Porsche is inching closer to switching the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman to pure-electric power – but the firm’s boss says it still needs a “few more months” before deciding whether the move is feasible.
The current 982-generation Boxster and Cayman were introduced in 2016, making new generations in 2023 likely. Porsche boss Oliver Blume told Automotive Daily’s exclusive partner Auto Express in 2019 that the company would decide “in the next 12 months” whether or not to switch the cars from combustion engines to electric power.
Now Blume has admitted that the decision has still not been made, but stated that it will happen before mid-2021 He also has hinted strongly that a switch to electric power is looking more feasible than not. Speaking after Porsche’s annual results conference, Blume said, “There is an opportunity that we will do the 718 electric but we are still in a concept period, where we haven’t decided yet. To go electric now we need future battery evolution.
“We will wait a couple of months more before we decide which concept we will use. But I think there is a positive potential to do this, and when we do the 718 electric it should be driven like a 911 and all the other sports cars.”
Blume said that despite some other manufacturers getting out of the small premium sports car market, the Boxster and Cayman are sure to get a new generation, regardless of whether it’s powered by a combustion engine or electric motors. “We will continue with the model range of the 718,” he said. “That is clear. If it’s combustion engine or electric isn’t decided yet.”
John Mcllroy