The Porsche Boxster and Cayman as we all know them aren’t lengthy for this world. Subsequent 12 months, the fourth era of Porsche’s compact sports activities automobile might be revealed, and it can solely be out there as a completely electrical automobile. The present inside combustion 982 era of Porsche 718 will stay on sale within the U.S. for an additional 12 months or so, it’s already getting discontinued in Europe. After spending a number of days with a 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster Type Version, that includes a handbook transmission and turbocharged four-cylinder engine, I’m prepared for the Boxster to go electrical.
Porsche obtained a few of its most detrimental headlines in a long time when the 718 household made the change to four-cylinder engines in 2016, a lot in order that Porsche reinstated the flat-6 within the GTS mannequin 4 years later. I assumed the flat-4 was truthfully fairly good in high-powered GTS type, however it’s much less attractive within the base Boxster. I feel it sounds good, at the very least in Sport Plus mode, although sure, you’ll in all probability assume it seems like a Subaru. And regardless of having “simply” 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque it’s loads fast — Porsche quotes a 4.9-second 0-to-60-mph time with the handbook.
Downside is, the four-cylinder simply doesn’t have plenty of character, regardless of in case you’re puttering round city or revving it out within the canyons. It’s completely tremendous, particularly for the shoppers who’re shopping for a base Boxster, however it’s not a powertrain I’ll miss when the Boxster goes electrical. In actual fact, going electrical will open up new realms of efficiency risk for the 718 past simply being loads faster. The entry-level mannequin will certainly be a single-motor setup with the motor positioned on the rear axle, whereas higher-power variations ought to get a dual-motor setup that can give the 718 rear-biased all-wheel drive for the primary time. (Porsche principally confirmed this with the Mission R race automobile idea and the Cayman-based GT4 E-Efficiency prototypes.) What’ll actually be fascinating is the rumored mannequin that can see two motors positioned on the rear axle, for rear-wheel drive that has particular person torque vectoring that can permit for dealing with you simply can’t get in a gasoline automobile.
If I have been shopping for a brand new 718, particularly a non-GT mannequin, there’s completely no manner I’d go for the usual 6-speed handbook transmission that this Boxster is provided with. Don’t get me flawed, the Boxster’s handbook is implausible. The size of the throw, the notchiness of the shift motion, the clutch pedal and really feel, the shifter itself; all are wonderful. On the very best canyon roads that Los Angeles County has to supply, the handbook is a pleasure. However within the different 90 % of driving that I do within the metropolis, manuals are (to me) a nightmare, even with the Boxster’s rev-matching and anti-stall tech. It’s only a ache within the ass, and it makes me not need to use the automobile for normal automobile stuff — and being good at common automobile stuff is partially why the 718s are so beloved. They’re automobiles you need to drive on a regular basis, not simply as a weekend toy, so going for the non-obligatory 7-speed PDK dual-clutch automated could be a no brainer for me, and the electrical mannequin might be even higher in that regard. There might be no vibrations or noise at idle, no wasted gasoline whereas sitting in site visitors, no droning on the freeway. I’ve pushed the Rimac Nevera and Pininfarina Battista, and yeah the absurd velocity of these EVs’ powertrains is superb, however it was the vastly higher every day driver qualities versus different ICE supercars that basically offered me.
A number of the greatest worries I see on-line concerning the electrical 718 encompass its weight. At simply 3,036 kilos with the handbook transmission, the present base mannequin 718 Boxster is a featherweight by way of fashionable sports activities automobiles, and the electrical mannequin will certainly be heavier. It received’t be as dangerous as individuals are anticipating, although — I’ve heard the goal is someplace within the realm of three,600 kilos. That’s not dangerous in any respect, definitely loads lighter than most different efficiency EVs and solely a pair hundred kilos greater than a base 992.
Extra essential than the burden itself would be the weight distribution. The 718 Boxster has a forty five/55 weight distribution due to the mid-mounted engine, which is an enormous motive behind its attribute dealing with. As an alternative of utilizing a flat skateboard-style battery pack like most different EVs, the electrical 718’s batteries might be stacked behind the driving force the place the engine would go, doubtlessly in a T-shape with different batteries occupying the middle tunnel area. That’s the same setup to the Rimac Nevera, and it’ll assist give the 718 EV the burden distribution and mid-engine dealing with traits the Boxster is thought for. The powertrain packaging might give the electrical 718 extra cargo area, too.
One other massive trigger for concern based on on-line commenters is the electrical Boxster’s vary, however this four-cylinder is already prepping Boxster clients for that. With a full tank of gasoline this Boxster’s gauge cluster signifies that I’ve a spread of simply 220 miles, and whereas it’s rated at 25 mpg freeway and 20 mpg metropolis by the EPA, good luck matching these figures in common driving in a metropolis like LA. Even when the 718 EV has an EPA vary of round 250 miles, I feel that’s loads for the overwhelming majority of use circumstances, and if it’s something just like the Taycan, the official ranges might be very straightforward to exceed in the true world. It’ll have 800-volt fast-charging capabilities like Porsche’s different EVs too, so an electrical 718 ought to be capable to cost to 80 % in lower than 20 minutes.
Visually, the present Boxster’s cabin nonetheless appears nice, however it’s a let down by way of inside packaging and know-how, and it simply feels outdated. Whereas I just like the pop-out door pockets, there’s principally nowhere within the dashboard or heart console to place my cellphone or keys, and the under-armrest storage is measly. The pop-out cupholders suck, which seemingly makes the automobile a non-starter for lots of consumers. Porsche does make a few of the greatest seats and steering wheels within the enterprise, and the inside feels well-built and of top quality, however it simply doesn’t measure as much as newer Porsches or fashions from different firms.
