Porsche 718 EV Electric Power in a Compact Porsche Sports Car

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The evolution of the Porsche 718 from a mid-engined sports car to an electric sports car hasnt been a fast process. We can trace rumors and news back to as far as 2019 when it was believed that the 718 EV would be here in 2023 with more power than a Cayman GTS. Here we are more than halfway through 2023, and theres no electric 718 in sight. That doesnt mean its not coming, though. There are prototypes on the road we even got a look at one back in late 2022 and weve also been teased by that Porsche Vision 357 concept earlier in 2023.

We know that initial rumors about the 718 EV were wrong, as were now more than halfway through 2023, and theres no electric 718 in sight yet, but its definitely coming. It should arrive for the 2025 model year, and we could see for the first time in less than a years time. With all of the hype, and as a replacement for the somewhat iconic 718, Porsches first midship electric sports car has some big shoes to fill. Were here to argue that its going to fill those shoes with ease and take the 718 to an all-new level of awesomeness.

Related: Everything We Know About The All-Electric Porsche 718 Boxster And Cayman

Porsche Mission R Concept: Our First Look At the 718 Electric Sports Car

The Porsche Mission R Concept was revealed in September of 2021, and to everyones surprise it looked like an extreme Porsche 718 designed specifically to dominate every racetrack in the world. If the red and white livery didnt give you that impression, the extreme body kit and massive rear spoiler certainly did. The big surprise, however, was that it was all-electric, AWD concept with outrageous charging capability, and oil-cooled motors that help prevent the Mission R from experiencing the typical output degradation over long periods of intensive use.

All told, the Porsche Mission R Concept features two electric motors. The front motor produces 429 horsepower while the rear puts down 644 horsepower for a combined peak output of 1,073 horsepower. Porsche never revealed torque figures but did say that in race mode the system can put out a continuous 500 kW or 670 horsepower. It can hit 62 mph in 2.5 seconds and tops out at more than 186 mph.

Now, its worth noting that the Mission R concept is far too extreme to ever go into production as the standard 718 Electric sports car. However, the new 718 will likely borrow some of its technology. The new 718 will also most likely not be AWD, either, as that would take away from the very nature of what the 718 is at its core: a compact, relatively affordable, high-end sports car.

Related: The Porsche Vision 357 Concept Could Preview The Mythical Porsche 718 EV

How Porsche Will Kickstart A New Era Of Sports Cars

One could argue that the Porsche Taycan kicked off Porsches entry into the electric sports car market, but despite being fast, the Taycan isnt really playing in the same league as cars like the Porsche 718 and 911. The new 718 EV, on the other hand, will be the brands first two-door electric sports coupe and the first of its kind - if you count out models like the Maserati Granturismo Folgore, Tesla Roadster, and supercars like the Rimac Nevera or Pininfarina Battista.

Unlike most of the models listed above, an electric Porsche 718 will have to maintain some level of relative affordability. The current 718 Cayman range, for example, starts out at $68,300 and climbs to as much as $95,200 in coupe form. You can expect the 718 EV to sit on the higher end of the price spectrum, but going too high even for an electric sports car will tarnish the whole purpose of the 718: To be the entry point to Porsche sports cars.

With this in mind, this means that the electric Porsche 718 could, in fact, be the most affordable electric sports car on the market at launch. Itll be much cheaper than the Tesla Roadster and with Maserati uninterested in partaking in pricing wars with competitors, itll be cheaper than the Granturismo Folgore as well. Ultimately, itll be an excellent value, and it could set the standard for what entry-level electric sports cars should cost and what they should be capable of.

Related: Spy Shots: An Early Look At The 2025 Porsche 718 Boxster EV

Porsche 718 EV Performance: What To Expect

Porsche has never been a brand to really chase high horsepower numbers. On the contrary, the brand is more about the end result in terms of handling and overall driving dynamic. Thats why the Porsche 911 has never evolved into a thoroughbred supercar. Even with the current 718 range, Porsche has proved that big power isnt needed for high performance. The range-topping 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, for example, puts out 394 horsepower and can still sprint to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds.

