- Porsche wanted a higher-margin product positioned above the 911 and Cayenne.
- CEO Michael Leiters said a new model above the 911 is a possibility.
- An SUV bigger than the Cayenne is still on the way.
To say Porsche is going through a rough patch is an understatement. Sales fell 10 percent last year to 279,449 units, a decline partly caused by a massive 26 percent drop in China. The company also suffered double-digit losses in Europe, a direct result of discontinuing the gas-powered Macan in mid-2024 after failing to meet cybersecurity regulations. The 718 Boxster and Cayman were also absent from the continent last year for the same reason.
Looking ahead, Porsche has reason to be optimistic. They are developing an ICE-powered successor to the original Macan and are working on a three-row SUV with a combustion engine to slot above the Cayenne. Discontinued globally at the end of last year, the 718 returns with gas power, followed by a pure electric version. Yes, it still happens.
We now know that there may be another car on the way, which if approved, would be the most exciting of all. During the company’s annual press conference today, CEO Michael Leiters stated that a performance vehicle above the 911 is possible. The aim was for Porsche to launch a more profitable model to boost Zuffenhausen’s currently bleeding bank account:
Photo by: Porsche
“We are considering expanding our product portfolio to grow in higher margin segments. In doing this, we are looking at models and derivatives both above our current two-door sports car and above the Cayenne.”
Separately, we find the shadowy silhouette of a car that is clearly not a 911. Put together, this is probably what Leiters had in mind. However, it is suspiciously similar to the Mission
The production version of the Mission However, an electric supercar, let alone a hypercar, honestly doesn’t seem like a good idea in 2026. Mate Rimac famously said a few years ago that high-end buyers preferred combustion engines over EVs, and added that Nevera sales weren’t where the company wanted it 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 bigwigs from Stuttgart know where the electric supercar market currently stands. Lamborghini knows this too, because it keeps the petrol engine in the Temerario and Revuelto.
If a new sports car above the 911 gets the green light, the guess is that it will have a gas engine. Porsche’s CEO even said the company is “extending the life of our combustion engine and hybrid offerings,” so the signs are there. Keeping ICEs longer would satisfy “customer desires,” according to Leiters.
Meanwhile, Porsche is teasing its 2026 agenda with plans to launch an “emotional new derivative.” There’s a good chance one of them will be the 911 GT2 RS.
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Source: Porsche
Motorcycle Pickup1: It’s been more than a decade since production of the 918 Spyder ended, so a new Porsche flagship certainly can’t come soon enough. However, this will likely take several years, considering the company is only considering new models above the 911. Even if the model is approved for production, we likely won’t see it for another three to four years.
Perhaps development time could be shortened by using the Mission Whatever happens, it’s great to hear Porsche is thinking about pursuing the Ferrari F80 and McLaren W1 to revive the Holy Trinity.
