According to a recently published Porsche patent filed with Germany’s DPMA, the automaker is exploring an extreme form of modular vehicle design that could allow an electric powertrain to be swapped for an internal combustion engine in a matter of minutes, effectively turning one car into two depending on the driver’s needs Porsche.
The patent outlines a vehicle architecture divided into three primary sections: a front module, a central passenger cell, and a rear module. Instead of being permanently welded or bonded together, these sections would be joined using specialized clamp-based connectors. These connectors would not only hold the structure together but also route power, data, cooling, and fuel or electrical connections through a single interface, allowing entire drivetrain modules to be detached and replaced, reports CarBuzz.
Unlike today’s so-called modular platforms, which are only configurable during early manufacturing, Porsche’s concept pushes modularity to the final stage of assembly or even post-sale. In theory, the same passenger cabin could accept a fully electric rear module during the workweek and a combustion or hybrid module for long-distance or high-performance driving, without redesigning the entire vehicle.
Courtesy: CarBuzz
A key element of the design is a central control unit capable of identifying what type of drivetrain has been connected. Whether electric, gasoline, diesel, or hybrid, the system would automatically adapt vehicle controls, software, and energy management to match the installed module. Porsche compares the concept to a universal interface, allowing vastly different powertrains to function seamlessly within the same vehicle body.
The clamp technology itself is not entirely new. Porsche previously patented similar connectors in 2022 for attaching large body panels. This newer filing expands the idea significantly by making those connectors structural and functional, effectively acting as an automotive umbilical cord that carries everything a drivetrain needs to operate.
While the idea of consumers regularly swapping engines is likely unrealistic due to cost, logistics, and regulatory complexity, the patent hints at a more practical use on the production side. Such a system could allow Porsche to build fewer unique vehicle platforms while offering a wide range of powertrain options for different markets, emissions rules, and customer preferences, reducing development costs without sacrificing flexibility.
For now, the patent remains a theoretical exercise, but it offers a glimpse into how automakers like Porsche are thinking beyond batteries and charging speeds, and instead reimagining the car itself as a reconfigurable machine rather than a fixed product.