While Porsche has axed the 718 in Europe due to cybersecurity regulations, its all-electric successor can’t come soon enough. Ahead of its 2025 release, the zero-emission Boxster has been spotted undergoing cold weather testing in Scandinavia. Some of these prototypes now have the definitive headlights and taillights, but the center exhaust tip is definitely wrong.
This is a running Zuffenhausen joke, given that the Taycan prototypes of the sedan and station wagon also had them before EVs were officially revealed. Additionally, the Macan EV was also spotted with fake exhaust pipes during the testing phase. We wouldn’t be surprised if the already confirmed three-row electric SUV and Cayenne EV adopt a similar layout once testing begins.
German humor aside, we can’t help but notice the large charging port door in the center of the rear bumper. Electric vehicle owners typically charge the batteries on one side of the car, but that won’t be the case with the upcoming Boxster. It’s also different from what Porsche uses given that the Taycan has two charging ports on the front fenders, while the Macan has two on the rear fenders. We can’t know because the prototypes are still cleverly camouflaged, but it looks like the next-gen 718 will only have one charging port.
Likely carrying the internal codename “983”, the next-generation 718 could retain the “Boxster” moniker despite the removal of the boxer engine. This wouldn’t be surprising given that the Taycan Turbo doesn’t have a turbocharger. These are popular nameplates that Porsche is not ready to abandon in the era of electric vehicles.
The new electric sports car will retain the fabric roof, two-seat configuration and front trunk, but it will be a different model under the skin. It could borrow elements of the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) hardware co-developed by Porsche with Audi. We expect rear- and all-wheel-drive versions with single- and dual-motor configurations, respectively. The Boxster is expected to be released first, followed by the Cayman coupe shortly after.
The new all-electric Macan has a lithium-ion battery with a usable capacity of 95 kWh, but Porsche could reduce this for the Boxster/Cayman to reduce the weight penalty. People buying a sports car are more willing to settle for less range if it means extra performance. If the future 718 benefits from the same 800 volt architecture as the crossover, it should support DC charging at 270 kW.
Don’t expect a design overhaul since Porsche prefers evolution to revolutionary. However, the interior of the current car is starting to show its age, which is why prototypes of its replacement have been spotted with a more modern dashboard. Besides the usual larger screens, these cars had touch buttons on the center console to adjust the temperature as well as heated and ventilated seats.
The future 718s will be sold exclusively in electric versions, but the current Boxster and Cayman will not disappear. Although the duo is being phased out in the European Union, gasoline sports cars remain present in other markets. Porsche will sell the ICE and EV models together for an indefinite period before inevitably pulling the plug on the former. It’s the same story with the old and new Macan.
