Amazing how quickly things can change. Almost three years ago, in March 2022, Porsche Chairman Oliver Blume suggested half of Porsche sales would be electrified by 2025, on their way to 80 per cent all electric by 2030. That latter point in particular now looks unlikely, given slowing Taycan sales and the continuing development of ICE SUVs to satisfy customer demand. The 911 has only just launched its hybrid model also, and a 1.9kWh battery barely qualifies as electrified.
It leaves the battery-powered Porsche 718 in a strange situation, because once upon a time it was meant to be arriving this year. And these latest pictures, showing a car that looks sort of half Taycan and half 911, make it seem that the new model is a good way through the development cycle. But the current cars, however long in the tooth they might now be, enjoyed a bumper year of sales in 2024. Nobody would want to bring that to an end prematurely, especially given the uncertainty that plagues buyer demand for EVs.
On the other hand, Porsche has made some of the most desirable EVs yet, and it’d be a brave person to bet against the 983 Cayman and Boxster - as they’re being called for the moment - being anything different. The recent updates to the Taycan, with further improvements to power and efficiency, will surely be implemented for this car.
Moreover, the incoming battery-powered replacement for the 718s will almost certainly be more powerful than the cars they replace, given they will almost certainly be heavier and more expensive. Something like 400hp would seem like a nice start, given that’s the current 4.0 GTS power.
We’re not predicting anything drastic, though - not least because Porsche has already demonstrated that it’s not really into fake gear shifts or ludicrous modes or any other EV gimmicks. The design of this test car clearly isn't radical either, with a reasonably familiar silhouette (albeit elongated and much chunkier) to previous Caymans. The cues from the rest of the Porsche range are clear to see, from the Taycan-style front lights to a rear that isn’t dissimilar to the 911. In fact, the entire rear glasshouse seems a lot more like the rear-engined car than the outgoing 718.
What happens next isn’t really clear, because this is the first time that the Cayman EV has been seen on the road, years after the electric 718 plan was confirmed. Rumours continue to persist that an ICE option is being investigated, alongside those that say it’s structurally impossible. A 2025 reveal perhaps seems unlikely, though it would be beyond Porsche to spring some kind of surprise. Having waited years for it, expect to see plenty more of the 718 Cayman EV over the coming months.
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