Since Porsche announced that it would be using electric drives for the next 718 Boxster and Cayman, there has been a lot of excitement, everyone has an opinion on it and more has been written than in a long time. The topic has been with us for a good four years now: On March 18, 2022, the then CEO Oliver Blume stated that the electric 718s should go on sale by the middle of the decade.

Even if Porsche’s entry-level sports car without a combustion engine is not yet in showrooms in March 2026, that doesn’t mean that the project has been canceled. There was also a lot of speculation about this. The media created a constant back and forth. However, Porsche recently made it clear that the E variants were coming.

Porsche is testing the new 718

Blume’s successor Michael Leiters spoke briefly about the electrics during the annual press conference this week 718. Testing and development are continuing – and the responsible engineering team received express praise from the new man at the top in Zuffenhausen:

“I can say that we tested the entire product portfolio last week and I have driven the 718 several times now. I can assure you: it is a great car and the people are doing an excellent job developing it.”

Porsche electric Boxster will not arrive until 2027 at the earliest

Well, what else can he say? But spreading hope is certainly not the worst idea in the sports car manufacturer’s current situation. Leiters added, Porsche will give further details about the model range in the autumn – then “additions or adjustments to the product portfolio” could also be decided.

This should mean that the near-production Boxster/Cayman EVs will not be revealed until this period at the earliest. Even in an optimal scenario with a debut in the fall, we assume that deliveries will not start before 2027.

Porsche’s CEO is the second top executive this month to dismiss rumors of a discontinuation of the electric 718. In an interview with the magazine CarSales Australian Managing Director and CEO Daniel Schmollinger also praised him after driving a prototype:

“We can’t say when they’ll come yet, but I’ve had the opportunity to drive them – and they’re truly amazing. I was able to drive them on a race track and it was simply impressive. A Boxster-type car should offer balanced weight distribution and a very kart-like driving experience – and that’s exactly what it delivers. Of course, the electric motor adds even more dynamism to driving.”

Porsche originally wanted to position the electric variants as a complete replacement for the gasoline engines – that was rejected long ago. After production of the 718 with a combustion engine ended last October, six-cylinder engines are expected to return as top models towards the end of the decade. Porsche has not yet provided any further details.

Looking ahead, Leiters said Porsche is “fundamentally rethinking” the development of sports cars and trying to leverage “additional synergies across our models.” Translated, this means: more common parts and common assemblies to reduce costs and accelerate development – so that new vehicles come onto the market more quickly.

Development costs Porsche dearly

The parts kit does not end with your own model range, but also includes collaboration with Audi. Jochen Breckner, who is responsible for finance and IT on the Porsche board, mentioned an Audi license payment of around 1 billion euros. Leiters explained that this payment is not only related to the new, Q5-based combustion engine crossover, but also to other projects from both brands:

“This involves several models that we develop together – Audi with Porsche and Porsche with Audi. So that is the part that we paid to Audi, but it is about more than just a single model.”

The cooperation also includes Audi’s Concept C, which is scheduled to go into series production within the next two years. What is already known is that the road-legal version will only be offered as an electric car – with an electrically retractable Targa roof like the study. The concept car relied on a single-motor drive with rear-wheel drive, but a dual-motor Quattro variant is also planned.

Motor1 says: Despite customer skepticism about electric sports cars, Porsche appears determined to bring the battery-powered 718s to market. The models enter a small segment – ​​alongside the MG Cyberster and the next generation of the Alpine A110. However, the French have a plan B: their performance coupe could end up with an internal combustion engine.

However, the people of Zuffenhausen also have an alternative. The decision to offer the Boxster and Cayman with combustion engines again was greeted with enthusiasm. If the electric 718s also convince fans, it would be a milestone for the sports car segment.