Will Porsche's Upcoming Flagship Halo Hypercar Take The N/A, Hybrid, Or EV Route? - story Go to full screen story Fullscreen

Will Porsche's Upcoming Flagship Halo Hypercar Take The N/A, Hybrid, Or EV Route?

With changing market trends and a slowdown in EV sales, we wonder if Porsche will follow through with its all-electric Mission X concept or consider alternative power plants instead

by Amreetam Basu on October 28, 2024, 10:00

When it comes to exotic rides, everyone’s talking about how eventful 2024 has been so far, and they’re probably right! But here’s the thing: I consider the whole of 2024 to be very special. The all-new, giant V16-powered Bugatti Tourbillon, the successor to the Chiron, debuted earlier in April. Then Lamborghini blew us away with the Temerario, the Huracan successor, showcasing how a twin-turbo V8 hybrid can replace that epic naturally-aspirated V10.

More recently, in October, McLaren and Ferrari dropped two bombshells – the W1 and the F80. Normally, I’d be thrilled for the next few days, geeking about the latest hypercars with my friends and even getting a couple of posters for my bedroom. But when the honeymoon phase was over, something would feel...off.

A decade ago, I was just a kid, oblivious to the "holy trinity" hype. But now, knowing the history of these epic hypercar showdowns, it feels like something’s missing. This time around, the stakes are higher, the technology is crazier, and frankly, the anticipation is killing me. That’s where my worry comes in. Porsche teased us with the Mission X concept last year, calling it the spiritual successor to the 918 Spyder. It looked insane, but since then…crickets. No spy shots, no leaked specs, and nothing from the rumor mill either. It’s like the German automaker has gone completely dark on this front.

So, what’s the deal? Is Porsche secretly cooking up something even wilder than we can imagine? Will it be an EV like the Mission X hinted at? Or maybe a hybrid masterpiece to follow in the 918’s footsteps? Could they be going all-out with a combustion engine to really shake things up? Let’s dive into the possibilities and see what might be hiding in Porsche’s secret labs...

The Mission X Concept Showcases The Next Chapter Of Porsche’s All-Electric Hypercar

It has to, right? Porsche unveiled the Mission X electric hypercar concept in 2023, which is indicated to be the successor to the first-ever plug-in hybrid hypercar, the 918 Spyder. Porsche celebrated its 75th anniversary with the hypercar’s unveiling and has stayed quiet since then, and we still know nothing about the production date. Also, here’s why I think there’s a high chance that Mission X could head to production because it features insane specs.

The doors swing upwards like a spaceship (they’re called Le Mans-style doors if you wanna be fancy). Porsche even says the Mission X hugs the road tighter than a 992.1 911 GT3 RS. For your reference, the 992.1 911 GT3 RS can produce a whopping 1,896 pounds of downforce at 177mph!

Will Porsche's Upcoming Flagship Halo Hypercar Take The N/A, Hybrid, Or EV Route? Exterior storyboard - image 100771

So, if Porsche says the Mission X Concept produces more downforce, the carmaker might have pulled off an architectural wizardry. While Porsche has been somewhat secretive about all the techy stuff, here’s the lowdown. The battery pack is tucked behind the seats, just like the engine in the Carrera GT and the 918 Spyder.

Porsche hinted that the battery might not be as big as the ones you find in, say, the updated Taycan. But don’t worry, this thing will still be insanely fast. Porsche claims it has an insane power-to-weight ratio of one horsepower per 2.2 pounds. Get this: the Mission X concept features a super-fast charging system. We’re talking 900 volts! That means you can charge it up to 80 percent in about 20 minutes.

Is Porsche stupid enough to go the EV route when McLaren and Ferrari haven’t?

Will Porsche's Upcoming Flagship Halo Hypercar Take The N/A, Hybrid, Or EV Route? storyboard - image 195820

Lately, it seems like getting people excited about fully electric hypercars is a bit of a challenge. Take Rimac, for example. The company is having a tough time selling all 150 of its Nevera electric hypercars, and it might even start making gas-powered cars again! It’s not just them. Bugatti, Pagani, and Lamborghini have all said they don’t think there’s enough demand for electric supercars and hypercars just yet.

So, even though Porsche hasn’t officially said anything, I wouldn’t be surprised if the German automaker is starting to have second thoughts about making its next hypercar all-electric, especially when McLaren and Ferrari aren’t taking the EV route just yet, for their halo hypercars. Remember, while much of their lineup is being electrified, Porsche themselves have back-tracked on their strategy of going all-electric by 2030.

That Doug Demuro video about the Carrera GT and those free tire sets? That’s an interesting one! It does make you wonder if Porsche is subtly reaching out to its most loyal hypercar fans for some valuable feedback. Maybe Porsche is thinking, "Hey, these are the people who know what a real Porsche hypercar should feel like. Let’s pick their brains and make sure we get this right!"

Will Porsche's Upcoming Flagship Halo Hypercar Take The N/A, Hybrid, Or EV Route? Exterior storyboard - image 100768

I wouldn’t be surprised if those free tires came with a little questionnaire attached or maybe even an invitation to some exclusive test drives (overkill I know) down the line. Maybe the delay isn’t just about figuring out the whole electric hypercar thing. Maybe Porsche is taking a step back, listening to its biggest fans, and fine-tuning its plans to deliver the ultimate hypercar experience. Honestly, that’s pretty cool. It shows that the automaker really cares about getting it right and that it values the opinions of the people who truly appreciate its masterpieces.

However, the million-dollar question remains: Will Porsche choose true combustion or hybrid power over all-electric propulsion? Well, a pure combustion engine is out of the question unless it’s Porsche’s more efficient, patented six-stroke engine. As for choosing a hybrid powertrain, Porsche has to come up with something radical, like what Ferrari did with the F80, which incorporates an electrified turbo V6 and a trio of electric motors. This setup makes the F80 the first Ferrari hypercar with all-wheel-drive, arguably.

Will Porsche's Upcoming Flagship Halo Hypercar Take The N/A, Hybrid, Or EV Route? storyboard - image 197035

Therefore, Porsche’s next hypercar needs radical technology. Porsche did showcase the 919 Hybrid Street concept (seen above) back in 2017. Based on its Le Mans-winning LMP1 race car, it packs a 2.0-liter V4 gas engine coupled to a 400-horsepower electric motor for a combined 900 horsepower. Could the once-abandoned 919 Hybrid Street be brought back online? This could be focused on efficiency or pure performance. While a hybrid V10 with e-motors would be the dream, that’s a dream that, sadly, might never come true!

Amreetam Basu

Amreetam Basu

While Amreetam hustles during the week, free time means one thing: hitting the open road. He dreams of cruising the Alps in a German masterpiece – a Porsche 992 911 GT3 RS or an F87 BMW M2 would be ideal! This 26-year-old automotive journalist loves every part of the job. Read full bio