718 Cayman GT4

Make
Porsche
Segment
Coupe

In the coming years, the world will be graced with several electric hypercars producing over 2,000 horsepower. Let that sink in for a moment. Among these electrified monsters will be the Lotus Evija, which is set to begin production soon, the Rimac C_Two, and the Pininfarina Battista. These are all fairly niche brands, so it begs the question: when will a more recognizable brand like Porsche will enter this electric hypercar segment? Speaking with Autocar over the phone (because Geneva was canceled), design chief Michael Mauer expressed disinterest in competing with these electric hypercars.

"I think now it is so challenging with the weight of batteries to find the best compromise of performance, drivability, lower weight," Mauer explained. "These hypercars are not only heavy, they are very much driven by aerodynamics, so they end up looking very similar. There is also the fact that the engine is not a big deal anymore, and therefore I would love to do something different."

So what exactly does Mauer mean when he says something different?

"What I personally find very challenging is not to have another hypercar with 2000 hp, but for the Porsche brand to look into something smaller, something lighter, with more of a drivability focus," he said. This statement seems to reinforce earlier rumors that Porsche pushed back its 918 successor because battery technology wasn't at the appropriate stage.

Instead, Porsche's next hypercar will likely use F1 technology like the Aston Martin Valkyrie and Mercedes-AMG One. Such a car wouldn't arrive until after 2023, which means, for now, the company can focus on building purist driver's cars like the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4.

As for the company's current electric portfolio, Mauer predicted that as consumers demand more electric range, we will see "much smaller cars, lower cars, more efficient aerodynamics. You can question how long this hype of SUVs will continue," Mauer added, referring the upcoming Taycan Cross Turismo as a vehicle with SUV practicality paired with a sleeker shape.