Porsche to reveal new combustion supercar concept on Thursday

At the same time, the firm is aiming to rework its engineering and operations to become leaner, helping to lower its break-even point to below 200,000 units through reduced development costs and a significant reduction in both management positions and the overall workforce.

Leiters said that the overall goal is to “reinforce Porsche as one of the world’s most desirable sports car manufacturers”.

Model revamp: super-sports car, new SUVs

Leiters confirmed that the firm is considering a new mid-engined super-sports car that would sit above the legendary 911 – and said that model would be offered purely with combustion powertrains. Further details were not forthcoming, but Leiters said that “we are developing a super-sports car platform”, and said the car would not be directly based on a mid-engined supercar from sister brands Lamborghini or Porsche – although some parts could be shared by leveraging brand synergies. A concept car, named Mission S, is due to be revealed on 15 October.

Porsche has also confirmed that it will launch a new combustion-powered SUV that will sit alongside the Macan Electric. Arriving in 2028, the new model will feature pure-petrol and hybrid powertrains, and will sit on a VW Group platform. As Autocar has previously reported, the model will use the PPC platform and be twinned with the Audi Q5 (as imagined by Autocar below).

Arriving in 2027 will be the next-generation 718 Boxster and Cayman, which will now be launched purely as electric models, with Porsche abandoning plans to rework the new architecture developed for them to accept combustion engines.

Meanwhile, Porsche is pressing ahead with plans for a new combustion-powered large SUV that will sit above the Cayenne and be focused on the lucrative US market. Overall, Porsche is aiming for the higher-end ‘D/E segment’ models to account for around 45% of its portfolio.

More variants and high-end focus 

Leiters also confirmed that Porsche was working on plans for new “highly emotional derivatives” of the 911, which will sit at the higher end of the range. And while Porsche will continue to expand its electric offerings, Leiters said: “I can assure you, the 911 will never be electric.”

As part of its value over volume strategy, Porsche is aiming to increase the average selling price of its range-topping variants by around 20% – but Leiters insisted that would be achieved not simply by putting the price up, but by adding value to those models for customers. The goal is then to increase sales of each derivative by around 30%.

That includes an expansion of its Heritage Design offerings, limited-edition Manufaktur models and Sonderwunsch customisation programme, along with more limited-edition models from Porsche-owned tuning firm Manthey. Porsche will also expand its ultra-limited-run ‘few-off’ models, with the firm revealing that the highest price paid for a fully bespoke car developed by Sonderwunsch was more than €13 million (£11 million).

Porsche recently showed off the potential of the Sonderwunsch programme with the one-off Flachbau RS.

Leiters said: “We will focus on cars that truly define the Porsche brand. In every segment, we want to offer the sportiest car.”

The goal is that, by 2030, the firm will launch “at least one brand-defining new product” every year.

Operational revamp

As well as overhauling its product line-up, Porsche is also making significant business and operational changes to achieve the goal of lowering its break-even point and make the firm more able to compete with rivals.

The target is to reduce development costs for future models by up to 20%, which will be achieved through shorter development times, a more modular development process, reduced complexity and greater use of simulation software and AI.

Despite that, Porsche will continue to invest in a range of powertrain technology, including multiple combustion engines, hybrids and plug-in hybrids, and full battery-electric.

Porsche is also aiming to reduce personnel costs by around 30%, and sales and distribution costs by around 20%, with the latter in part achieved by restructuring from five sales regions to four. Porsche has divested its ownership or investment in several companies too, including its share in Bugatti-Rimac, the MHP consulting firm and its e-bike business. Porsche believes those measures will allow it to focus better on its core business. 

The firm will dramatically cut management positions by around 40%, with a medium-term target to reduce its workforce by 30%. This will include job reductions at both its Zuffenhausen and Leipzig plants. A Future Package that has been agreed with unions will account for a "socially responsible reduction" of 9000 jobs.

Globally, Porsche is aiming to balance its market shares, and Leiters said that the firm will not push to regain sales in China, which used to be its largest market. Instead, Porsche is aiming for the Americas and Europe to each account for around 35% of its sales, with China and other markets accounting for around 15% each.

The target is to achieve a group operating return on sales of 9% to 12% in the medium term, increasing to 15% in the long term.