These are the supersports cars of Porsche since 1953 — what will be the next one?

Since the 1950s, Porsche has marked a milestone in every decade with the creation and launch of an exceptional supersports car. Some models have been entirely new, while others have been recreated versions of existing ranges, though they remain incredible. The current decade has not yet witnessed the corresponding launch from Porsche, so one of the most incredible units with a design to match is expected. Here we show you all of Porsche‘s launches in each decade, without knowing what the next one will bring.

1953: 550 Spyder

• Engine: Four-cylinder boxer with four camshafts in the cylinder heads
• Power: 110 CV (81 kW)
• Top speed: 220 km/h
• Kerb weight: 550 kg
• Milestones: First Porsche developed specifically for competition. Victory in its class and third place in the 1954 Carrera Panamericana.

1964: 904 Carrera GTS

• Engine: Four-, six- or eight-cylinder boxer (up to 240 CV)
• Top speed: Up to 263 km/h
• Milestones: Designed by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. First Porsche with a synthetic-material body. Winner of the Targa Florio only five months after its launch.

1973: 911 Turbo

• Engine: Six-cylinder boxer with turbocharger
• Power: 260 CV (191 kW)
• Top speed: 250 km/h
• Milestones: First production Porsche with a turbocharger. Technology proven in competition. Created a bond between Porsche and Turbo that endures to this day.

1985: 959

• Engine: Six-cylinder boxer with twin sequential turbochargers
• Power: 450 CV (330 kW)
• Traction: Electronically controlled all-wheel drive
• Chassis: Active
• Top speed: 315 km/h
• Milestones: A combination of high technology and a passion for competition. Designed for Group B homologation. Technological benchmark based on the 911 range. Only 292 units were built.

1997: 911 GT1

• Engine: Six-cylinder boxer with turbocharger
• Power: 544 CV (400 kW)
• Top speed: 310 km/h
• Body: Carbon fibre and Kevlar
• Milestones: International homologation in GT1. Series of at least 20 vehicles for road use. Road version with the front end of the 911’s 996 generation, developed in the Competition Department at Weissach.

2003: Carrera GT

• Engine: Ten-cylinder V
• Power: 612 CV (450 kW)
• Top speed: 330 km/h
• Monocoque: Carbon fibre
• Brakes and clutch: Ceramic
• Milestones: Originally developed for Le Mans. Ultra-flat mid-engined supercar. Exclusive series of 1,270 units. Nürburgring Nordschleife record of 7:33 minutes in 2004.

2014: 918 Spyder

• Engine: Plug-in hybrid
• Power: 887 CV (652 kW)
• Consumption: 3.0 l/100 km
• Milestones: A unique plug-in hybrid concept. Multiple combined propulsion possibilities. First internationally homologated road vehicle to break seven minutes around the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

The Mission X and what lies ahead

Although this decade’s supersports car has yet to arrive, the Mission X prototype Mission X gives us some clues. It is a road-going reinterpretation of the Hypercars that compete in endurance racing, equipped with an efficient electric propulsion system with more than capable 900-volt technology.