Porsche Mission S previews incoming mid-engined supercar amid financial woes

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Porsche has confirmed plans to build a dedicated mid-engined supercar based on its Mission S concept to sit above the 911 in its high-performance range.

Taking styling cues from icons such as the 550 Spyder and original 356, the Mission S unveiled in New York overnight, will follow on from the space left by the 918, though it won’t be a limited edition model.

It could, however, even offer a ‘flat eight’ as its power source – if unconfirmed reports are to be believed. 

No on-sale dates were given, but it forms part of a strategic shift for Porsche to sell fewer cars with higher profitability, as the German brand looks to rebound from its financial woes.

Engineers are currently developing an entirely new platform to underpin the eventual production version, with the ability to accommodate petrol and petrol hybrid drivetrains but not fully electric, in a sign of shifting priorities for supercar makers more broadly.

A big focus of the design is clean lines, with the 911-like front end taking styling cues from the 911 GT1 from the 90s, that flow on to a massive set of wheels featuring the ‘dial design’ of the 928 coupe. 

A rally-style roof scoop would presumably feed cool air to the unconfirmed flat-eight engine, where a 917-inspired radiator fan is also seen. 

Seen overhead, the body work tightens at the centre before billowing out at the rear, where Porsche has fitted an active rear wing that forms part of a radically aerodynamic rear end that looks half-pressed with a cookie-cutter.

Perhaps what’s most striking about the Mission S is the size, as while Porsche hasn’t given official figures the image showing the brand’s head of style, Tobias Sühlmann, suggests the concept is still relatively compact for a mid-engined monster.

The design inside is just as minimal, with a tiny infotainment screen positioned low down in the dash and paired with five physical dials. Five circulator screens make up the digital driver’s display to communicate crucial data.

The steering wheel is typical Porsche, with large shift paddles and minimum controls, working in conjunction with an automatic shifter in the centre.