The Next Porsche 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman Will Be Electric-Only

Anyone hoping to see a gas engine return to the Porsche 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman can stop holding their breath. Presenting its business plan in Stuttgart on Wednesday, Porsche confirmed that the next generation of the 718 will be offered exclusively as an EV.

• The electric 718 models are slated to launch in 2027

• A new gas-powered sports car is in the pipeline as well

• Porsche is readying a new gas-powered Macan for 2028

Just over a year ago, the automaker hinted that the most powerful versions of the 718 could keep a gas engine, possibly a flat-six. That pointed to a full lineup, with electric variants at the entry level and pricier gas-powered models at the top.

Just a Rumour

According to Porsche, it never officially approved a return to gas power. CEO Michael Leiters made it clear: the 718 will be electric, period. In short, nothing has changed from the plans that were originally announced.

That said, because the project has dragged on for so long, the rumour mill went into overdrive. First announced in early 2022, the electric 718 was supposed to arrive around mid-decade. It’s now scheduled to go on sale in 2027, with 2028 marking its first full year of production.

Porsche isn’t the only one going this route. Audi’s Concept C will be sold strictly as an EV once it reaches production.

The challenge will be convincing purists that a sports car without a combustion engine can be just as much fun to drive.

This one will be fascinating to watch.

The Rest of the Plan

It’s no secret that Porsche is going through a rough patch. Its profits fell from the equivalent of US$5.9 billion in 2024 to US$101 million in 2025. To turn things around, the company plans to prioritize profitability over volume. Here are the highlights of what’s coming:

• A concept called the Mission S, debuting October 15, will preview a mid-engine supercar architecture positioned above the 911.
• A new gas and plug-in hybrid Macan, developed with Audi, will arrive in 2028 alongside the current electric version.
• An SUV larger than the Cayenne is under consideration.
• The lineup will target two gas or hybrid models for every electric model.
• The 911 will never go electric, according to Michael Leiters.
• The workforce will be cut by 25% in the medium term.

For a brand that bet big on electrification, it’s a dramatic about-face, but Porsche is hardly the only one backpedalling.

Ironically, the most affordable sports car in the lineup will be the only one to go fully electric.