The nature of electric vehicles means high horsepower and high torque comes easily, so an electric 718 could easily have double or triple that output, but dont expect too much. Power output from the electric powertrain also has to be balanced properly or usable range also suffers. With the 718 being as compact as it is, battery size and ultimately range will already be limited to a certain degree. We can, however, still look back to the Mission X Concept.

It would be very surprising if the production 718 EV came with the Mission Xs two-motor AWD setup. In fact, were willing to bet AWD wont even be an option. It would also be surprising if the 644-horsepower electric motor made its way into the next-gen 718. Its possible a version of it with lower output makes its way to the GTS (or whatever the range-topper in the lineup will be called) but too much horsepower would also tarnish the core values of the 911.

As such, Porsche could go with the 429-horsepower motor from the front of the Mission X or some derivative of it. 429 horsepower would be an appropriate improvement over the current GTS 4.0 at 394 horsepower and most likely enough to make up for the extra weight that comes along with electric cars. That same motor would be limited to a lower output for the base and mid-level models. By that logic, the base 718 EV could be good for 340-ish horsepower with the 718 Cayman S EV coming in around 380-ish horsepower. 0-60 mph times for all models could drop rather significantly thanks to the electric motor.

Were hoping that the electric range will come in somewhere around the 300-mile mark, which wouldnt be bad with todays fast-charging capabilities. Regardless of what Porsche ends up doing with the 718 EV, theres one thing we know for sure. The company has made it clear that the 718 Cayman EV wont lose the mid-engine driving dynamic that made it so special to begin with.

Related: Confirmed: The Porsche 718 Goes All-Electric in 2025!!

The Porsche 718 Electric Sports Car Should Launch For 2025

Porsche revived the 718 designation when the fourth-generation (982) Cayman and Boxster was launched back in 2016. With the current model 7 years old as of 2023, 2025 will be the perfect time for the fifth-gen model to launch. This date was confirmed back in 2022 after rumors spread that 2023 was going to be the big year. This means that well likely see the production-ready model as soon as late-2023 or sometime in early 2024 before Porsche kicks off production for the 2025 model year.

Whats even crazier is that the Porsche 718 EV could end up being the very basis for the Audi R8s successor, if you can believe that.

Electric Porsche Boxster: new pictures of near-production sports EV

New electric Porsche Boxster spied Latest on next 718 Cayman/Boxster EVs Sports cars confirmed for 2025

Stuttgart is preparing to bolster its electric car range with an all-electric replacement for the Porsche 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman twins and the camouflage is gradually dropping from the prototypes spied on wintry cold-weather testing in Scandinavia.

Porsches junior sports car has been snapped by our spy photographers inside and out. The latest batch of photos reveal fresh details like the production headlamps, which follow the multi-LED graphic seen on other new Porsche electric cars such as the recently unveiled new Taycan and Macan.

The 718 is the next electric model on Porsches launchpad.

Note how the fake exhaust pipes have been removed from the latest test cars, while slimline horizontal lights run across the rump.

Zuffenhausen is planning a pair of sports cars, electrified to take the entry-level Porsche bloodline into the EV age. The styling is remarkably evolutionary you wont mistake this test hack for anything other than a Boxster but the major changes lie beneath the skin.

Both the Boxster and Cayman will be based around a new electric car architecture dubbed SSP Sport. It allows for rear- or all-wheel drive sports cars and is designed to keep the heft as low as possible, in a bid to counter the natural weight gain associated with plugging in.

An extreme diet is one of the key reasons why Porsche has ploughed ahead with electric versions of its bigger saloons and SUVs first; its waiting for battery tech and weight to improve before committing to its first electric sports car.

