Is Porsche Building a Modern Day 917?

Is Porsche Building a Modern-Day 917? | Exploring the Future of Performance from Stuttgart

Rumors are circulating once again — whispers of a modern Porsche hypercar inspired by legends like the 917 and 963 have surfaced, and the enthusiast world is watching closely. But is there substance behind the speculation? And how does it align with Porsche’s evolving vision for performance, electrification, and exclusivity?

The 917 & 963: Icons of Innovation and Dominance

Few cars stir the soul of motorsport enthusiasts like the Porsche 917. Originally developed to conquer Le Mans, the 917 secured Porsche’s first overall win in 1970. Steve McQueen famously drove it in Le Mans (1971), and its legend has endured ever since.

Fast forward to today, and the spirit of the 917 lives on in the Porsche 963 — the brand’s latest LMDh prototype, introduced in 2023 for the FIA WEC and IMSA series 1. The 963 combines a twin-turbo V8 with hybrid drive and advanced software—making it a candidate for road-car inspiration.

A Road-Going 917/963? What the Rumors Say

Speculation gained momentum after Porsche design boss Michael Mauer confirmed that the company had considered building a 917-style hypercar back in 2019, going so far as to create a full-scale concept called the Porsche 917 Living Legend 2.

More recently, outlets like Car and Driver and The Drive have suggested that a limited-run, 963-based hypercar could be in the works under the brand’s Sonderwunsch (special request) program 34. While Porsche hasn’t confirmed anything official, the increased investment in exclusive, track-focused customer cars has many believing something big is coming.

Porsche’s Future: Heritage Meets Innovation

1. Hybrid and Electric 911

Porsche CEO Oliver Blume confirmed in a 2023 interview that the 911 will receive a hybrid drivetrain, starting with the 992.2 generation, but will not go fully electric anytime soon 5.

2. Electric 718 Cayman/Boxster

Expected by 2025, the next-gen 718 will transition to a dedicated EV platform. Porsche has already shown camouflaged prototypes testing on public roads, and it is expected to launch as a lighter, sportier alternative to the Taycan 6.

3. Sonderwunsch Program

In 2021, Porsche officially relaunched the Sonderwunsch (Special Request) program, allowing deep customization, one-offs, and modern recreations of iconic race cars like the 935 and 911 Classic Club Coupe 7. If a 917/963-inspired hypercar is coming, Sonderwunsch may well be the vehicle for it — literally and figuratively.

Why Enthusiasts Should Pay Attention

Whether Porsche builds this rumored hypercar or not, the signs are clear: the brand is leaning heavily into heritage design, advanced hybrid tech, and exclusive commissions. If they do create a road-going 963 or 917 spiritual successor, it’ll likely be limited, lightweight, blisteringly fast — and instantly collectible.

Final Thoughts & Community Call

We’ll be watching closely for any developments. For now, let’s have some fun with speculation:

Would you buy a modern 917-inspired Porsche if they built it? What features would it have to include — flat-12 homage? Sequential gearbox? Manual transmission? Let us know.

Sources

Footnotes

1. Porsche AG – "Porsche 963: LMDh vehicle for endurance racing", 2023. https://newsroom.porsche.com/en ↩

2. Porsche Unseen: "917 Living Legend", Porsche Design Archive, 2020. ↩

3. Car and Driver – “Porsche Could Build a Road-Going 963 LMDh Hypercar”, July 2023. ↩

4. The Drive – “Porsche’s Next Hypercar Might Be a Street-Legal Version of Its Le Mans Racer”, 2023. ↩

5. Top Gear – “Porsche CEO confirms hybrid 911 will debut soon”, Oct. 2023. ↩

6. Autocar – “New electric Porsche Boxster and Cayman to arrive by 2025”, 2023. ↩

7. Porsche AG – “Porsche expands Sonderwunsch program for bespoke dreams”, Sept. 2021. ↩