Porsche has given its Ferrari 458 Italia beater the green light, and it's set to be called either the 960 or 9611
Porsche CEO Matthias Muller has finally confirmed that the company is working on a rival for the Ferrari 458 Italia – as Auto Express reported in May last year.
Muller wants to bridge the gap between performance models such as the 911 GT2 RS and the upcoming £672,000 918 Spyder hybrid supercar. The perfect car to slot into that space is a mid-engined supercar that Muller envisages will cost around £250,000.
Porsche hasn't confirmed a name for the newcomer, but rumours suggest it could be badged 961. It will borrow technology from the 918 Spyder, including a lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic monocoque chassis.
Our exclusive image reveals a look inspired by the 918 Spyder and the Panamera Sport Turismo concept that made its debut at the recent Paris Motor Show.
Power is likely to come from the 4.6-litre V8 engine used in the 918 Spyder. Expect around 570bhp and a 0-62mph time of just over three seconds – figures to match those of the 458 Italia and McLaren 12C.
The new supercar forms part of Porsche's plans to sell 200,000 cars a year in 2018, but the majority of those sales will come from high-volume models such as the Macan small SUV and the next-generation Cayenne and Panamera families.