Porsche is now thinking about how to fit petrol engines into models on an electric car platform

Porsche has concluded that people still want petrol cars, while the introduction of electric cars is not going as smoothly as planned. In particular, demand for the electric Taycan has collapsed by 50 per cent globally since the start of 2024. Therefore, the company now plans to invest not only in electric propulsion systems, but also in new internal combustion engines, reported Automotive News Europe, citing Porsche CFO Lutz Meschke.

Here's What We Know

Porsche will focus on petrol engines for the Cayenne and Panamera. Meschke confirmed that the V8 will remain in service at least until the 2030s, including in flagship SUVs. But what's even more interesting: the company is considering equipping future models, initially designed as electric cars, with hybrid or purely petrol engines.

The question remains: how to realise this on an electric platform? Porsche is still thinking about the solution to this challenging technical problem. In the meantime, the most likely candidate for a "petrol kambek" is a three-row SUV, codenamed K1, which is due to debut at the end of the decade and will sit a step above the Cayenne in the Porsche model hierarchy.

What will happen to the rest of the models?

Electric successors to the current 718 Boxster and Cayman are due in 2025, but there's little chance of petrol versions. The first-generation Macan, on the other hand, could get a 'second life' - either as an updated version or even with a new petrol engine. As for the 911, Porsche has no plans to fully electrify the model in the coming years. The series now gets a hybrid GTS version, and a hybrid 911 Turbo is expected in 2024.

Source: Automotive News