Porsche's New Flagship SUV Won't Be Electric, Will Have A V8

At one point, Porsche was all in on electrification, with ambitious plans for an EV-heavy lineup spanning sports cars, sedans, and SUVs. But as EV demand cools—especially in the US—the automaker appears to be pulling back.

The upcoming K1 SUV was initially slated to be electric-only. Now, according to a new report from Autocar, Porsche is preparing V6 and V8 powertrain options instead. The K1 will reportedly share its platform with Audi's upcoming Q9 and offer a range of gasoline-powered configurations.

Rather than riding on the previously planned all-electric Scalable Systems Platform, the K1 will use Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture. This shift allows for greater flexibility, including five- and seven-seat layouts as well as traditional gas and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

Engine options are expected to include Porsche’s existing 3.0-liter V6 and 4.0-liter V8 units. Output should mirror the Porsche Cayenne lineup, ranging from approximately 350 to 730 horsepower depending on trim.

The move aligns with comments made in September by Porsche CEO Oliver Blume, who said shifting the K1 toward combustion power better reflects "new market realities and changing customer demands." An all-electric variant, however, hasn’t been ruled out.

Porsche is expected to launch the K1 roughly a year after Audi unveils the Q9, which is anticipated in late 2026. Production will take place at Volkswagen Group’s Bratislava plant in Slovakia, alongside the Q9 and the Cayenne EV.