Word on the street is that there’s a new project underway at Porsche, and it could bear some mid-engined fruit. This is Motor Authority’s news for Monday, July 7.
It wouldn’t be the first time Porsche investigated going mid-engined to enhance its sports car portfolio, as the Boxster and Cayman are already exactly that—and back in the 1990s, the company even built a secret mid-engined prototype of the 911—for development of the Boxster. And there’s always the 918 Spyder super-hybrid.
If rumors of Porsche’s latest mid-engined super sports car prove true, however, the performance level should blow the Boxster out of the water—and even put the 911 on notice. Though the practicality and iconic status of the 911 will likely keep it safe from the model chopping block even if Porsche builds its rumored mid-engine high-performance car, the car—thought to be code-named 988—could supplant the neunelfer at the top of the brand’s normal-production hierarchy. We may have to wait as late as 2017 to find out, however.
Of course, there have also been rumors--for years now--of an entry-level Porsche roadster that would also be mid-engined--a revival of the 914. While the market may not yet be ready for that car, the upper end of the sports car market has proved remarkably resilient over the past few years, and with Porsche-tuned dynamics and the inherently superior mid-engine layout, Ferrari and the rest of the supercar world may need to pay attention.
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