Porsche’s decision to replace the 718 Boxster and Cayman with electric successors was controversial from the start. Four years ago, the automaker announced its entry-level sports cars would go fully electric, a move that came as EV sales (and mandates) were climbing worldwide. But the EV market has cooled since then, and earlier this year Bloomberg reported Porsche was reconsidering plans to offer the 718 only as EVs. Now, comments from a Porsche Australia executive suggest the Boxster EV may still be on track.
Porsche Cars Australia managing director and CEO Daniel Schmollinger told Australian automotive outlet Carsales, “We can’t say yet when it’s coming, but I had the chance to drive it, and it is actually amazing.” He added that the electric powertrain delivers a dynamic feel and that on the racetrack the Boxster had a “very go-kart-y feeling.”
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While rumors have suggested the 718 EV may have been canceled, Schmollinger’s remarks indicate the project is still moving forward. The fact that a senior Porsche executive in Australia has already driven the car also suggests the model may be well into development.
Earlier reports said Porsche had been working to adapt the 718’s platform to accommodate internal combustion engines, with the automaker confirming that possibility for future RS models. However, some reports suggested the entire lineup could ultimately be gas engines, abandoning the plan for a fully electric powertrain entirely.
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Carsales asked Schmollinger whether the 718 might also be offered with combustion engines, but he declined to speculate. “This is still very early and we can’t speculate. There’s no official announcement,” he said. “Headquarters is constantly evaluating where the opportunities are. Every six months they look at what we can do and what we don’t want to do.”
We’ve reached out to Porsche North America for comment and will update this story if we receive a response.
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