When Porsche debuted its striking Mission E concept at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, we looked past its four doors and wondered whether we were actually looking at the next 911 instead of an all-new car. But then the company confirmed that it will introduce a production version of the all-electric Mission E to the market before 2020. Even still, we suspected an all-electric 911 might be on its way.

Today, new evidence from Top Gear pushes the odds even further in an electric 911's direction. According to Top Gear, this is what Erhard Mössle, director for the 911 Turbo line, said:

The Mission E could lead to a future when we need more electric cars to meet our regulations. So, you can imagine a Mission E with two doors—the car looks great and there could be potential for a sports car. Whether it's called a 911 or not is another discussion.

Though his conclusion is open-ended, Mössle did confirm that Porsche has considered a two-door Mission E. The 991-generation 911 debuted in 2012, and recent 911 generations average about a four-year lifespan. An electric 911 launching before the end of the decade would slot in nicely with that kind of timeframe.

We're not worried about Porsche phasing out the gasoline-powered 911 in favor of an EV—people would revolt. However, we can see an electric variant of the 911 to compete in the currently sparse all-electric sports-car segment. It's an intriguing thought, actually. But you still have to ask: Is a 911 without an engine out back really a 911? Let the debate begin.

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