Times are changing rapidly over at Porsche under its new CEO Michael Leiters, who took charge on January 1, 2026. The German automaker has since announced it will be cutting 5,000 jobs and restructuring its business model to focus on its core operations to a greater extent. That means ditching a number of non-primary assets, like its management and IT consulting subsidiary MHP, for example.
Essentially, Leiters wants Porsche to pour more of its resources into what it does best instead of spreading them thin across so many directions. And what Porsche has always been most proficient at is building high-end sports cars. So that is naturally where Leiters’ hopes for the future lie. But that future might include borrowing some bits from a notable Italian competitor.
Porsche’s Future Looks Exciting (Probably)
Porsche CEO Michael Leiters.Porsche
As of now, we know the company is working on a gasoline-powered SUV internally codenamed the M1. The model will likely be based on Audi’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, have close ties to the Q5, and let you opt for a plug-in hybrid powertrain if you please. More details are expected to surface in the not-too-distant future, with a release date potentially set for 2028.
Leiters wants to also strengthen the 911 lineage and place greater emphasis on bespoke vehicles for their high profit margins. Beyond that, though, things aren’t exactly clear-cut. Recent rumors, however, point to an exciting new ride that leverages more of the Audi relationship. But this one also involves Lamborghini.
Is Porsche Working On A New Flagship Supercar?
Audi Nuvolari hero shotAudi
Rumors of a fresh supercar being developed have been circulating for a while, hinting at something made in the same spirit as the 918 Spyder. And according to a report from Automotive News, it wouldn’t be farfetched to imagine it using the same platform as the upcoming Audi Nuvolari. That would, of course, make this hypothetical P-car a relative of the Lamborghini Temerario, because its DNA is said to have a lot in common with the Nuvolari.
A Porsche built from an Audi that’s also shared with Lamborghini. Wouldn’t that be something?
The whole affair seems to fall right in line with common Volkswagen Group practices, as well as Michael Leiters’ vision for the company’s future. But that’s just about everything we know at the moment, so we’ll have to be patient and wait for Porsche to unveil further details. It’s simply too early for us to get excited, even with the automaker slowly recovering after its rough patch in 2025 and Leiters proclaiming his grand ambitions.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Following the financial peril it found itself in last year, Porsche had to examine its business model with a fine-tooth comb and get its act together before things went from bad to worse. Leiters’ decisive actions and concise vision might be just what the company needs to weather that ongoing storm, but only time will tell what his plans are for Porsche’s lineup.
A new flagship P-car would certainly be something to pay close attention to, as is Porsche’s general trajectory in the years to come. In theory, allocating more resources toward its primary focus should lead to better products, faster development, and other improvements across the board, so there are indeed reasons to at least be optimistic.
Source: Automotive News
