Electric Replacements Expected Soon
Production of the gasoline Porsche 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman sports cars is winding down. The automaker previously confirmed that it would stop building the mid-engine duo before the end of this year, likely to make way for all-electric replacements, but now it’s officially too late to order a 982-generation 718. Autocar initially reported that order books were closed in the U.K., and Porsche Cars North America has now confirmed to Autoblog that this is also the case in the U.S.
“While there are still 718 models in production at this time it is no longer possible to place a new order for the Type 982 718 Boxster or Cayman models,” Porsche spokesperson Luke Vandezande said in an emailed statement. That still leaves the possibility of getting a new 718 from existing dealer stock, assuming there is any left, but the end is definitely near for two of the best drivers cars in existence.
Modern Classics
Porsche
The 982 generation marks the end of Porsche’s entry-level sports car as we know it, after a run that stretches back nearly three decades. Launched in 1996, the original 986 Boxster expanded Porsche’s lineup following the contraction that came with the discontinuation of the automaker’s front-engine sports cars, winning over new customers and brand purists alike. But with flat-six power and mid-engine balance, how could it go wrong?
A second-generation 987 Boxster arrived in 2004, with the first Cayman coupe appearing shortly after, based on the same platform. The fourth-generation 982 models were introduced in 2016, adopting the 718 nomenclature in reference to the Porsche 718 mid-engine sports racers of the late 1950s and early 1960s. The need to emphasize heritage may have resulted from the 982’s adoption of turbocharged flat-four engines for most models, replacing the naturally-aspirated sixes.
While they continued to win plaudits from the media, the sports cars’ death watch has been ongoing since last year, when Porsche withdrew the pair from the European Union over stricter cybersecurity regulations. A Porsche spokesperson told Motor1 earlier this year that the final cars would be built in October.
Electrification Setbacks
Electric replacements for the Boxster and Cayman are in development, perhaps sharing underpinnings with an Audi electric sports car previewed by the recently-unveiled Concept C. In April, Porsche said customers could expect the electric sports cars in 2026, but that’s reportedly been pushed back to at least 2027 due to battery-supply issues. Porsche had reportedly banked on high-density cells from Swedish firm Northvolt, which is now bankrupt.
Porsche initially aimed to make 80% of its fleet all-electric by 2030, but that target is now in doubt as the automaker faces difficulties from new Trump Administration tariffs and what it views as weaker-than-expected EV demand. Porsche is still moving ahead with both electric sports cars and an electric version of the Cayenne SUV, and but also scrapped plans to manufacture its own batteries.
