2026 Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman to keep combustion engine option

Porsche has announced that it will now offer 'top' versions of its next-generation 718 Boxster and Cayman as part of a radical rethink in the wake of slowing EV sales globally, with the German sports car maker confirming its full-size K1 SUV that was designed to sit above the Cayenne will also switch from electric to petrol-power.

Announcing what's described as a "strategic realignment", Porsche says that both the current combustion and hybrid-powered Cayenne and Panamera will also go under the knife to freshen them up to keep them on sale "well into the 2030s".

During a call to investors late last week, CEO Oliver Blume said Porsche was now weighing up the €1.8 billion ($A3.2b) hit to profits on whether to halt the development of its flagship K1 large SUV, which was supposed to be based on the Volkswagen Group's SSP architecture.

The same platform was supposed to go on to underpin both the next Taycan and Panamera, as well as the future Mk9 VW Golf and Skoda Octavia.

Both the small and large sedans have been postponed until "well into the 2030s" Blume told investors.

The flagship K1 will now arrive with both a combustion engine and plug-in hybrid powertrains, suggesting a platform switch under the skin.

"We have seen a clear drop in demand for exclusive battery-electric cars, and we are taking that into account," said Blume.

Key to the U-turn is a dramatic drop in demand for Porsche models, as well as the war of tariffs triggered by the US.

Blume told stakeholders that net profit would be slashed by 2 per cent this year but said that growth would return in the "medium-term" when its new products begin rolling off the production line, with Porsche's boss targeting margins back above 10 per cent.

Next to arrive in the Porsche line-up is the Cayenne Electric that will be based on the VW Group's PPE platform that already underpins the Macan Electric.

Originally, Porsche had hoped that as much as 80 per cent of all its global sales would be electric cars by 2030.

Following the sales slump of its Macan Electric, Porsche is now racing to develop a new mid-size plug-in hybrid that is being developed under the M1 SUV codename.

Related to the current third-gen Audi Q5, the new electrified SUV will feature a front-wheel drive-biased all-wheel drive system and sit on the same PPC architecture, which has enabled the brand to slash its usual development time from five years to three.

When it comes to 'top' versions of both the Boxster and Cayman, it's thought Porsche will reskin the current aging roadster and coupe with looks that will align it with the EV version due next year.

Under the rear boot lid, it's highly likely both will be powered by the car-maker's existing 4.0-litre flat-six-cylinder engines, which was only launched in 2020, with the Porsche potentially offering a successor to the RS versions for those who want to drive their car on track, a place EVs have traditionally struggled.

The ever-changing political climate, lack of governmental incentives for electric cars and general apathy for EVs by most consumers has thrown Porsche's EV strategy into chaos, which is bad news for the German car-maker but good news for performance fans.

Not least because even nine years after being introduced, the 982-series 718 Cayman and Boxster remain the very best sports cars of their kind to drive.

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