Porsche Plans New Halo Car and More One-Offs

Porsche has announced it is developing a new mid-engine supercar platform, previewed by a concept called Mission S set to debut on October 15 in Stuttgart. The company says this architecture will allow for a model line positioned above the 911, marking Porsche’s return to the hypercar segment. CEO Michael Leiters, who took over in January, presented the plan as part of Sportwagenschmiede 35, a new strategy focused on sports cars, exclusivity, and craftsmanship.

Leiters inherited a difficult situation after profits dropped sharply in 2025, following heavy investment in electric vehicles and challenging conditions in China and the United States. He now aims to restore profitability by reducing costs, streamlining operations, and focusing on high-margin vehicles. Leiters said the strategy would “lay the groundwork to make Porsche significantly more efficient, productive and profitable,” and emphasized that “the 911 will never be electric.”

The Mission S concept will preview a combustion-powered, mid-engined super-sports car. Leiters confirmed that the new model will not be directly based on existing supercars from sister brands, though some parts may be shared. A teaser video released by Porsche shows a tachometer climbing to 8,000 rpm and extending gauges, but the company has not confirmed the powertrain. Early reports suggest the possibility of a flat-eight engine paired with a quick-shifting PDK gearbox, and hybridization hasn’t been ruled out. The last Porsche halo car, the 918 Spyder, paired a V8 with electric motors, while the Carrera GT and 959 preceded it.

Porsche Design Studio building with a Porsche car parked in front — Photo: Porsche-Design / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

Before the Mission S, Porsche will launch the electric successor to the 718 Boxster and Cayman in 2027, which will be available only as EVs. Leiters stated that previous plans for gasoline-powered high-performance 718 models have been scrapped. The 718 EV will serve as Porsche’s entry-level sports car, with sales expected to begin in the United States late next year.

In 2028, Porsche will introduce a new compact SUV with internal combustion and hybrid options, to be sold alongside the electric Macan. Leiters referred to the new model as a Macan and confirmed it’s being developed with Audi. Porsche is also exploring a larger SUV positioned above the Cayenne, aimed at the D and E segments, and hasn’t ruled out gas and plug-in hybrid versions.

Porsche’s value-over-volume approach will see a reduction in model variants by about 20 percent and a focus on raising the average selling price of its top-end models by 20 percent. The company plans to increase sales from its Sonderwunsch program sixfold in the mid-term, with 15 one-off projects underway, priced from $1.8 million to $15 million. Porsche will also expand its heritage services, recommissioning classic models such as the Carrera GT, with recent projects costing between $506,000 and $845,000 before the price of the car.

Collaboration with Manthey Racing will deepen, as Porsche increases its stake to 67 percent. Manthey will develop more limited-production vehicles, both street-legal and track-only, with the GT2 RS Clubsport 25 cited as an example. Porsche will also expand its ultra-limited-run ‘few-off’ models, and the highest price paid for a Sonderwunsch car has exceeded €13 million.

Porsche aims to lower development costs by up to 20 percent and sales and marketing costs by 20 percent, with a target to reduce materials costs for new projects by 10 percent. The company’s goal is to achieve a group operating return on sales of 9 to 12 percent in the medium term, rising to 15 percent in the long term. The magazine has also looked at Porsche’s Hybrid 911 launch and a rare Porsche racing car at auction.