2017 Porsche 960: A 600-plus-hp, Mid-Engined Bridge

WHAT IT IS: A mid-engined supercar positioned between the 911 Turbo megacar and the 918 hybrid hypercar. The Porsche 960 conceptually and stylistically resembles a slightly bigger and far more powerful Cayman, but with an extra zero added to the price. 

WHY IT MATTERS: Porsche is weak in the world of supercars. The 911 Turbo and GT3, while extremely capable, are limited by their theoretically inferior rear-engine design (hey, don't shoot the messenger). And the 918, which fixes that problem, may put off purists—at least, those not scared off by an expected price tag close to $850,000—with its Mr. Fusion hybrid powertrain. 

PLATFORM: The aluminum-and-composite-intensive 960 will be based on Porsche's new, modular sport architecture (Modularer Sportbaukasten), which can be tailored for mid- or rear-engine applications. 

POWERTRAIN: The hamster running in the wheel will most likely be a horizontally opposed eight-cylinder engine, although an aggressively boosted flat-six is not out of the question. Power will be well north of 600 horses, and all-wheel drive should be standard. 

COMPETITION: Mid-engined supercars such as the Audi R8, Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo, and McLaren 12C. 

WHAT MIGHT GO WRONG: A Porsche is tagged, perhaps unfairly, as a lawyer's car—very sporty but also somewhat sensible everyday wheels. Can the brand still breathe the thin air where exotics live? This car could be an expensive way to learn that it can't, and it also may diminish the 918's appeal.