Porsche discontinues two iconic models and replaces them both with EVs
NEW DIRECTION Porsche discontinues two iconic models and replaces them both with EVs
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PORSCHE has confirmed it will axe two of its most iconic sports cars—the petrol-powered 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman—by the end of this year, paving the way for fully electric replacements.
The announcement marks a significant shift in the brand's strategy as it leans further into electric mobility.
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Whittlebury,Northants,UK -Aug 27th 2023: 2022 blue Porsche 718 Cayman car travelling on an English country road
Credit: Getty
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Production of the mid-engine 718 twins will end in October 2025 at Porsche's facilities in Zuffenhausen and Osnabrück
Credit: Alamy
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Replacing these fan favourites will be fully electric versions of both the Cayman and Boxster
Credit: AP:Associated Press
The news was first revealed in Germany by Porsche production boss Albrecht Reimold in Automobilwoche and later confirmed by the company to Car and Driver.
Production of the mid-engine 718 twins will end in October 2025 at Porsche's facilities in Zuffenhausen and Osnabrück.
The move follows the earlier discontinuation of the models in Europe due to new cybersecurity laws.
According to Porsche, the decision isn't about poor sales. In fact, 2024 saw a 15 percent increase in deliveries, with 23,670 units sold.
However, limited parts availability and the push for electrification have forced Porsche's hand.
'We are now focused on the next chapter,' said a spokesperson.
Special editions like the Cayman GT4 RS and Boxster RS Spyder will also bow out, despite previous exemptions from EU regulations.
Replacing these fan favourites will be fully electric versions of both the Cayman and Boxster.
While details remain scarce, Reimold assured enthusiasts that the electric successors will maintain the fun-to-drive character.
'I've driven it,' he said.
'The driving experience will still be 100 percent 718.' Porsche CEO Oliver Blume added during the brand's recent annual meeting that the new EVs will be 'even more dynamic, even more powerful.'
However, fans will have to wait a bit longer for the new generation.
The EV 718s won't launch until the 'medium term', with development still ongoing.
In the meantime, Porsche is urging customers to snap up the remaining petrol-powered models while they still can.
'This may well be your last chance,' warned Car and Driver, which was among the first to report the change for global markets.
The shift has been in motion since the start of 2024, when the 718 was pulled from European markets in response to stricter cybersecurity legislation.
The regulations effectively ended sales of the internal-combustion Boxster and Cayman, along with the petrol-powered Macan, across the EU.
The U.S. and other regions were granted a temporary reprieve, but that window will now close in October.
While the 718's days are numbered, Porsche's broader EV strategy is still in flux.
CEO Oliver Blume admitted during this week's shareholder meeting that the company's previous target—having electric cars make up 80 percent of sales by 2030—is now unlikely to be met.
Despite this, Porsche says the electric lineup 'will continue to grow as planned,' including a large three-row SUV still in development.
Interestingly, Porsche is also keeping its options open when it comes to future powertrains.
The company has hinted it may reintroduce combustion engines or hybrids into models originally intended to be electric-only.
Last November, then-CFO Lutz Meschke said Porsche was 'looking at the possibility' of combining hybrid or petrol power with upcoming EVs—a sign the brand isn't closing the door on internal combustion just yet.
As Porsche moves into this new chapter, the retirement of the 718 range is more than just the end of two cars,it's the end of an era.
Since their debut, the Boxster and Cayman have become icons in their own right, offering affordable performance and precise handling.
Whether the electric versions can match that legacy remains to be seen.
The Sun has approached Porsche for comment.
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