The next generation of the Porsche 718 will be electric-only
Porsche accelerates its turn towards electric. After the Taycan range and the next Macan which will also have its battery variant, it’s the turn of the binoculars 718 Boxster and Cayman to abandon the heat engine. Porsche has just announced that the next generation of these cars will be electric only.
However, it will be necessary to wait until 2025 before these future models appear. Until then, the Porsche 718 will continue to evolve in their current configuration. A good update could therefore be made to sportswomen before the next generation replaces them.
Considering the unveiling of the Mission R concept made a few weeks ago at the IAA event in Munich, none of this is too surprising. This concept foreshadows the future design of the manufacturer’s mid-engined sports cars. We could therefore expect 718 Boxsters and Caymans largely inspired by the lines of the Mission R.
Weight concerns
The switch to electric for a sports car like the 718 is particularly complex, because this model is highly prized by driving purists for its lightness, its maneuverability and the connection between human and machine. Electric 718s could get very heavy and lose some of their sleek driving experience.
To remedy this problem, Porsche has already started to develop a whole new electric architecture for more compact sports cars but also for racing cars. It is on this architecture that the Mission R concept is based.
This is considerably shorter than the PPE platform which supports the Taycan and makes almost excessive use of carbon fiber. Porsche is also aiming for a maximum weight of 1,655 kilos (3,650 pounds), which is very light for an electric car. For reference, the Porsche Taycan 4S weighs 2,072 kilograms (4,568 pounds).
The 911 will have to wait
As for the technical characteristics of the electric 718s, nothing has yet been confirmed by the manufacturer, but Porsche says it is aiming for a minimum range of 400 kilometers. However, she admits to working very hard to allow her future electric sports cars to go even further on a full load.
As for the 911, Porsche has been adamant it will be the last in the line-up to go electric. The automaker even proclaimed that we won’t see an electric Porsche 911 in this decade. It is even possible that it is never electrified. Remember that Porsche is currently developing a synthetic fuel precisely to be able to keep the heat engine of its legendary sports car.
