It's been a busy week for Porsche, as the all-new 911 finally made its debut at the LA Auto Show. The automaker wasn't quite ready to abandon the previous generation model though, as we also saw the surprise reveal of the track-only 911 GT2 RS. In another surprise, Porsche's Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing, Detlev von Platen, has told Autocar India that an SUV based on the 911 could happen while discussing the future of the iconic sports car.

"The 911 is the center point for all design at Porsche and you will see its influence in other vehicles," von Platen told Autocar India in LA. "But taking the 911 and making an SUV out of it? Taking it higher? That could be a good idea, and of course it won't be a model range but it will be a limited, a very niche product." At this stage, it isn't clear if there have been any internal discussions about a Porsche 911, but these comments suggest it could happen. If it gets the green light for production, it will also mark the first time the 911 has been sold in a different bodystyle.

The idea of a sporty Porsche 911 SUV will undoubtedly rile purists, but it perhaps isn't surprising that the idea is being thrown around. Eyebrows were raised when the Cayenne first launched in 2002, but it practically pioneered the performance SUV segment, and the Macan continues to be Porsche's best-selling model. The new SUV could perhaps be inspired by the jacked-up 911 Safari. Either way, it's clear that performance SUVs are here to stay, as Aston Martin and Ferrari are also jumping on the SUV bandwagon in the next few years .