- The company is remaining tight-lipped on when the duo will launch.
- Porsche has been trying hard to replicate mid-engined handling with the EVs.
- Combustion-powered versions of the Boxster and Cayman are also in the works.
Porsche has poured cold water on recent reports that the entire electric 718 Boxster and Cayman project could be axed now that the marque has a new chief executive. While there’s no word on when exactly the new models will hit the market, we do know they’ll first be introduced as EVs.
It’s no secret that Porsche has faced challenges developing the new-age Boxster and Cayman, struggling to capture the same magic as their predecessors. It’s already pulled back from some of its EV ambitions, and new CEO Michael Leiters, formerly of McLaren, was reportedly considering scrapping the entire project.
Read: Porsche’s New CEO Might Bury The Cayman, Boxster EVs Before They Even Launch
However, Car Sales recently sat down with the managing director and chief executive of Porsche Cars Australia, Daniel Schmollinger, who said the project remains on track and revealed that he’s already driven a prototype.
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“We can’t tell yet when it’s coming, but I had the chance to drive it, and it is actually amazing,” he said. “So I had the chance to drive it on a race track, and it was just amazing. A Boxster type of car should give you the weight distribution, a very go karty feeling and it provides that. And with the electric engine, of course, it gives you even more dynamic driving.”
Electric And Combustion Models
Initially, Porsche’s plan was to only sell the next-gen Boxster and Cayman with electric powertrains. It was then revealed that the duo’s top derivatives would also be offered with internal combustion engines. According to more recent reports, it’s possible ICEs could be available for other, more affordable 718 models.
Schmollinger’s media training paid off when he was asked to confirm plans for the ICE models, stating that “there’s no official announcement,” but noted “headquarters is basically constantly evaluating where the opportunities are. Every six months they look into what can we do and what do we not want to do, so there is opportunity out there,” he added.
