Porsche raised plenty of eyebrows in 2022 when it pledged to make the 718 fully electric at the expense of its gas models. While the EV Boxster and Cayman are still in development, Zuffenhausen has realized that eliminating the combustion engine outright would be a fatal mistake. The German sports car maker is now showing serious cold feet, and that’s welcome news for enthusiasts.
Although the current 718 bows out next month with the final production run, a new generation will arrive with a gas engine still mounted behind the seats. In its latest “strategic realignment,” Porsche confirms the next Boxster and Cayman will continue to offer ICE power. Here’s the twist: only the “top” versions will retain combustion engines.
What does that mean? Porsche may be limiting them to RS-badged flavors or something similar. While we’re used to EVs being pricier than their ICE equivalents, the next flagship 718 could flip that script, making the gas version the more expensive choice.
We’ve asked Porsche whether the next-gen Boxster and Cayman with combustion engines will share a platform with the cheaper EV versions. If so, it would require costly re-engineering, since the new 718 was originally intended to be electric-only. Alternatively, Porsche might update the MMB hardware introduced in 2016 for the 982 series. A whole new platform seems unlikely, as it would put a big dent in the budget. It’s a financial effort hard to justify for a shrinking niche.
Photo by: Porsche
Either way, it’s good to see Porsche backtrack and keep the gas-powered Boxster and Cayman alive for the long haul. And to be clear, this won’t be a hybrid, but rather a pure ICE experience. That said, there will be a gap between generations, as the next conventional 718 isn’t due until near the end of the decade.
Elsewhere in the product roadmap, Porsche reiterates that a future gas crossover (with a plug-in hybrid option) is coming in 2028 to replace the first-gen Macan. The all-electric Cayenne remains in the pipeline, too, while the Taycan isn’t going anywhere. Meanwhile, the three-row “Prestige” SUV, initially planned as an EV-only model, will also offer ICE and PHEV versions “due to market conditions.” In fact, the combustion-powered variants will arrive first, with the EV following later.
Photo by: Porsche
Photo by: Porsche
As for the 911, there’s thankfully no change. The rear-engined icon won’t go fully electric this decade, something few would’ve wanted anyway. Hybrids, however, are likely set to expand beyond the GTS and Turbo S. The ICE Cayenne and Panamera will carry on well into the 2030s, with Porsche already confirming the V-8 is here to stay.
One model missing from the roadmap is a supercar. In Porsche’s defense, it never promised to build the Mission X. And with the brand stepping back from EV-only launches amid lukewarm demand, an all-electric flagship would be a risky bet.
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