Porsche outlines turnaround plan: mid‑engine flagship, bigger SUVs and a petrol Macan
Porsche has mapped a multi‑year strategy under Sportwagenschmiede ’35 that includes a mid‑engine supercar, electric 718s, larger SUVs, a gasoline Macan and aggressive cost cuts to restore margins.
By CarNews247 Reporter ·
Porsche has set out a turnaround plan that adds new product lines and widespread cost cutting after a collapse in profitability that left the company with a 1 percent margin in 2025.
The move follows wider trouble at parent Volkswagen Group, which now expects a slim 1 percent margin in 2026 after taking $11.5 billion in charges tied to worker buyouts and China market weakness, plus a $6.9 billion write‑down on its 75 percent stake in Porsche.
Michael Leiters, chairman of the executive board of Porsche AG, is prioritising new models and tighter spending controls. His plans include a mid‑engine sports car positioned above the 911, larger SUVs, the return of a gasoline‑powered Macan and rapid cost reductions across the business.
Under the Sportwagenschmiede ’35 strategy, which began in January, Porsche is simplifying its lineup by removing variants and eliminating overlap while adding new segments and more 911 derivatives. The company also intends to focus more on core regions — Europe and North America — and aims to increase share in those markets by 35 percent.
Porsche plans to introduce at least one new vehicle each year as part of the programme.
Mid‑engine supercar and the Mission S concept
Porsche has developed a mid‑engine super sports‑car architecture and will unveil a concept called the Mission S on October 15. The model line is intended to become a new flagship sitting above the 911; powertrain details have not been disclosed.
The company’s last dedicated supercar was the 918 Spyder, a plug‑in hybrid that finished production more than a decade ago.
Electrified 718s and technical platforms
Electric versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman are due next year after a delay caused by the need to replace a key supplier. They will use Porsche’s E‑Core powertrain architecture, which is available to the Volkswagen Group, and will incorporate an 800‑volt electrical system developed by Porsche’s joint venture with Rivian.
Where the electric 718s will be built will be decided on financial grounds, with a couple of European plants under consideration.
Porsche is also placing product bets beyond pure electrification: the plan includes larger SUVs and a return to a petrol Macan as the company rebalances its offering.
The report also notes a broader industry context: Audi is developing a 1,001‑hp mid‑engine hybrid, the Nuvolari, for 2028 as a limited run related to Lamborghini’s hybrid architecture.
Cost cutting is a central plank of Porsche’s approach, with the company said to be cutting expenses “pretty much everywhere” as it reshapes the business to improve margins.
