Porsche: Boxster and Cayman EVs are the right decision

Porsche insists it has made the right call going electric with the replacements for the 718 Boxster and Cayman, but there are signs mid-engined ICE siblings haven’t been ruled out.

Porsche went early and hard on its commitment to EVs but there are now signs it is readjusting as its profits dive.

The Macan EV will be joined by an ICE sibling as soon as 2028, while there are suggestions the company’s commitment to electric-only replacements for the 718 Boxter and Cayman might also be under review.

At this point in time, no announcements have been made, and according to carsales sources familiar with the subject, Porsche is mulling the situation but still hasn’t made a call.

Questioned on a combustion-engined replacement for the Boxster and Cayman, Porsche vice president in charge of 911 and 718, Frank Moser, preferred to focus on the incoming EVs.

“We are working on the EV and believe me it is going to be a very great car,” he said.

“We decided to go the electric way on the 718 and there we are working on it and I think it's not really the wrong decision.

“You could be aware this car is going to be really, really brilliant because it's light, powerful and that's a combination for a two-door sports car, believe me.”

All of this has implications for Audi as well, as the 2027 production version of the Concept C sports car sits on the same PPE electric architecture as the 718 replacements.

Audi CEO Gernot Dollner was a little more revealing than Moser moments after the presenting the Concept C at a Munich motor show Volkswagen Group media preview.

“On this car [Concept C], I can definitely say it will be only all-electric. But, talking about other segments, we will bring in the next years hybrid cars,” he said.

Asked if he meant other sports car segments, Dollner shut down.

“Today, we are focusing on the Concept C and everything else is over to your speculation.”

Maybe, as per the incoming ICE relation for the Macan, which is based on the latest Audi Q5, the two Volkswagen Group members will share the platform and technologies of a new ICE two-door sports car but hide them under different sheet metal.

Given the slow take-up of EVs and its decision to add an ICE sibling for Macan, it is possible Porsche will add a combustion mid-engine two-seat sports car to its line-up as well.

Remember, sports car fans are sticking more loyally to combustion than just about any other buying group and Boxster and Cayman have been the entry path to that most resolute of petrol-burning sports car, the iconic Porsche 911.

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