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New Delhi: Porsche is officially pulling the plug on the petrol-powered 718 Boxster and Cayman. Production of the internal combustion engine (ICE) versions will stop in October this year, making 2025 their final run before all-electric successors take over in 2026.
Dealerships have stopped taking new bookings, though outstanding orders will be fulfilled and unsold stock remains available. For Indian buyers, the farewell came earlier, with both models discontinued in 2024.
The Boxster story began back in 1996, when Porsche introduced the soft-top roadster to revive its fortunes. A decade later, the Cayman arrived as the coupe sibling, offering sharper dynamics and a slightly more practical edge. The current fourth-generation models, launched in 2016, were the last big update before Porsche decided to shift them entirely to electric.
While the plan was initially to run petrol and electric versions side by side, delays in EV development forced Porsche to end ICE production sooner. The electric 718 twins will now launch in 2026, sitting on Volkswagen Group’s PPE (Premium Platform Electric) modular architecture, also used by the electric Macan.
Porsche has adjusted its overall product strategy to keep a mix of engines alive. The Cayenne and Panamera, for example, will continue with petrol and hybrids well into the 2030s. But the Boxster and Cayman will not get that treatment. Company insiders told European media that the 718 badge will now be reserved exclusively for EVs.
Motorsport fans need not worry too much. Porsche’s R&D head Michael Steiner has promised that the electric Boxster and Cayman will still drive like “real sports cars,” with sharp braking and handling tuned from the brand’s racing experience.
The company had once aimed for 80% of its global sales to be electric by 2030. That target has since been softened, but the 718 twins remain central to Porsche’s electric ambitions.
For nearly three decades, the Boxster and Cayman offered an entry point into Porsche’s sports car world. They combined everyday usability with track-ready handling, often considered the “driver’s cars” of the lineup. Their departure marks the end of an era, even as the brand prepares to reintroduce them with batteries instead of fuel tanks.
