Porsche Will Continue Selling ICE Sports Cars Well into the 2030s

Porsche dropped several fascinating tidbits of information after it announced its financial results for the 2024 fiscal year. The brand confirmed that it will continue selling a gasoline-powered version of some cars in its range well into the 2030s, which seemingly suggests that the 718 duo might not go entirely electric. It also announced plans to expand the 911 range, and it said it’s debating whether to launch a third SUV.

“[Our] customers will still be able to choose between combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and all-electric drivetrains in every vehicle segment well into the 2030s,” Porsche wrote. While that’s not an unequivocal confirmation that the gasoline-burning 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman will live on, it’s certainly one hell of a hint. Reading between the lines does suggest that the statement about internal combustion mostly applies to the sports cars in Porsche’s range rather than their SUVs—we’ve reached out to Porsche for confirmation, particularly about the 718.

If that’s accurate, it’s significant. It’s been widely believed that the 718 was ditching the flat engine and adopting an electric powertrain in the not-too-distant future. Porsche’s comments also confirm that the flat-six-powered 911 will live on, which we already knew, and the brand shed light on what’s next for the model. The range will grow with at least two variants. One will “revive the style of the 1970s via a heritage limited-edition model from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur,” so we’re likely talking about a Sport Classic-like trim that will bridge the gap between Porsche’s past and present. Another variant, which is due out “in the medium term,” will take the form of a new flagship model “which will raise the bar even further in the sports car segment.”

Moving over to SUVs, the heavily updated current-generation Cayenne will be joined in showrooms by a new, electric-only fourth-gen model in the near future. The EV will make its debut in the United States in late 2025. We’ll need to be patient to learn more details about the next Cayenne, though Porsche pointed out that “the combustion-engined and electric models will be available in parallel well into the 2030s.”

Where the Macan lands on this map is a bit of a mystery. Porsche currently sells the original model, which is only offered with gasoline-burning engines, and the second-generation model, which is electric-only. We’ve previously heard rumors claiming that the second-gen Macan will get a gasoline-burning engine, but they might be wide of the mark. “Once the combustion-engined models of the same name have been phased out, the Macan will be sold exclusively as an all-electric model, worldwide,” Porsche shared in the same release, while coyly adding: “At the same time, Porsche is continuously monitoring market development and customer demand.” 

Finally, a third SUV might join the global range in the late 2020s. Porsche revealed that it’s “evaluating an independent model line in the SUV segment with combustion and hybrid powertrains,” though there’s no word on where it will be positioned in the line-up. For what it’s worth, we’ve spotted a camouflaged test mule that looks bigger than the Cayenne and that might offer space for seven passengers; on paper, it almost sounds like Porsche’s answer to the BMW X7 and the Mercedes-Benz GLS. It’s too early to tell whether that’s what Porsche was alluding to in the release, however. The brand simply noted that the yet-unnamed model will have “a new design” and that it would “benefit from synergies.” That last point likely means the SUV will be built on a platform shared with one of Porsche’s sister companies, like Audi.