Petrol-powered Porsche Cayman, Boxster revival could be axed - report
Before it has even happened, the anticipated petrol-powered versions of the next Porsche 718 twins - the Cayman and Boxster - may not go ahead.
Porsche fans are riding on an emotional rollercoaster, and the latest news out of Germany isn’t good for anyone who loves an engine in their sports car.
According to German newspaper Bild, the Volkswagen Group – Porsche’s parent – is eyeing up the discontinuation of more than half a dozen models: the Cupra Raval, the Volkswagen Jetta and Taos, the Skoda Fabia, Audi Q6 e-tron and Q5 Sportbacks, the next Porsche Taycan and the internal combustion engine-powered 718 (Boxster and Cayman twins).
The potential cancellation of the ICE 718 would represent a huge U-turn from Porsche’s existing plans, which itself already was a massive change in tact compared to its original strategy.
Porsche’s most recent 982-generation 718 sports cars exited production last year, and were set to be replaced by electric versions of the Cayman and Boxster, both running on the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) Sport architecture.
However, low demand for EVs in the luxury performance segment led to a backtrack, with Porsche announcing in 2025 the upcoming 718 lineup would be expanded to offer “top ICE (internal combustion engine) derivatives”, suggesting the flagship RS versions of each would be the only versions to get a petrol engine.
It was reported in December by Autocar that senior sources had said Porsche would reverse-engineer the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) Sport architecture the EV 718 will be based on to accept a petrol engine.
According to Autocar’s sources, this would have extended beyond the aforementioned range-topping petrol-powered 718s, with engines expected to be more widely available across the lineup.
This was further advanced in February this year by a Bloomberg report - citing insider sources within Porsche - claiming new Porsche CEO Michael Leiters was considering scrapping the 718 Cayman and Boxster EVs, due to continued delays and rising costs.
According to the Bloomberg report, Porsche had deliberated making the new 718 a plug-in hybrid, however this too would require different underpinnings which would increase development costs and blow out its timeline.
It was expected the petrol versions of the new 718 would require a new rear bulkhead and subframe compared to the EV, given the latter’s battery pack is a load-bearing structure.
Despite reports claiming Porsche is flip-flopping on what the next 718 will look like, Leiters recently said the 911 – the brand’s flagship model – won’t go fully electric.
