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For decades Porsche buyers had three clear sports-car choices: the evergreen 911, the mid-engined Cayman coupe, and the open-top Boxster. Today Porsche has confirmed a major shift: global order books for the 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster are closed. This marks the beginning of the end for the 718 line in internal combustion form and signals Porsche’s accelerating shift toward electric vehicles and advanced automotive technology.
Why Porsche closed orders and what it means
Porsche’s decision follows earlier regional withdrawals: in early 2024 the company pulled the pair from European sales after the fourth-generation models—on sale since 2016—fell short of new cybersecurity regulation requirements. Rather than invest in costly updates to legacy software and control systems, Porsche quietly removed the models from European showrooms. Now the closure applies globally: both cars have been removed from Porsche’s configurator and price lists, and final deliveries are unofficially expected in some markets before March 2026.
Although fresh orders are no longer accepted, production could continue into 2026 to clear backlogs, according to industry reports. Porsche North America previously indicated that global production of current 718 variants, including RS models, is scheduled to end in October 2025. Notably, demand was not the issue: deliveries rose 15% in 2024, with more than 23,600 units sold.
Product features and technical direction of the incoming EVs
Platform, powertrain and battery architecture
The Cayman and Boxster names will live on—reimagined as two-seat electric sports cars expected to debut in 2026. Both will use the Volkswagen Group’s PPE (Premium Platform Electric) architecture, the same scalable electric platform that underpins the Macan EV and future Audi and Porsche models. Expect single-motor rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive configurations, with base outputs north of 300 hp and high-performance variants exceeding 400 hp—insiders hint at outputs approaching or surpassing 490 hp for Turbo-like trims.
Battery layout and driving dynamics
Porsche plans a mid-engine–styled battery pack positioned behind the seats and a low center of gravity to preserve the tactile handling and balance for which the 718 line is known. That battery placement, combined with motorsport-inspired chassis tuning and advanced regenerative braking systems, is intended to reproduce the driving spirit even as the power source shifts from gasoline to electricity.
Comparisons, advantages and use cases
- Performance vs combustion: Early testing mules suggest EV variants may outperform petrol 718s in 0–60 acceleration and torque delivery while offering improved weight distribution and instantaneous electric torque. However, the emotional character of a naturally aspirated flat-six will be hard to replicate sonically.
- Usability and tech: EV 718s will benefit from modern ADAS-ready electronics, over-the-air software updates, and improved cybersecurity frameworks—features that the outgoing combustion models lacked without expensive retrofits.
- Practical use cases: These two-seater EV sports cars will appeal to driving enthusiasts who prioritize handling, track capability and modern EV performance, as well as to tech-oriented buyers seeking cutting-edge battery technology and integrated software-driven features.
Market relevance and collector potential
With nearly 30 years of mid-engined Porsche heritage coming to a close for the internal combustion era, early production combustion Caymans and Boxsters could become collectors’ items. Their cult following, historic role in reviving Porsche’s finances in the late 1990s, and the fact that production will stop make remaining petrol models scarce. For Porsche, the change is strategic: a move to electrify core sports-car DNA while leveraging software, battery innovation, and PPE platform economies.
Outlook
Porsche’s R&D chief has pledged that the EV successors will retain true sports-car DNA through chassis engineering and braking systems tuned by motorsport experience. The transition presents an emotional and engineering challenge—recreating tactile engagement in a near-silent, battery-powered package—but it also opens opportunities for superior performance metrics, improved connectivity, and compliance with evolving cybersecurity and emissions standards. For buyers who still want a brand-new combustion 718, dealership stock will be the only source; for everyone else, the all-electric Cayman and Boxster will represent Porsche’s next-generation vision of sports-car technology.
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