Porsche's New Flagship Sports Car Could Offer a Manual Gearbox If Buyers Ask for One

The Porsche Mission S is more than a concept car. Motor1 reports that it is the first look at a new flagship sports car that Porsche plans to place above the 911 in its lineup. At the launch event this week, Porsche CEO Michael Leiters said the platform is flexible about how it is powered, and that it could even have a manual gearbox. He said customer demand will define what Porsche builds on it.

Porsche has not said when the Mission S might become a car you can buy. What is known is that cars on this new platform will sit above the 911, cost more and will probably offer even more performance. Technical details, performance numbers and the price have not been shared.

The concept is clearly a Porsche, inside and out. Its design is called "Floating Volumes," which means the bodywork looks as if it floats above the car. The car is long, low and wide, and its mid-engine layout, with the engine placed behind the seats, gives it striking proportions. It has an active rear wing, cooling fans inspired by Porsche's 917 race car, and lightweight wheels.

The inside is unusual for a modern car. It does not have the big screens that fill most new interiors. Instead there are five round analog gauges in front of digital displays. A phone mount on the dashboard takes the place of an infotainment screen, and the car keeps physical controls.

For now, the Mission S shows what Porsche's future cars may look like. Motor1 calls it a stunning vision of that future.