Porsche poaches new design boss from McLaren

Porsche has announced former McLaren chief design officer Tobias Sühlmann will replace Michael Mauer as its head of design, effective February 1, 2026.

Mr Sühlmann, who worked on the McLaren 750S and Artura Spider sports cars, will replace Michael Mauer, who has been with the German sports car maker since 2004.

Mr Mauer oversaw the design of several generations of vehicles, having previously worked at Mercedes-Benz, General Motors and Smart.

During his more than 21 years at the brand, Mr Mauer had the task of evolving the design of the Porsche 911, one of the most recognisable and iconic sports cars, through the 997, 991 and current 992 generations.

He also led the design of the Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne, while overseeing the visual identity of new nameplates such as the Panamera, Macan, 918 Spyder and the electric Taycan.

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“Michael Mauer shaped an era at Porsche,” said Porsche CEO Michael Leiters in a statement. “His work has shaped the style of the Porsche brand and will remain visible in the future.”

“Tobias Sühlmann can build on a unique design philosophy,” said Mr Leiters. “With his experience in the design of sports and super-sports cars, he will further sharpen Porsche’s profile.”

Mr Mauer will support the arrival of Mr Sühlmann – whose experience beyond McLaren includes time at Aston Martin and Volkswagen, where he worked on the Bugatti and Bentley brands – as he transitions into the role.

“Timeless design needs both durability and new impulses. In view of Porsche’s strategic realignment, now is a good time to bring new perspectives,” said Mr Mauer in a statement.

Mr Mauer is one of several high-profile designers to have left their posts, with Mercedes-Benz’s Gorden Wagener resigning from the company in late 2025 after almost 30 years.

Jaguar Land Rover also reportedly dropped Gerry McGovern – responsible for the look of decades of Land Rover and Range Rover models, as well as the controversial reinvention of Jaguar – in late 2025, though the company later denied doing so.

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