Porsche K1 Ditches EV Plans, to Launch Gas and Plug-in Hybrid SUV by 2028

Porsche recently announced a revision to its product plan for the all-new flagship large SUV, the K1, abandoning the originally intended SSP all-electric platform in favor of launching gasoline and plug-in hybrid variants instead. The vehicle is expected to debut in the UK in early 2028. This strategic shift is primarily due to delays in software development for the SSP platform and declining Taycan sales. The K1 will share Volkswagen Group’s PPC premium internal combustion engine platform with the Audi Q9 and will be produced on the same assembly line at the Slovakian plant, launching approximately one year after the Q9. Positioned as a D-segment SUV, the K1 will offer a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 and a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 engine, paired with a next-generation plug-in hybrid system, delivering power outputs ranging from 348 to 730 horsepower. It will be available in four-, five-, and seven-seat configurations, directly competing with the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS. The K1 will primarily target the U.S., Middle Eastern, and Chinese markets, filling Porsche’s gap in the premium large SUV segment.