Photo: Porsche
Porsche is reportedly preparing a new model, which will be placed above the 911.
According to reports, Porsche’s 2019 surprise is a model called 960, which is expected to be a mid-engined supercar.
It will rival the Ferrari 488 GTB equivalent of that year, and will be less expensive than the flagship 918 Spyder. We are talking about Porsche’s competitively priced McLaren 650S rival.
The 960 name came about after Porsche quietly applied for a trademark last year, which they received in September, Car Magazine recalls.
Naturally, Porsche representatives denied all comments regarding a potential future project, and preferred to say that the trademark was “preserving the nameplate identity and combinations they did not have.”
In other words, Porsche officials stated that they would not necessarily build the 960, but they would like to hold on to the name in case they change their minds.
Since the mid-engined supercar is expected to be launched in 2019, we expect Porsche to not talk about this model for a few more years.
But before releasing the rumored 960, the automaker is currently working on the next-generation 911. Their iconic sports car is more important than anything else, even though it does not achieve the same sales volumes as other models, like the Cayenne and Macan SUVs.
The 960 will probably be a limited-edition model, so that Porsche would raise more money from the sale of each unit and generate higher exclusivity by limiting production. It is estimated that Porsche might build around three or four thousand units of the 960 across the model’s lifetime. That is more than the 918 Spyder’s production numbers, but enough to tap into a new market segment for them.
For now, there is no word on what kind of engine will be used in the 960 range. Most likely, the German carmaker will not stick to a naturally aspirated power plant in their mid-engined supercar, but choose instead a turbocharged flat-six. There’s always the possibility of a V8, but that might bring power figures too close to the 918 Spyder.
We would not exclude a hybrid powertrain for this car, as it is expected to launch right before Europe gets stricter emission regulations. Porsche will have to comply with those, and cannot afford to build a car with massive emission figures, so a hybrid could also be on the table of the development team.
It will rival the Ferrari 488 GTB equivalent of that year, and will be less expensive than the flagship 918 Spyder. We are talking about Porsche’s competitively priced McLaren 650S rival.
The 960 name came about after Porsche quietly applied for a trademark last year, which they received in September, Car Magazine recalls.
Naturally, Porsche representatives denied all comments regarding a potential future project, and preferred to say that the trademark was “preserving the nameplate identity and combinations they did not have.”
In other words, Porsche officials stated that they would not necessarily build the 960, but they would like to hold on to the name in case they change their minds.
Since the mid-engined supercar is expected to be launched in 2019, we expect Porsche to not talk about this model for a few more years.
But before releasing the rumored 960, the automaker is currently working on the next-generation 911. Their iconic sports car is more important than anything else, even though it does not achieve the same sales volumes as other models, like the Cayenne and Macan SUVs.
The 960 will probably be a limited-edition model, so that Porsche would raise more money from the sale of each unit and generate higher exclusivity by limiting production. It is estimated that Porsche might build around three or four thousand units of the 960 across the model’s lifetime. That is more than the 918 Spyder’s production numbers, but enough to tap into a new market segment for them.
For now, there is no word on what kind of engine will be used in the 960 range. Most likely, the German carmaker will not stick to a naturally aspirated power plant in their mid-engined supercar, but choose instead a turbocharged flat-six. There’s always the possibility of a V8, but that might bring power figures too close to the 918 Spyder.
We would not exclude a hybrid powertrain for this car, as it is expected to launch right before Europe gets stricter emission regulations. Porsche will have to comply with those, and cannot afford to build a car with massive emission figures, so a hybrid could also be on the table of the development team.
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