It’s dangerous on the tech entrance, too. At this level, the present 718’s infotainment system is like three generations behind, and whereas it’s quite simple and straightforward to make use of, that doesn’t imply it’s truly any good. Regardless of having practically $20,000 in choices and a tough “NAV” button on the sprint, this Boxster doesn’t even have navigation geared up. It has Apple CarPlay, at the very least, however I’ve to make use of a wired connection by way of a USB-A port, and the system crashed on me a number of instances. “Isn’t it nice to have actual buttons although,” I can hear you saying, and whereas Porsche’s buttons do have nice tactile really feel, I’d be completely tremendous with out most of them. The backup digicam is dangerous high quality, and the graphics within the small gauge show look outdated too. Judging by the latest spy pictures, the electrical 718 could have an inside in step with the Macan EV, which is able to imply a implausible infotainment system, a stunning digital gauge cluster, vastly improved ergonomics and storage, and a way more fashionable total design. Lastly!
I doubt there might be something to fret about with the outside styling entrance, both. I’m a extremely massive fan of Porsche’s newest design language, which is a bit techier and extra flat, angular and squared-off than what we noticed from the model within the late 2010s. I feel the Taycan and new Macan EV look particularly good, and that Mission R is freakin’ scorching. Mainly, take that idea, make it 20 % much less concept-y and take away the race automobile bits, and that’s what the electrical Cayman ought to appear like. The camouflaged prototypes which were operating round for the previous few years have an incredible stance and proportions, and it nonetheless appears like, nicely, a Boxster. It ought to even follow massive intakes forward of the rear wheels like on all of the generations earlier than it.
Hopefully Porsche affords comparable packages like this Type Version on the brand new automobile, too. Launched in 2022, it introduced the unimaginable Ruby Star Neo paint to the 718, pairing it with white wheels and white stripes. I’m all the time a fan of any pink automobile and any automobile with white wheels, and that combo pairs nicely with the Chalk leather-based and contrasting stitching protecting a lot of the inside. Porsche has severely expanded the supply of its Paint to Pattern and Sonderwunsch customization applications in recent times, so anticipate the electrical 718 to be out there in a fair greater vary of colours and choices than the present mannequin.
Greater than the rest, it’s driving the 2025 Porsche Taycan that has me essentially the most excited for the electrical 718. Each model of the Taycan is implausible, from the bottom rear-wheel-drive automobile to the 938-hp Turbo S, and the brand new Turbo GT mannequin set a brand new benchmark for electrical efficiency. I inform naysayers on a regular basis that earlier than they fully write off EVs, they should drive a Taycan — I feel it’s inconceivable to not have enjoyable in a single. If Porsche could make a first-generation electrical sedan this good, there’s no manner it may mess up an electrical sports activities automobile. I wouldn’t fret concerning the lack of engine noise. I feel Porsche’s spaceship-like EV sounds are nice, however the 718 may not even want them. The Mission R and GT4 E-Efficiency produce pure noises from their electrical motors that sound not solely superior, however distinctive and thrilling.
Now I do know you’re gonna yell at me about how significantly better the six-cylinder variations of the 718 are than the four-cylinder Boxster I drove, and I agree. The already discontinued Cayman GT4 is likely one of the best-driving sports activities automobiles of the trendy period, and whereas I haven’t skilled them from behind the wheel for myself but, I do know the Cayman GT4 RS and Boxster Spyder RS fashions are even higher. Even the extra fundamental GTS 4.0 fashions are wonderful and stuffed with character due to that pretty flat-six. There are so few automobiles just like the 718 household left on sale, and none are as well-rounded.
Porsche will proceed constructing the present gas-powered 718s till mid-2025, so in case you simply can’t deal with the concept of an electrical 718 and also you need to drop (in all probability nicely) over $100,000 on a brand new Porsche sports activities automobile with an inside combustion engine, you’ve gotta put in an order now, otherwise you’ll be caught shopping for a used 718 or going for a brand new 911. Fortunately, the present 992 era is unimaginable, and the 911 is gonna have gasoline engines nicely into the following decade. There definitely are folks on the market preferring the mid-engine fashions to its greater siblings and might be unhappy about that, however it is smart. The 911 is outselling the 718 by practically 4 instances within the U.S. in 2024 to date, and final 12 months the Taycan outsold the 718 by practically double the quantity of automobiles.
There’ll absolutely be a rise in value when the electrical 718 comes out (and thus extra complaints), however as with the Macan EV, which at its least expensive begins at round $12,000 greater than the bottom gasoline Macan, it is going to be warranted. Sure, the 718 is Porsche’s “entry-level” sports activities automobile, however it’s nonetheless fairly expensive. The most cost effective Boxster begins at $76,895 and is fairly bare-bones by way of gear; my take a look at automobile rang in at $94,440, which included standalone choices like blind-spot monitoring and keyless entry which might be commonplace on most Hyundais. I anticipate the electrical 718’s base value will rise to the excessive $80K vary, however its degree of ordinary gear must be a lot better. Present six-cylinder GTS 4.0 fashions are previous the $100,000 mark to begin anyway, and the standard Porsche buyer provides fairly some huge cash in choices, so I doubt patrons of the 718 EV will really feel the sticker shock.
Look, I may very well be flawed. Possibly the electrical Boxster will come out and it’ll be ugly, dangerous to drive and a gross sales flop. However I extremely doubt that would be the case. I actually do assume the 718 household going electrical might be nothing however an excellent factor, and I guess most conventional patrons of the present Boxster and Cayman will really feel the identical manner. I’ve already talked about how I’m prepared for electrical automobiles to take over, and I can’t anticipate the Boxster and Cayman to be the primary true EV sports activities automobile. If any firm can nail it on the primary go, it’s Porsche.
