Porsche developing flat-eight successor to the 918 Spyder at a suspected $575,000 price tag

Porsche is developing a successor to the 918 Spyder hybrid supercar, powered by a flat-eight combustion engine not deployed since the 1960s. According to Germany's Handelsblatt, the model—internally codenamed S1—carries a suspected price tag of €500,000 ($575,000 USD). Porsche may reveal the car to investors as early as October 7.

The return to flat-eight combustion represents a notable departure from earlier reported plans for an electric successor to the 918 Spyder. The move comes as Porsche responds to intensifying demand in the ultraluxury supercar segment, particularly as rival manufacturers refresh their own high-end offerings.

The lineage matters here. Porsche's supercar heritage runs through the Carrera GT, then the 918 Spyder—both built on bespoke platforms rather than the 911 architecture. Collectors and enthusiasts have waited years for the next dedicated supercar. If the leaked renderings reflect the final design direction, demand at launch will likely be extreme. Secondary market pricing could easily double or more from the initial asking price, given historical precedent for limited-production Porsche models at this tier.

Unresolved product details include whether the engine will be turbocharged or naturally aspirated, and whether Porsche will offer a manual transmission—a choice that would signal how far the company is willing to push back against the industry shift toward electrification and dual-clutch automatics. A naturally aspirated manual variant would position the S1 as closer to a spiritual successor to the Carrera GT than a modernized 918 Spyder.

The October 7 reveal date is tight. Tesla is announcing the Roadster just two days prior, setting up an unusual back-to-back luxury automotive event that will test which powertrain vision—electric or combustion—captures broader market imagination at the absolute top of the market.