Summary
- The next-generation Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster will be purely electric, signaling Porsche’s commitment to electrification and the future of sports cars.
- Porsche has demonstrated impressive performance and capabilities with its electric models like the Taycan and Mission R Concept, instilling confidence in the upcoming electric sports car.
- The electric 718 Cayman and Boxster will likely share parts with the 911 and be built on a brand new pure electric platform, influenced by the current-gen Cayman-based Mission R project.
- A higher price tag is expected for the electric models compared to their gas-powered counterparts.
Porsche has ensured some major plans for its future. The 911 will continue to use an internal combustion engine for as long as possible. In order to achieve that, other models would have to be electrified. That is where the smaller, mid-engined 718 range comes in. The next-generation model of Porsche’s mid-engine sports car will definitely be purely electric.
While many would bemoan the death of the glorious 718 Cayman and Boxster sports cars, we are not fazed one bit. If the Panamera, Cayenne Hybrids, the pure electric Taycan, and the Mission R Concept are anything to go by, we expect nothing but great things from the electric Porsche sports car coming in 2025.
Next-Gen Porsche Sports Car Will Drop The ICE After 25 Years
The gas-powered Porsche Boxster and Cayman models have been around for about 25 years, (20 for the Cayman). That’s a quarter of a century of being the benchmark of what a true mid-engined sports car or roadster should be. The current crop of the 718 Cayman and Boxster are some of the purest tools for driving that gearheads can get their hands on.
Porsche knows this and decided to switch its very popular sports car to pure electric. That is a sign that electrification is the way forward. Porsche has demonstrated this a few times already. Some of the most revered versions of the four-door Panamera and Cayenne are the SE-Hybrid versions.
The Porsche Taycan Turbo S changed the game, which was dominated by Tesla, and set a Nurburgring lap time of 7:33.35. The heavy four-door electric sedan outpaced track weapons like the Nissan GT-R, Koenigsegg CCX, Audi R8 GT, and even the 991.2-generation 911 Carrera S.
Furthermore, the 1,000+ hp Mission R Concept and 718 GT4 e-Performance models completely have our seal of approval.
Oliver Blume, Porsche CEO, has categorically confirmed the next-gen 718 model will be purely electric. While the specifics are still kept close to their chest, some details have been revealed. For example, the 718 will share a lot of parts with the 911.
This will be done to allow both the electric sports car and the 911 to share the assembly line at the Zuffenhausen plant. However, the key difference will be the electric 718 will be built on a brand new pure electric platform. Blume has said that the learnings from the current-gen Cayman-based Mission R project will heavily influence the new model.
It won’t come as a surprise if there are major styling similarities between the next-gen Cayman and the Mission R concept. Some influences from the new Mission X concept are also possible.
Mission R Powertrain In The Next-Gen Cayman
Porsche Mission R Concept Specs
|
Manufacturer |
Porsche |
|
Years of Production |
Concept |
|
Configuration |
Axle-Mounted Electric Motor (Front/Rear) |
|
Power |
429 hp, 644 hp (Front/Rear) / 1,073 hp combined |
|
Charging Architecture |
900 Volt Rapid Charging |
The Porsche Mission R concept’s pure electric powertrain is on par with the 911 GT3 Cup racecar. The Mission R uses two electric motors mounted on each axle. The motor on the front axle makes 429 hp, while the one that powers the rear wheel develops 644 hp, delivering a combined output of 1,073 hp.
However, for Porsche, horsepower has never been the primary metric, but rather how it is delivered. The performance of batteries in modern EVs tends to deteriorate depending on conditions such as state of charge, age, battery, and motor temperature.
Porsche claims that the system in the Mission R is designed to deliver a constant output rate, which is achieved with a direct oil cooling system for the motors.
Our expectations involve the production model using just the rear electric motor rather than an all-wheel drive dual motor setup. This will keep costs down, offer better handling dynamics with a lighter front end, and more importantly, not overshadow the hybridized 911 in the future.
644 hp is more than enough for an electric Cayman or convertible Boxster. But more powerful dual motor options cannot be ruled out, leading us to the first all-wheel-drive Cayman/Boxster models. The Mission R also uses a 900-volt rapid charging architecture, which we expect and hope the electric Cayman and Boxster to receive.
718 EV Prototypes Seen Lapping The Nurburgring
The rise of electric cars could mean that convertibles could become a rare sight in the future. The aerodynamics to optimize for range, and structural integrity that is missing with the lack of a roof could make designing EVs more complex. However, Porsche has confirmed an electric Boxster will be coming. In fact, test mules of an electric Boxster have been seen lapping the Nurburgring.
A video by CarSpyMedia sees a Boxster prototype lapping the Green Hell. The mule was part of a recent industry test pool session. This pre-production model was seen with updated front and rear styling. The obvious omission was the air intakes on the side that cool the boxer engine in the back of the ICE-powered sports car.
Funnily enough, the mule did have a centrally mounted exhaust tip, which could just be to throw off onlookers.
Electric Porsche Cayman And Boxster Coming In 2025
Porsche has said that its all-new electric Cayman and Boxster sports cars will be ready for the street by 2025. We expect a full reveal of the duo by late 2024. The current generation models start from $68,000 for the standard four-cylinder model. It rises all the way to $160,000 for the GT4 RS and the Spyder RS.
We expect it to see a steep rise in price, with the electric model averaging between a $15,000-$20,000 increase (depending on the trim). So don’t expect the electric Cayman and Boxster to come cheap. The ballpark figure puts them between $83,000-90,000.
An Electric 718 Cayman, Boxster Is A Win-Win For Everyone
The Cayman and Boxster biting the lithium-powered EV bullet is going to be a win-win situation for everyone. Whether you are excited about the idea of an exciting electric sports car designed and developed by Porsche, or a purist who wants perfection from a gas-powered sports car, it will be interesting to see how the actual product fairs against the previous generation cars.
With the Cayman and Boxster electric, Porsche will seemingly set the new benchmark for performance, handling, and balance for an electric sports car. On the other hand, with the mid-engine twins succumbing to the might of EVs, it means that the 911 can continue to be the last bastion of the ultimate driving experience as a gas-powered hybridized sports car, at least for one more generation.
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