Porsche: All-electric model possible

It's no secret that Porsche is plotting a seventh model to build on its already potent portfolio, which currently comprises the 911, Cayman, Boxster, Panamera, Macan and Cayenne.

An all-new Ferrari-rivalling supercar to slot between the 911 and limited-edition 918 hypercar flagship, and a smaller sedan to slot under Panamera – dubbed Pajun – have both long been rumoured.

Now the next logical next-step for the high-performance, high-tech brand has firmed as an all-electric version of the latter to rival Tesla's Model S, which has attracted a cult-like following.

Dr Frank-Stefan Walliser, Porsche's motorsport boss and the man responsible for developing the 918 Spyder hyper car, told motoring.com.au during the Le Mans 24 Hour race in France on the weekend that its hybrid technology, which is being fine-tuned in motorsport and will find its way into the next 911, could be taken to the extreme in the form of an all-electric model.

His take on the progress of electric propulsion in sports cars? Nothing is impossible.

"We can do everything," he said when asked about a Tesla-rivalling sports car, but cautioned that more needs to be done before a decision is made.

"The question is a lot about the market. Where is the point where we say, 'now it is right'? Are the people likely to buy it?"

It wouldn't be Porsche's first electric car either. Porsche's first all-electric road car, the Egger-Lohner, was born in 1898. Ferdinand Porsche himself developed the electric car and now there's a growing desire within the company to deploy its second electric car.

As Porsche's motorsport boss, Walliser is at the forefront of the company's research and development programs which stem from motor racing, and its Le Mans campaign – which saw Porsche snaffle a record 17th win – is yielding plenty of new tricks and tools that will flow down into its production cars.

"Never say no," said Walliser on the prospect of an electric Porsche sports car.

"Years ago, [there were] no electric hybrid sports cars, but what we learned is that we have to look at the market, we have to look at the technology and make the right decisions timing wise.

"If I look in our model line at the moment it's not so bad what we did so far," said Dr Walliser, pointing to the number of hybrid Porsche production cars already available, including the Panamera and Cayenne, which can shut down their petrol-fuelled combustion engines and run on pure electricity for short distances.

Factor in the company's recent one-two victory in the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hour, which proved its battery and electric motor technology is reliable, and it's clear the company has the expertise to develop an electric car.

If and when Porsche's Tesla rival materialises, it won't be a pedestrian, conservative vehicle, either.

Dr Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche's R&D chief, signalled that such a car wouldn't be cheap but that it will stir the soul.

"We test our road cars always on the circuit. I do it personally. I like it very much," he grinned.

Although neither executive would confirm an electric Porsche was under development, Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller has publicly given the idea his stamp of approval.

With Tesla passenger cars selling like hotcakes — particularly in Porsche's most lucrative market, North America – it's easy to understand the Porsche chief's ebullience.

"Tesla has built an exceptional car," Mueller told the media in March during the company's annual wide-ranging press conference. He noted the Californian-built electric vehicle "set the standard, where we have to follow up now".

Porsche has not confirmed reports its first modern electric car will be a large BMW 5 Series-size sedan, but it has ruled out a pure-electric 911 and is known to be developing plug-in hybrid versions of the Macan and new Panamera, with the Boxster/Cayman likely to follow.

Whatever's in store from Porsche, it's clear that electric motors will form a crucial part in its future, whether purists like it or not.