Following the debut of the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder, the automaker’s GT division has revealed that it has no plans to electrify the cars under its portfolio, Autocar reports. Electrification, says division chief Andreas Preuninger, is “not something we think about at the moment.”
“There are ideas to maybe look in that direction for the normal sports car line, but not for the GT cars. If we would decide to make all the racing cars electrified overnight, then we would have a reason to look into that but, as always, it has to be a connection between the cars we use on the track to the cars we sell with a number plate attached,” Preuninger explained.
“Firstly, for homologation, but also we have to have the same DNA in the car and share the same platform, otherwise you lose credibility. I think it’s very correct and the right thing to concentrate on three pillars [across Porsche] – hybrid, complete electric and hardcore, typical sports car. Ferry Porsche once said the last car on earth would be a sports car and I’m absolutely sure he’s right,” he added.
Preuninger went on to say that Porsche’s board members are “really aware” of how important the GT division is, not just to the brand’s clientele, but also to the integrity of the company’s image as a sports car manufacturer for enthusiasts.
“Luckily our board members support us with GT projects which are pure Porsche in a way the 911 always was. In other teams, Porsche concentrates on fields such as digitalisation and electromobility. We’re in constant interchange but I don’t think we should put everything in one barrel. We have to have different cars to share different purposes and as long as this customer group is willing to buy our cars and enjoy the cars so much, why should we stop?”
As for Porsche’s more mainstream product line-up, the all-electric Taycan, which is the automaker’s first high-performance EV, will be making its debut soon. There are also plans to introduce a hybrid 911, but for now, the GT variants – including the range of 911 GT models – will continue without electrical assistance.
GALLERY: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder
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