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CEO Oliver Blume admits Porsche is exploring ways to maintain using a flat six engine in its 911 sports car
Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has admitted to Total 911 for the first time that his company is exploring the use of synthetic fuels to power 911s of the future. “We have huge investments in combustion engines,” Blume remarked in a post-annual press conference discussion. Despite the Taycan launching in 2019 and Porsche clearly diversifying as a business, the 911 remains core to the company, as does internal combustion. Change is inevitable though, and Blume once again underlined the company’s position that the 911 will be the last model to hybridise, or go electric, if ever at all.
Technology will play its part, Blume admitting the company is looking seriously at synthetic fuels – manufactured CO2 neutral fuel – to power the 911, both old and new. “We have a very flexible product strategy,” says Blume, adding: “First of all to continue with our petrol engines, like in the 911, to improve them step-by-step. Then we have some plug-in hybrids and the fully electric cars. I think we are fine on the electric side, but we need the perspective also for our combustion engines. And so, we have made a very deep analysis and asked which would be the best opportunity for the future to reduce CO2. And we think it is synthetic fuels.”
Synthetic fuels are costly to produce currently, but Blume says: “When you produce them with sustainable energies, it’s a very good opportunity. And therefore we are running tests already with historic cars like the 911, the 993, with very good results. The challenge today is that the costs are too high and we haven’t got the production facility to produce the fuels in a very sustainable way. And so, together with partners, we’re looking to produce them with linked energy like solar energy in the future and to start some pilots.”
As with the rest of the company that move is likely to be driven, literally, by Porsche’s motorsport activities, Blume saying: “Motorsport is a core of Porsche. That is very clear and our motorsport strategy directly follows our product strategy. So, we will continue with the GT Motorsports and Formula E. And then we will have perspective for the future as well. Maybe with synthetic fuels because in motorsport you are in a very closed circle, where it’s potentially very easy to use synthetic fuels. Also the cost aspect isn’t so important as it is for normal customers. So, that might be the first step with synthetic fuels.”