Porsche, which is the luxury German sports carmaker, has made a surprising shift of plans in its electric strategy, as instead of going all-in on EVs, the company has confirmed that new “top” versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman will continue with powerful combustion engines and they may even borrow the iconic flat-six engine from the 911.
According to Autocar UK, this move was officially described by CEO Oliver Blume as a “strategic realignment”. It also means Porsche has cancelled plans for its large all-electric K1 flagship SUV, which suffered a financial loss of €1.8 billion. Beside that, the development of a “Sport” electric platform has also been halted, pushing several next-generation EVs, like the electric Panamera and next Taycan,
into the next decade.
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Why Porsche Is Changing Course
Blume admitted that, “We have seen a clear drop in demand for exclusive battery-electric cars and we are taking that into account.”
Between rising costs, strict regulations, and slower EV demand, Porsche has decided to keep some of its classic combustion vehicles alive well into the 2030s. Models like the Cayenne and Panamera will also continue with combustion and hybrid engines, while Porsche keeps working on EVs such as the upcoming Cayenne Electric.
What It Means for the 718
The 718 Boxster and Cayman are Porsche’s smaller, mid-engine sports cars, and brand lovers feared they would go fully electric soon. But the new plan keeps the combustion versions alive, especially for the Spyder RS and GT4 RS. Reports suggest the four-cylinder engines will disappear, which will be replaced by a more powerful flat-six hybrid setup derived from the 911Carrera GTS. This development brings the 718 closer than ever to the 911 and makes it more thrilling for auto enthusiasts while keeping costs and production simpler for Porsche.
Big Picture for Porsche
While Porsche is not cancelling electrification, it already sells the Taycan EV and soon the Cayenne EV, however the company is betting on a balanced mix of petrol, hybrid and electric cars.
Blume stated, “This flexibility gives us a strong position with a compelling mix of combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles.”
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