Porsche Mission S teased as new 918 supercar successor
The Porsche lineup of high-performance vehicles is soon set to expand, headlined by a supercar which will be previewed by the Mission S concept.
Porsche is plotting a return to form, announcing the upcoming unveiling of the Mission S concept vehicle, widely expected to become its next flagship supercar.
Due to be revealed on October 16 Australian time, Porsche has said little about the Mission S, outside of claiming it’ll be “our tribute to the sports car”, as well as a homage to the vision of founder Ferry Porsche.
In a separate media release, Porsche said its upcoming product plan includes “more exclusive halo products and flagship derivatives: Porsche announces the development of a mid-engined super sports car platform that will enable a model line that sits above the iconic 911 sports car”.
At present, details are slim, however last month insiders told German publication Handelsblatt the flagship production model – reportedly codenamed S1 – will be powered by a flat-eight engine, representing the first time Porsche has done so in a production car.
Porsche’s most recent successful attempt at a flat-eight was in the Porsche 908 race car of the late 1960s, though since then its boxer engines haven’t ventured higher than a six-cylinder count.
Earlier this month, Automotive News reported the next Porsche supercar would likely use the platform of the Lamborghini Temerario and Audi Nuvolari to save costs.
The Temerario was unveiled in 2024 and launched last year as the new ‘baby’ Lamborghini supercar, taking the place of the V10 Huracan, now with a twin-turbo V8 engine and plug-in hybrid system.
With a supercar platform already existing, it’s an easier business case for Porsche to create a supercar, given the reduced development costs and time, however it has traditionally gone its own way for its flagships.
Jordan Mulach
The 959 (twin-turbo flat-six), Carrera GT (V10) and 918 Spyder (V8 hybrid) were all bespoke vehicles, sharing next to no parts with other models from the Volkswagen Group, or even from within the Porsche model range.
Like its spiritual predecessors, the Porsche S1 is expected to borrow design cues from the 911, which remains the brand’s poster car.
The Mission S teaser campaign has coincided with Porsche announcing an upcoming product offensive to get back on track financially, which will be centred around its famed sports cars.
Jordan Mulach
For the 911, long its most recognisable product, Porsche says the sports car’s offering “will be strengthened with highly emotive 911 derivatives,” expected to include a new-gen GT2 RS and even a turbocharged GT3.
On top of this, Porsche has finally issued an official timeline for the start of production of the electric 718 Boxster and Cayman models, now due to launch in 2028, about two years after they were initially due in 2026.
At the same time, it plans to launch a new petrol and plug-in hybrid Macan-sized SUV, having recently made its best-selling product an EV, resulting in a drop in sales.
Jordan Mulach
