Wait for Porsche 918 Follow-Up?

Porsche Hypercar Not Before 2028

The Taycan EV has been a notable triumph for Porsche and the Macan EV is approaching its grand revealing, however, it appears that building an electrified supercar following the pattern of the 918 Spyder is exhibiting to be more problematic. MotorTrend has divulged that putting together such a car could take five to six years’ worth of work. Consequently leading to the reveal of the project not occurring before 2028. Barely two years ahead of Porsche’s goal for 80% of their delivered vehicles to be EVs.

Two years ago, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume ignited dreams that a new 918 edition may manifest by the year 2025; he maintained this prediction in one conversing in December 2023. However, Blume declared last year that battery science has not yet progressed to meeting the provisos of a hypercar. In this type of automobile power storage, the necessity exceeds that of a common auto, and progress continues as experts create it.

“We are in the process of creating our own [next-gen battery] cell,” stated Michael Steiner, who is a part of Porsche’s executive board for development and research. “With [our subsidiary] company, Cellforce Group, we have samples [of such batteries] in the same size cells we use for the existing Taycan. This is not merely a research project, it is a reality. We are certain that within the next two years, we will demonstrate what can be done with some of these cells in our series-production cars.”

If we were to expect these high-density batteries in mass-produced motor vehicles within a couple of years, then why is the prospect of an electric-powered hypercar still so distant? The straightforward answer is that the battery packs need a further evolution before they can be installed in such powerful automobiles.

“The battery technology needs to be pushed forward in order for us to have a glimpse of what could be done with top-of-the-line cars using special cells,” said Steiner. “Once we reach a level of volumetric energy density that is suitable for supercars, there is a chance to demonstrate what could be achieved in terms of performance on the road. I have an idea for such a car, however, we need to make some improvements on the tech side for it to make sense.”

Still, Steiner declared that progress is being made on the Hypercar idea, adding that it has not yet entered into the series production period. Thus, Porsche followers who are wishing for something to rival the Lotus Evija or Pininfarina Battista will have to stay patient.

But will the 918’s successor even be a full EV? That has yet to be confirmed, although Blume did say previously that the “battery will be the cylinder of tomorrow,” a statement which doesn’t sound like it leaves room for an internal combustion engine. Another possibility is eFuels, something Porsche is still exploring. The question remains if this technology could be used in a hypercar.

At the current moment, we should not attempt to get our anticipations elevated about a 918 Spyder eventual replacement until Porsche declares something far more secure. Nonetheless, we can take some easing from the point that the plan hasn’t been forgotten about at all.