store, I had forgotten the money. So I had to drive to and fro again.” What a pity. Tenn grins. “I’ll remember every moment forever. The sound. The feeling. But what really stuck with me was this: the Porsche spirit isn’t an exclusionary thing, not exclusive. As a true fan, you want to share that excitement. Porsche is for everyone.”

Pause. Reflect. Enjoy. Then Tenn hops up with a slap of the thighs and says, “Should we head out? I’m really excited.” The reason for his excitement is down below in the entryway. White, electric, powerful: the Taycan Turbo. This drive, too, is shared in a spirit of brotherhood. Tenn gets to experience the Taycan, and we get to experience Bangkok. Fair deal.

It’s time to keep driving; there’s no question about that. Bangkok has us in its grip. The white car whispers away, sailing through the dusk into a city of dazzling lights. It transforms into incandescent energy for the elapse of a quick sprint. Tenn shakes his head in wonder. “This car is a such a good fit for this city, with its contrasts between traditional temples and stark modernity. The Taycan is exactly the same, an incredible mix of familiar feelings and totally new inspiration.” Tenn closes his eyes for a moment, seemingly chasing another image. “Doing video shoots back in the day, you’d have Bangkok to yourself after three or four in the morning. It’s different now. Bangkok is never tired. The Taycan feels similar. It’s always on. Wide awake.”