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What does Porsche have in store in 2016?

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Porsche enjoyed its most successful year ever in 2015, selling more than 225,000 new cars around the world, but is planning to give its line-up a bit of a makeover during 2016.

With much of the development work in Stuttgart focused on Mission E – a 600bhp all-electric sports car scheduled for launch in 2020 – and the next generation of the 911, Porsche has fewer new models hitting the showrooms this year, but there are still some highlights to look forward to.

For those with plenty of spare cash, the performance carmaker will provide some exciting technical developments to spend it on. For the rest of us, we’ll get a good idea of what the used Porsches we might buy in 2021 will look like.

Porsche 911 Turbo

What does Porsche have in store in 2016?| Revolution Porsche

The facelift 991 Carrera was unveiled in the autumn (accompanied by a glitzy TV commercial featuring Muhammad Ali and Maria Sharapova) and Porsche has since used the 2016 Detroit Motor Show to introduce the new look 911 Turbo and Turbo S models.

As you would expect, both models look great and boast exceptional performance. The bi-turbo six-cylinder 3.8-litre engine in the 911 Turbo delivers 540bhp and a 0-62mph time of 3 seconds.

If you’re worried that won’t be enough to take an 18-year-old in a Vauxhall Corsa off the lights, opt for the Turbo S. It boasts an impressive 580bhp, along with 0-62mph acceleration of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 205mph.

In addition to stunning performance, the 911 Turbos come with a range of new features, including the GT sport steering wheel, Sport Response button, Porsche Stability Management (PSM) with new Sport Mode, 20-inch wheels, narrow LED front lights, redesigned rear body and the newly developed Porsche Communication Management infotainment system.

You may need a lottery win to afford one when they go on sale in February, as prices range from £126,925 for the Turbo coupe to £154,614 for the Turbo S cabriolet.

Porsche 911 R

Rumours are rife that the Geneva Motor Show in March will see the unveiling of a new Porsche 911 R. It is believed the car will be a back to basics manual-only version of the 991 GT3, with no rear wing and a stripped back interior to save weight.

That should please Porsche purists, who may be in for a bit of a shock when the next generation 911 arrives in 2018. The range is likely to feature an optional hybrid powertrain and some senior figures in Stuttgart have even suggested there could be a fully electric model.

Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman

The Boxster and Cayman ranges are scheduled to receive a major facelift during 2016 and Porsche has already announced the cars will be renamed the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman in honour of its ground-breaking late 1950s race car.

The 718 range will all have turbocharged four-cylinder engines and although details are still to be confirmed, it is believed it will launch with 2.0-litre engines – a 261bhp version in the entry level models and a 311bhp version in the S.

Porsche has revealed that the Boxster will be more expensive than the Cayman, suggesting that the Cayman will no longer be more powerful than the roadster.

Porsche Panamera

The MK2 Panamera is expected to be launched late in the year, with Porsche’s designers said to have given it a full exterior makeover (after the look of the original version of the sports saloon divided opinion) and a significantly redesigned interior.

It is rumoured that the new Panamera will be available at launch with a new generation of V6, V8 and turbocharged petrol engines, with diesel V6 and hybrid versions also being developed.

Porsche Cayenne

It’s an open secret that Porsche is pouring resources into the development of the next generation of its staggeringly successful Cayenne SUV – although it may not arrive in showrooms until early 2017.

The exterior styling is expected to borrow heavily from its smaller sibling, the Macan, while there will be a host of driver assistance gadgets and a stylish interior.

The engine range is likely to consist of upgraded versions of the current V6 and V8 models, although the new Cayenne will be much lighter and deliver improved fuel economy. With environmental legislation never far from Porsche’s thoughts these days, there is also set to be a plug-in hybrid model.

In addition to new model launches, keep an eye out for some Porsche concept cars at the world’s major motor shows. They may never go into production, but the eye-catching designs often offer pointers to what future models will look like.