Porsche 718 Going Fully Electric To Save The 911

Sep. 23, 2021 4:38 PM ET bySebastian Cenizo Industry News /9 Comments

This could keep the 911 old-school a little longer.

Porsche always delivers with the 911. Its iconic sports car is fantastic,no matter what version you get, but the 718 range, particularly theCayman GT4and Spyder models, have proved that you don't need to get the most expensive option to have fun in a Porsche. Theupcoming GT4 RSshould further bolster that idea, but sadly, this upcoming model will be one of the last in the 718 range to be free of electrification. In fact, as the similarly sizedMission R concepthinted, the 718 is going all-electric - but it's actually a good thing. Allow us to explain why.

Porsche

We first heard that Porsche was looking to be going electric in 2018, and that wasconfirmed less than a year later. According to a new report fromCar & Driver, the 718 will become a full battery-electric vehicle and will continue to be sold in both Boxster and Cayman form, with the former almost guaranteed to retain a fabric roof instead of changing to a hardtop. The body style will also change only slightly, but the front end will adopt Porsche's new "electric front" with Taycan-inspired headlights. And with a young average customer base for the 718, the next model will boast a very high-tech cabin with futuristic styling, making it "the most modern Porsche." That's all good and well, but what about the handling of a heavy EV? Porsche aims to take this into account, with a reported internal target weight of under 3,650 pounds.

Porsche

力量评级和其他细节尚未confirmed, but Porsche is said to be aiming for a range of at least 250 miles, and "more is better." Faster models will likely gain a front electric motor and become the first all-wheel-drive 718s. These models could also develop as much as certain 911 models too, but here's how the electric 718 saves the 911. By keeping the 911 free of any form of electrification for as long as possible, it remains attractive to its existing buyers. Porsche wants to retain a combustion engine beyond 2030 and911年5月从未杂交, which explains why the brand is investing so heavily in thedevelopment of synthetic fuel. Keeping an internal combustion-powered car alive is only possible if other models massively reduce emissions, so the electric 718 could well be the reason the traditional 911 retains its signature driving characteristics.

We'll learn more as the story develops, but expect an all-new electric 718 in 2025, possibly with a gasoline counterpart joining it in the early stages, if upcoming Euro 7 emissions regulations allow it.