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 automotive shall be revealed, and it’ll solely be out there as a completely electrical automobile. The present inner 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 Fashion Version, that includes a handbook transmission and turbocharged four-cylinder engine, I’m prepared for the Boxster to go electrical.
Porsche acquired a few of its most adverse headlines in a long time when the 718 household made the swap 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 believe it sounds good, not less than in Sport Plus mode, although sure, you’ll in all probability assume it feels 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.
Drawback is, the four-cylinder simply doesn’t have quite a lot of character, irrespective of in case you’re puttering round city or revving it out within the canyons. It’s completely high-quality, 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. Actually, going electrical will open up new realms of efficiency risk for the 718 past simply being rather a lot 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 may give the 718 rear-biased all-wheel drive for the primary time. (Porsche mainly confirmed this with the Mission R race automotive idea and the Cayman-based GT4 E-Efficiency prototypes.) What’ll actually be attention-grabbing is the rumored mannequin that may see two motors positioned on the rear axle, for rear-wheel drive that has particular person torque vectoring that may permit for dealing with you simply can’t get in a fuel automotive.
If I had 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 fallacious, the Boxster’s handbook is improbable. The size of the throw, the notchiness of the shift motion, the clutch pedal and really feel, the shifter itself; all are glorious. On one of the best canyon roads that Los Angeles County has to supply, the handbook is a pleasure. However within the different 90 p.c 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 wish to use the automotive for normal automotive stuff — and being good at common automotive stuff is partially why the 718s are so beloved. They’re vehicles you wish to drive on a regular basis, not simply as a weekend toy, so going for the optionally available 7-speed PDK dual-clutch automated could be a no brainer for me, and the electrical mannequin shall be even higher in that regard. There shall be no vibrations or noise at idle, no wasted fuel whereas sitting in site visitors, no droning on the freeway. I’ve pushed the Rimac Nevera and Pininfarina Battista, and yeah the absurd pace of these EVs’ powertrains is superb, however it was the vastly higher day by day driver qualities versus different ICE supercars that actually offered me.
A few of the largest worries I see on-line in regards to the electrical 718 encompass its weight. At simply 3,036 kilos with the handbook transmission, the present base mannequin 718 Boxster is a featherweight when it comes to fashionable sports activities vehicles, and the electrical mannequin will certainly be heavier. It received’t be as unhealthy as individuals are anticipating, although — I’ve heard the goal is someplace within the realm of three,600 kilos. That’s not unhealthy in any respect, definitely rather a lot lighter than most different efficiency EVs and solely a pair hundred kilos greater than a base 992.
Extra vital than the burden itself would be the weight distribution. The 718 Boxster has a forty five/55 weight distribution because of 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 shall be stacked behind the driving force the place the engine would go, probably in a T-shape with different batteries occupying the middle tunnel house. 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 house, too.
One other huge trigger for concern in response to 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 fuel this Boxster’s gauge cluster signifies that I’ve a variety 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 believe that’s loads for the overwhelming majority of use instances, and if it’s something just like the Taycan, the official ranges shall 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 p.c in lower than 20 minutes.
Visually, the present Boxster’s cabin nonetheless seems nice, however it’s a let down when it comes to inside packaging and know-how, and it simply feels outdated. Whereas I just like the pop-out door pockets, there’s mainly nowhere within the dashboard or middle console to place my cellphone or keys, and the under-armrest storage is measly. The pop-out cupholders suck, which possible makes the automotive a non-starter for lots of shoppers. Porsche does make among the greatest seats and steering wheels within the enterprise, and the inside feels well-built and of top of the range, however it simply doesn’t measure as much as newer Porsches or fashions from different firms.
It’s unhealthy 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 really 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 outfitted. It has Apple CarPlay, not less than, however I’ve to make use of a wired connection via 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 high-quality with out most of them. The backup digital camera is unhealthy high quality, and the graphics within the small gauge show look outdated too. Judging by the newest spy photographs, the electrical 718 can have an inside consistent with the Macan EV, which is able to imply a improbable infotainment system, a beautiful digital gauge cluster, vastly improved ergonomics and storage, and a way more fashionable general design. Lastly!
I doubt there shall be something to fret about with the outside styling entrance, both. I’m a very huge 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 believe the Taycan and new Macan EV look particularly good, and that Mission R is freakin’ sizzling. Mainly, take that idea, make it 20 p.c much less concept-y and take away the race automotive bits, and that’s what the electrical Cayman ought to appear like. The camouflaged prototypes which have been working round for the previous few years have an incredible stance and proportions, and it nonetheless seems like, effectively, a Boxster. It ought to even stick to huge intakes forward of the rear wheels like on all of the generations earlier than it.
Hopefully Porsche provides comparable packages like this Fashion Version on the brand new automotive, too. Launched in 2022, it introduced the unbelievable Ruby Star Neo paint to the 718, pairing it with white wheels and white stripes. I’m at all times a fan of any pink automotive and any automotive with white wheels, and that combo pairs effectively with the Chalk leather-based and contrasting stitching overlaying many of the inside. Porsche has significantly 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 an excellent larger vary of colours and choices than the present mannequin.
Greater than anything, it’s driving the 2025 Porsche Taycan that has me probably the most excited for the electrical 718. Each model of the Taycan is improbable, from the bottom rear-wheel-drive automotive 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 utterly write off EVs, they should drive a Taycan — I believe it’s not possible 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 automotive. I wouldn’t fret in regards to the lack of engine noise. I believe Porsche’s spaceship-like EV sounds are nice, however the 718 won’t 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 among the best-driving sports activities vehicles of the fashionable 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 glorious and stuffed with character because of that beautiful flat-six. There are so few vehicles 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 thought of an electrical 718 and also you wish to drop (in all probability effectively) over $100,000 on a brand new Porsche sports activities automotive with an inner 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 unbelievable, and the 911 is gonna have fuel engines effectively into the following decade. There definitely are folks on the market preferring the mid-engine fashions to its larger siblings and shall be unhappy about that, however it is sensible. The 911 is outselling the 718 by practically 4 instances within the U.S. in 2024 thus far, and final 12 months the Taycan outsold the 718 by practically double the quantity of vehicles.
There’ll certainly be a rise in worth 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 fuel Macan, it is going to be warranted. Sure, the 718 is Porsche’s “entry-level” sports activities automotive, however it’s nonetheless fairly dear. The most cost effective Boxster begins at $76,895 and is fairly bare-bones when it comes to gear; my take a look at automotive rang in at $94,440, which included standalone choices like blind-spot monitoring and keyless entry which can be normal on most Hyundais. I anticipate the electrical 718’s base worth will rise to the excessive $80K vary, however its degree of ordinary gear needs to be a lot better. Present six-cylinder GTS 4.0 fashions are previous the $100,000 mark to begin anyway, and the everyday Porsche buyer provides fairly some huge cash in choices, so I doubt consumers of the 718 EV will really feel the sticker shock.
Look, I could possibly be fallacious. Possibly the electrical Boxster will come out and it’ll be ugly, unhealthy 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 shall be nothing however a very good factor, and I wager most conventional consumers 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 look forward to the Boxster and Cayman to be the primary true EV sports activities automotive. If any firm can nail it on the primary go, it’s Porsche.
