Porsche 356e Electric Powered Sports Coupe

While the Cayman GT4 does a fine job maintaining Porsche's traditions in the 21st century, it’s cars like the 918 Spyder that point the way to the future. And like it or not, electrification, be that through hybrid, plug-in hybrid, pure-battery or fuel-cell solutions, is here to stay.

Porsche has shown a remarkable ability to quickly adapt to changing times and tastes, all while keeping its core values alive – granted, sometimes more (911, Cayman), sometimes far less (Cayenne, Panamera). 

That said, it's in Porsche DNA to present a pure-electric powered model at some point in the very near future, but the question is, what will that model be? 

Perhaps Porsche could follow Audi's example and electrify one of its existing models such as the 911 or even the Panamera, or they could go all BMW i8 on us and create a dedicated EV from the ground up, which frankly, does sound like something Stuttgart would do. 

Bez Dimitri, a freelance designer who graduated from the ENSAAMA in Paris, France, prefers the second scenario, so he came up with a proposal for a standalone, pure-electric Porsche model named 356e. 

Dimitri tells us that the study combines a back-to-basics approach inspired by the classic 356 small sports car with a modern Porsche design twist. About the hump at the back, Dimitri explains that the "elevated rear volume houses the batteries and the motor". 

What say you about a small electric-powered Porsche sports coupe?

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Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

Porsche is about to add a 7th model to its line-up, with the final decision to be taken by the board still pending.

“In the not too distant future, we will present a seventh model line. There are already promising plans, but no board decision yet”, Matthias Mueller, CEO of Porsche, said at Porsche’s annual press conference.

Porsche didn’t go into details though about what kind of model is under development. During the past months, several rumors have emerged talking about an mid-engined supercar, slotted between the 911 and the 918 to rival the likes of Ferrari and Mclaren, a smaller than the Panamera four-door or a shooting brake variant of the next Panamera. But the most intriguing one is about an all-electric model.

We can only speculate about this new model might be, but if you read carefully VW Group’s latest movements and follow the facts so far, it makes good sense if Porsche is indeed preparing an electric model. After the reveal of the electric R8 e-Tron and after the news that Audi is preparing an electric crossover (and not a sedan as they implied at first), an all-electric sedan from Porsche to take on Tesla’s Model S sounds nothing like a bad idea. 

Porsche is enjoying one of the largest profit margins in the industry, even though it reduced from 18% to 15.8% last year, mostly due to the Macan and the cost of adding it in the line-up. 

Porsche’s focus will remain in handling and powertrains, making clear that is not interested in offering the latest in in-car connectivity and automated driving. According to Mueller, Porsche’s clients “don’t want a smartphone on four wheels or the biggest touchscreen in the center console. At Porsche there’s no room for window dressing.”

Note: Future 928 Rendering and Sport Turismo concept pictured 

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Porcshe Panamera Mistrale and Cayenne Tornado by Gemballa

Both the Tornado and the Mistrale feature a heavily customized body with unique front and rear ends, and an array of bespoke aero parts. According to the German tuning house, the new components not only change the appearance of the two Porsche models, but also help reduce weight.

The sheetmetal changes on the outside are complemented by a set of newly styled 22-inch alloy wheels, which are said to have the same weight as the original 20-inch rims from Porsche.

Gemballa offers a variety of customizations for both interiors, ranging from carbon-fiber trim and seats finished in a mix of alcantara and leather to high-end infotainment systems.

There’s plenty of magic under the hood as well with Gemballa offering two different engine kits for the V8 Turbo models. The Stage 1 kit boosts output to 580HP on the Cayenne-based Tornado and to 600HP with 850Nm (626 lb-ft) of torque on the Panamera-based Mistrale.Power hungry customers can also opt for a Stage 2 package, which gives both cars 700HP, and around 1,000Nm (738 lb-ft) of torque.

In celebration of its 30th anniversary this year, the German company decided to limit production of the Tornado and Mistrale models to 30 units each.

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Porsche Panamera Turbo S (2011)

Under the hood, power will reportedly be provided by a twin-turbo 4.8-liter V8 engine that develops 550 PS (405 kW / 542 hp) and over 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque. This should enable the hatchback to accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 3.8 seconds and hit a top speed in excess of 188 mph (303 km/h).

If the reports are correct, the Panamera Turbo S will start arriving at dealerships in late June or early July.

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