Porsche’s celebrated Boxster roadster and Cayman coupe are about to undergo a radical alteration.
Porsche, bending to looming emission regulations, has decided that the next-generation 718 Boxster and Cayman models — two-seat mid-engine sports cars fitted with turbocharged flat-four and naturally aspirated flat-six combustion engines — will be redesigned with 100 percent electric powertrains.
Accepting that Porsche, a brand committed to the emotional relationship between a driver and their vehicle, will cease offering combustion engines in two of its most engaging sports cars has been met with mixed feelings within the Porsche community.
The company’s most fervent owners — passionate driving enthusiasts — are concerned that electrification will remove vital parts of the driving experience. Yet those opinions are contrasted by owners who accept the brand’s progress towards its carbon-free objectives.
Kurt Johnson, a Porsche owner who races his sports cars competitively in California, represents the company’s most loyal customer. So not surprisingly, he isn’t embracing the company’s emission-free future.
“Porsche is all about the soul. It’s more than just a car… it’s an experience,” he explains. “To only offer an electric version of the 718 will not only compromise the experience of those models but also create a strong negative perception of the overall Porsche brand.
” Johnson points out the potential to damage a brand noted for its renowned flat-engine architecture. “Why dilute the very soul that the company was built on?”
“I chose a Porsche for its distinctive sound and performance,” remarks Sean Dugan, another passionate Porsche owner in Southern California, “Even while sitting at a stop light, a combustion engine delivers an anticipatory idle that hints at the power to be unleashed.
And nothing will ever replace the thrill… the boisterous mechanical wail and throaty exhaust note as a flat-6 spins towards redline.” It goes beyond vibration and audio track, adds Dugan. “There’s a visceral, almost primal, connection between a driving enthusiast and their right foot commanding a combustion engine.”
Speculation suggests that the new Boxster and Cayman will likely boast at least 450 horsepower in single-motor rear-wheel drive models. Dual-motor all-wheel drive variants (a first for the 718 models) may double that.
As a result, acceleration will be neck-snapping strong but absent the familiar vibration, sounds, and smells of exploding gasoline. “Would I consider buying one? Not initially, but never say never,” commented Greg Dranow, an enthusiast who owns multiple Porsches in Texas.
“A sports car should be engaging, visceral, and somewhat familiar in sound and experience. Not just fast and numb.”
Yet there are contrasting opinions. “The electric automobile is the way of the future, so there is no sense in fighting it,” said Scott Romanos, an owner of multiple Porsches in Florida.
While other sporty EV offerings are on the market, Porsche’s reputation sets it apart. “I would strongly consider any of Porsche’s electric sports cars,” he adds.
“Their attention to detail about engineering, build quality, and style is a step or two above most other manufacturers.” engineering, build quality, and style is a step or two above most other manufacturers.”