To say Porsche is going through a rough patch would be quite an understatement. Sales fell by 10 percent last year to 279,449 units, a decline partly driven by a massive 26 percent drop in China. The company also suffered a double-digit loss in Europe, a direct consequence of dropping the gas-fueled Macan in mid-2024 after failing to meet cybersecurity regulations. The 718 Boxster and Cayman were also a no-show on the continent last year for the same reason.
Looking ahead, Porsche has reasons to be optimistic. It’s developing an ICE-powered successor to the original Macan and working on a three-row SUV with combustion engines to slot above the Cayenne. Discontinued globally late last year, the 718 is coming back with gas power, joined by purely electric versions. Yes, those are still happening.
We’re now learning that there could be another car on the way, one that, if approved, would be the most interesting of them all. During the company’s annual press conference earlier today, CEO Michael Leiters suggested that a performance vehicle above the 911 could be possible. The intent is for Porsche to roll out more profitable models to boost Zuffenhausen’s currently hemorrhaging bank accounts:
‘We are considering the expansion of our product portfolio in order to grow in higher-margin segments. In doing so, we are looking at models and derivatives both above our current two-door sports cars and above the Cayenne.’
Separately, we discovered a shadowy silhouette of a car that clearly isn’t a 911. Putting two and two together, perhaps this is what Leiters had in mind. Then again, it suspiciously resembles the 2023 Mission X concept. That said, we can’t say with certainty it’s the same concept presented nearly three years ago, although there are some similarities.
A production version of the Mission X would certainly sit above the 911 in the sports car hierarchy. However, an electric supercar, let alone a hypercar, doesn’t honestly seem like a great idea in 2026. Mate Rimac famously said a couple of years ago that high-end buyers prefer combustion engines rather than EVs, adding that sales of the Nevera weren’t where the company had wanted them to be at the time.
Photo by: Porsche
Why is this relevant? As a refresher, Porsche holds a 45-percent stake in the Bugatti Rimac joint venture, so the higher-ups from Stuttgart are aware of where the market currently stands for electric supercars. Lamborghini knows that as well, having kept gas engines in both the Temerario and Revuelto.
Should a new sports car above the 911 get the green light, an educated guess would be that it would have a gas engine. Porsche’s CEO even says the company is “extending the life of our combustion engine and hybrid offerings,” so the signs are already there. Holding on to ICE for longer will address “customer wishes,” according to Leiters.
In the meantime, Porsche is teasing its 2026 agenda by planning to roll out “emotive new derivatives.” There’s a good chance one of them will be the 911 GT2 RS.
Motor1’s Take: It’s been over a decade since production of the 918 Spyder ended, so a new Porsche flagship certainly can’t come soon enough. However, it’ll likely take a few years, given that the company is only considering a new model above the 911. Even if it gets approved for production, we’re unlikely to see it in the next three to four years.
Perhaps the development time could be shortened by using the Mission X as the basis, although the concept would have to be reworked to accommodate a combustion engine. Either way, it’s great to hear Porsche is thinking about coming after the Ferrari F80 and McLaren W1 to revive the Holy Trinity.
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