Next-gen 718 suddenly looks a lot more appealing
There must have been more than a few chaotic boardroom discussions between top automotive execs over the last few months, such is the rate at which automakers are reversing or revising their electrification plans. Over at Porsche, it’s no different.
Mere weeks ago, the German brand doubled down on its decision to go fully electric for the next-generation 718 Boxster and Cayman. Electric power is still coming for Porsche’s baby sports cars, but a new investor presentation revealed that the new 718 will also include “top ICE derivatives” to be launched close to the end of the decade. Here’s what we know.
Porsche Won’t Put All Its Eggs In One Basket
The Autopian was one of the first to report on the stunning turnaround for the next 718, based on the investor call which took place last Friday. CEO Oliver Blume was involved in the call, and while he didn’t specifically comment on these new gas-powered 718s, what he said certainly leaves the door open for them.
“We want to meet new market realities and changing customer demands,” said Blume. “We have seen a clear drop in demand for exclusive battery-electric cars, and we are taking that into account.”
This statement, plus the official slide deck pictured above, practically confirms that powerful, gas-powered versions of the new 718 are coming.
It’s been a tough year for Porsche, with Blume saying in July that the company’s current business model no longer works. Profits are down amid challenges like tariffs, so the company has to be more flexible to meet constantly changing customer demands. A mixed electric/ICE 718 range appears to be the solution, but which variants of the 718 could survive with gas power?
GT4 RS And Spyder RS Could Return
The current top dogs in the 718 lineup are the Cayman GT4 RS and Spyder RS. Both start at $170,100 and produce 493 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque from Porsche’s glorious, high-revving 4.0-liter flat-six engine. Between their searing performance (0-60 in 3.2 seconds) and telepathic handling, these 718s challenge the best 911s for sheer driving joy.
But they may not be the only top 718s to return. The Boxster GTS 4.0 and Cayman GTS 4.0 also use a naturally-aspirated 4.0L flat-six and have six-figure price tags. These ones make 394 hp but are still brilliant driver’s cars. Of course, there’s no telling if these top 718s will retain flat-six engines, but we hope so.
It’s these four variants that are most likely to return with gas power, while the cheaper Boxsters and Caymans will likely trade in their turbo-four engines for electric power.
The Electric/ICE Performance Gap May Be A Challenge
What may be a challenge for Porsche is engineering the electric 718s so that they don’t encroach on the straight-line performance of the top ICE models. With the instant torque of electric motors, EVs are typically quicker than equivalent gas models, and it would be odd for Porsche to end up with an electric Cayman S that’s quicker than a gas-powered (and presumably pricier) GTS or GT4 RS. This won’t matter to old-school enthusiasts, though, as many will simply be happy to experience a new 718 with gas power.
We would not be surprised if more gas-powered 718s are announced before the new generation goes on sale. After all, the company is already planning a new gas-powered, Macan-sized SUV, a model that is expected by 2028.
As things stand now, the next-gen 718 suddenly looks a lot more intriguing than it did a few days ago.
