Next Porsche Supercar Likely Delayed Due to Volkswagen Diesel Scandal
Dieselgate is affecting other automakers under the Volkswagen Group umbrella.
Automotive News has updated its report on the rumored mid-engine Porsche 960, saying that production plans for the supercar have been pushed back until 2026. Expected to be a two-seat model powered by a quad-turbo, flat-eight cylinder engine with around 650 horsepower, Volkswagen’s massive diesel scandal has now caused the model to be delayed.
The Porsche 960 was originally reported to launch in 2019 to take on exotics from Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren.
SEE ALSO: Porsche’s Mid-Engine 960 Supercar to Arrive in 2019
Unfortunately, supercars such as this are prime candidates to be shelved when an automaker undergoes financial problems. Last year, Volkswagen CEO Matthias Müller said that any project “that is not absolutely necessary will be cancelled or postponed,” and it is likely a mid-engine Porsche supercar isn’t absolutely necessary, especially because of the high development and production costs. It is not unusual for automakers to actually lose money on such limited production supercars, so Porsche and VW will have to focus on high-volume sellers.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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