Porsche Design Chief Breaks Silence: Has The Iconic 911 Lost Its Compact Soul?

The Weight of Progress: A Challenge for Sports Cars

Up until the mid-90s, the 911 was still relatively compact. But with the end of the air-cooled era, we saw some big changes, and the water-cooled 996 carried a longer wheelbase and an overall larger footprint as opposed to the 993-generation that it replaced. However, weight in particular remains the ultimate enemy of a sports car. It saps agility, dulls handling, and throws a wrench into that exhilarating feeling of being one with the machine. The lighter a car is, the quicker it changes direction, the sharper it feels on twisty roads, and the more connected you feel to the driving experience.

Fast forward to the present day and the all-new 992.2 Carrera GTS is a prime example of this trend. Hybrid tech plus all the fancy bells means it weighs in at a hefty 3,536 pounds in rear-wheel-drive form, and a downright obese 3,635 pounds with all-wheel drive. Even the track-focused 911 GT3 RS with all its light-weight carbon-fiber bodywork weighs 3,200 pounds. The most lightweight Porsche 992 today is the 911 S/T, which tips the scales at 3,042 pounds - which is a hefty amount less than the 992 Targa 4 GTS’ 3,847 pounds, the heaviest 911 on sale today.

The design boss admits that a smaller footprint could better serve the 911’s core identity as a sports car. He wants a 911 that’s as compact and lightweight as possible. The challenge lies in balancing customer demands for space and comfort with the brand’s sporting heritage. According to Mauer, automakers today have to adhere to regulations and performance demands.

“Personally, I would love to create a smaller sports car, to see what the possibilities are in terms of packaging” Mauer told the Drive.

The Possibility Of A Compact 911 In The E.V. Era

Now all hope is not lost. Maybe, just maybe, electric tech could come to the rescue someday. Porsche’s 718 Boxster/Cayman, is getting the axe in favor of electric replacements. However, while electric powertrains offer ballistic pace and are great for the environment, they come at a cost. Those lithium-ion battery packs are heavy, and they add a whole new dimension of weight to consider.

Given that a basic lithium-ion battery pack weighs around 700 pounds, don’t expect these E.V. sportscars to be any lighter. It’s going to be an uphill battle to recapture the nimble spirit of the lightweight gasoline-powered sports car in the electric world. However, Mauer is optimistic that advancements in battery technology could eventually allow for smaller, more efficient electric performance cars.

While it remains to be seen whether Porsche will actually follow through with Mauer’s vision, his comments certainly offer a glimpse into the potential direction of the legendary German automaker. As the automotive industry continues to evolve, the desire for smaller, more agile vehicles may become a more prominent trend. Having said that, unless battery packs can achieve the same energy density as gasoline in a significantly smaller package (think solid-state batteries), the likelihood of an all-electric 911 seems distant at this point. It will be the last model in the Porsche lineup to go electric.