It looks like the next-generation Porsche 718 will be offered with a petrol engine after all. Previously touted to be an electric-only sports car by Porsche CEO Oliver Blume, Stuttgart has apparently pulled the handbrake on its full electrification plans for the model.
Revealed in an investor call last week, Blume said that the “strategic realignment” is in response to a “clear drop in demand” for electric vehicles – particularly in markets like China. The EV will still be coming, although it’s been pushed back from mid-2020s to around 2030.
Porsche did not reveal much of its plans, aside from a single line in its presentation stating “top ICE derivatives for new 718”. This could mean that hardcore models such as the RS and GT4 RS will continue to be powered by internal combustion engines, while the electric drivetrain would cover the rest of the entry versions.
This strategic U-turn from Porsche will also affect its upcoming flagship three-row SUV positioned above the Porsche Cayenne, currently known internally by the codename ‘K1’.
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This “New D-SUV” model was initially set to be an EV-only model, to be built on a redeveloped “Sports” version of the Volkswagen Group’s electric-only Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). But as a result of the strategic shift, the SUV will now launch exclusively with petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains instead.
According to Blume, the SSP Sport platform has now been postponed until “well into the 2030s”. The strategic pivot will come at a significant cost for Porsche, resulting in a EUR1.8 billion hit to its finances.
Despite these major changes, Porsche has confirmed that some of its electrification plans remain on track. The all-new electric Porsche Cayenne, for instance, is still slated for launch by the end of 2025. Additionally, the company reaffirmed that plans for a new Macan-sized, ICE-powered SUV are proceeding, with a launch scheduled for 2028, to be sold alongside the electric-only Macan.
This new compact B-segment SUV, reportedly codenamed ‘M1’, will be based on the same platform as the Audi Q5, and feature both ICE and PHEV powertrains. In a significant move, it is also expected to use Audi’s front-biased all-wheel-drive system, rather than a unique rear-biased setup independently developed by Porsche, as was the case with the current Porsche Macan.
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