VW’s Diesel Scandal Throwing Major Wrench Into New Porsche 960 Supercar Plan

By Adam Pockross - August 29, 2016

porsche mid-engine supercar

If you’re a regular here at Rennlist, then you’ve been salivating over exciting rumors about the Porsche 960 mid-engined supercar since 2013. We even reported as late as April 2016 about potential progress on that front. But you may want to curb that enthusiasm, thanks to Porsche’s parent company, Volkswagen Group, and their scandalous diesel dealings.

According to Automotive News, the 960’s seemingly imminent development is now anything but. The rumor mill had spouted out predictions that we’d see the car as early as 2017 or as late as 2020. But while some think that 2020 target date may still be in reach, “one source suggests production timing now has been pushed back until 2026.” And Road & Track is saying that the “the project could be shelved entirely.”

Indeed, language from the top brass at VW would suggest that any projects that are not wholly necessary will need to be put on hold, thanks to the immensity of the financial hits that the diesel scandal has incurred. And one could argue the necessity of a limited-run $250,000 Ferrari Fighter (as the project has been called internally) with a 650-horsepower quad-turbo flat eight-cylinder mid-engine.

Of course, if we’re arguing, I would say that such a supercar is very much a necessity. How ’bout you?