In late September Porsche announced the next-generation 718 Boxster and Cayman would not be electric-only after all, but will be offered with petrol engines for ‘top’ variants.
The next-generation 718 was originally designed to feature only electric propulsion, but as part of Porsche ‘realignment’ of its EV plans, the company says it will add “top ICE derivatives” to the new 718 Boxster and Cayman sports car range.
Given their petrol variants’ positioning at the top or near the top of the 718 family tree, it was assumed Porsche would use six-cylinder boxer engines from the 911 range.
According to Autocar, the new 718 will employ the 911’s T-Hybrid system, primarily because it is 110mm shorter than the 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six used in the entry-level versions of the 911, and can be more easily packaged within the tight confines of the 718.
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Apparently the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine from the current 718 range isn’t compliant with Euro 7 emissions rules, which come into effect from the end of 2026.
With significant money required to re-engineer the new 718 to accept a petrol engine, and make petrol-engined version of the 718 compliant with Europe’s latest safety regulations, parts sharing with the 911 is a high priority.
If the British magazine is correct, the 718’s T-Hybrid drivetrain will be slightly detuned from the one that debuted in the 911 Carrera GTS.
The updated 911 Carrera GTS was launched in mid-2024 with a 398kW/610Nm T-Hybrid system marrying a 3.6-litre flat-six engine with a single electric turbo making 357kW and 570Nm to a 41kW/150Nm electric motor built into the eight-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. The setup is hooked up to a 1.9kWh lithium-ion battery.
Flat out, the rear-wheel drive-only GTS is capable of completing the 0-100km/h standard in 3.0 seconds.
We don’t know when the new petrol-powered 718 models will debut, but it will likely be after the electric 718 variants have been launched as Porsche will probably need to do a bit re-engineering of the 718’s platform to accommodate the petrol engines and their ancillaries.
The electric-only successor to today’s Boxster convertible and Cayman coupe models has been delayed multiple times, reportedly due to battery issues.
Unlike many EVs, where battery cells live in a horizontal layer under the floor, the new 718 has a vertical battery stack behind the passenger compartment to more closely mimic the weight balance of a traditional mid-engine sports car.
Production of Australian-spec 718 Boxster and Cayman models has finished up already, with cars for other markets set to be discontinued soon. On-going delays will likely result in a global availability gap between the end of the current generation and the launch of the new model, initially only with electric drivetrains.
