After two decades of Boxster presence (make that one decade for the Cayman), Porsche has now decided to bring the two closer together. Zuffenhausen has announced that the mid-cycle revamp for its pair of mid-engined sportscars will see them renamed as the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman, but this is just the tip of the reinvention iceberg.
For one thing, the two iterations of the new-age Porsche 718 will no longer see the Boxster being discriminated in terms of power.
Porsche explains that “the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman are showing more similarities - both visual and technical. In the future, both will have equally powerful four-cylinder flat engines with turbocharging.”
The rumor mill talks about a family of turbocharged four-cylinder boxer units whose architecture is based on that of the new 3.0-liter flat-sixes used for the 2016 Carrera. The base models should be powered by a 2.0-liter mill delivering 240 hp, while a 2.5-liter engine will produce 300 hp in the S models, climbing as high as 370 hp when the GTS badge is used.
As rumored, the two models will switch places in the Porsche line-up, with the Cayman no longer being the more expensive car (the current MRSP difference stands at $500).
“The Roadster will be positioned at a higher price level than the Coupé – as is done for the 911 models,” Porsche says. We have a hunch the Cayman will keep its price (at best), while the Boxster will climb up the financial ladder.
This leaves room for speculation over the long-rumored entry-level Porsche sportscar. The powerplant report mentioned above also included a 1.6-liter turbo for this new vehicle. Nevertheless, this lead will probably take us nowhere. First of all, the entry-level Porsche is said to have been canceled, while the tight budget following the Dieselgate matter certainly doesn’t help with this.
Porshe has revived the 718 nameplate thanks to its flat-four significance. The nameplate was used in the late 50s for a Porsche racecar (no, you haven’t driven this in Need For Speed: Porsche Unleashed). You’ll be able to dig deeper into this retro motorsport topic in the official video below.
As you can imagine, this year’s Le Mans winner, the 919 Hybrid, along with its 2.0-liter V4 engine, is also mentioned in Porsche’s release.
While the automaker is treating us with mere teasers, we’ve also brought you a pair of spy photos that show plenty of details of the 718 Boxster (helmet tip to Redditor AskListenSee). Consider these pics an unofficial Porsche Christmas card.
Aviation fanatics will be pleased to say hello to the Lockheed L-188 Electra in the background. As for the opinions on Buffalo Airways having recently had its license suspended by Transport Canada over safety issues, these are probably split.
Porsche says the 718 Boxster and Spyder will bow next year. While the revamped 911 Turbo and Turbo S are set to have their world premiere in Detroit (January), this doesn't necessarily mean the carmaker will wait for Geneva (March) in order to unleash the mid-engined revolution.
In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist. Full profile
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