Porsche 718 pivots: Boxster and Cayman keep flat-six power
Porsche extends 718 Cayman and Boxster ICE life amid EV slowdown
Porsche 718 pivots: Boxster and Cayman keep flat-six power
With EV demand cooling, Porsche keeps the 718 Cayman and Boxster alive with flat-six and hybrid power, drops four-cylinder turbos for Euro 7 compliance.
2025-10-03T11:04:25+03:00
2025-10-03T11:04:25+03:00
2025-10-03T11:04:25+03:00
Porsche is revisiting its electrification playbook and has chosen to extend the life of the 718 Cayman and Boxster with internal-combustion power. CEO Oliver Blume signaled that new range-topping versions could inherit the 911’s celebrated flat-six, effectively bringing the Boxster back to its original idea: an attainable sports car powered by the heart of its elder sibling.The decision reflects more than brand tradition; it mirrors a shift in market dynamics. Slowing demand for premium EVs has pushed Porsche to adjust course, scrapping the K1 flagship electric crossover and shifting emphasis to combustion engines and hybrids. At the same time, development of the “sport” iteration of the SSP platform, intended to underpin future electric models, has been put on hold.Four-cylinder turbo engines are expected to bow out, as they fall short of Euro 7 standards arriving in 2026. Replacing them is the hybridized flat engine that debuted in the 911 Carrera GTS. The move helps keep production capacity utilized while trimming spending that has already surpassed €3 billion.Certification will be another hurdle. To launch new ICE variants, Porsche will have to tailor them to the European Union’s tight regulations, requiring extra investment. Even so, the company remains confident, betting that a blend of combustion, hybrid, and electric models will preserve its leadership. For enthusiasts, that mix promises choice without losing the 718’s visceral appeal—a pragmatic course while the market finds its balance.
Porsche 718, Boxster, Cayman, flat-six engine, hybrid power, Euro 7, EV demand slowdown, SSP sport platform, K1 electric crossover, 911 Carrera GTS, internal combustion, market strategy
2025
Michael Powers
news
Porsche extends 718 Cayman and Boxster ICE life amid EV slowdown
With EV demand cooling, Porsche keeps the 718 Cayman and Boxster alive with flat-six and hybrid power, drops four-cylinder turbos for Euro 7 compliance.
Michael Powers, Editor
Porsche is revisiting its electrification playbook and has chosen to extend the life of the 718 Cayman and Boxster with internal-combustion power. CEO Oliver Blume signaled that new range-topping versions could inherit the 911’s celebrated flat-six, effectively bringing the Boxster back to its original idea: an attainable sports car powered by the heart of its elder sibling.
The decision reflects more than brand tradition; it mirrors a shift in market dynamics. Slowing demand for premium EVs has pushed Porsche to adjust course, scrapping the K1 flagship electric crossover and shifting emphasis to combustion engines and hybrids. At the same time, development of the “sport” iteration of the SSP platform, intended to underpin future electric models, has been put on hold.
Four-cylinder turbo engines are expected to bow out, as they fall short of Euro 7 standards arriving in 2026. Replacing them is the hybridized flat engine that debuted in the 911 Carrera GTS. The move helps keep production capacity utilized while trimming spending that has already surpassed €3 billion.
Certification will be another hurdle. To launch new ICE variants, Porsche will have to tailor them to the European Union’s tight regulations, requiring extra investment. Even so, the company remains confident, betting that a blend of combustion, hybrid, and electric models will preserve its leadership. For enthusiasts, that mix promises choice without losing the 718’s visceral appeal—a pragmatic course while the market finds its balance.