Electric Porsche Boxster: same-again looks, radical revolution under the skin

In a long game of cat and mouse, our spies have been scooping the electric Porsche sports cars for years and weve updated this page to show the latest and earliest prototypes so you can chart the programmes progress. Earlier prototypes (below) carried more disguise, and even dummy exhaust tips, in a bid to put photographers off the scent. Note the simple folding soft-top is retained.

The rear of the new Boxster EV looks to continue Stuttgarts move towards full-width LED lights at the rear. Its a tight package with space for just two seats, leaving the Porsche 911 as the marques classic 2+2 sports model. Hierarchy is all in the Teutonic logic of the Porsche brand ladder.

The battery-powered newcomers will be built at Zuffenhausen and Porsche is spending around 200 million to update the factory in preparation for its electric switchover; the company expects to offer legacy combustion models alongside the EVs during a transition period.

Range, battery size and charging specs

Its too early to call the exact EV specs expected from the Porsche 718 replacement, but we know it will package the batteries in a mid-mounted position, not dissimilar to the classical mid-engined sports car format. Why? Because cells cannot be arranged in a skateboard position along the floor, as it would prevent the driver from sitting low to the ground in time-honoured fashion.

The electric 718 twins will use a centrally mounted flap above the rear registration mount to house its Type 2 charging plug, making it easier to use chargers on the left or right-hand side.

A high-speed DC charger port is also visible in our sandy spyshot above. It is not yet known what charging rate the electric Porsche sports cars will offer, but we expect this EV to stick with a smaller capacity to keep a lid on weight so rapid charging will be a must.

Spy photos inside the electric roadster

Our man with the long lens has already stolen a good look inside the 2025 Porsche 718 Boxster EV and its a significant upgrade on what went before.

Its significantly more digital than the current car, with large, all-electronic screens and read-outs. Although unfinished, its clear to see the new Boxster will use a sophisticated dual-screen set-up like the Taycan.

The battery stats are just about visible, with the prototype model 50% charged with a range of 125km (78 miles) left.

Of course, there are lots of variables at this stage of development and especially in testing sub-zero Arctic conditions, so wed put that range at the worst-case scenario end of the scale. Expect a claimed range nearer 300 miles in production on the official WLTP cycle.

Porsche engineers are busy putting its 2025 sports car through its paces in harsh winter conditions, as they grapple with low temperatures affecting battery performance, durability in cold climes and handling prowess in all weathers.

Its just part of an extensive test programme, which has seen the next Boxster put through its paces across the globe. Our spies have already captured the sports car on test at the Nurburgring in Germany, where prototypes have been spotted with wheels in the air.

CEO Oliver Blume announced that the electric sports cars will be revealed by the middle of the decade at the brands 2023 annual press conference. He also confirmed that the electric 718 Boxster and Cayman twins will run in parallel to petrol versions.

We havent yet seen a tin-top Cayman, suggesting that Porsche will launch the roadster first exactly mirroring the staggered launch cadence of the original coupe two decades ago.

New 2025 electric Porsche Boxster and Cayman: what to expect

Strip away the camouflage and the direction of travel is clear to see.

Our artists have already depicted what the fixed-head electric Cayman could look like (see earlier rendering, below), based on the new EV architecture, which is likely to offer a mix of rear- or all-wheel drive depending on whether buyers choose a single or dual-motor option.

CARs sources suggest that twin-motor electric Boxsters will boast up to 400bhp, although Porsche will be keen to keep some clear water between its junior sports cars and its evergreen 911.

The company has already shown the Porsche Mission R concept car to showcase what a compact electric sports car could look like, albeit it in track form. Explaining the mid-engined look, it packaged the batteries behind the two seats ahead of the rear axle in what Porsche calls E-Core to allow for a low-slung seating position rather than a tip-toe stance common on many EVs.

Electric Porsche sports cars: the origins

Weve been following this story for years and its been a long gestation. Back in the early throes of Covid lockdown, CAR magazine spoke to the R&D bosses about the project. Dr Michael Steiner said in March 2020: We are running several electrified Boxsters to gain expertise and knowledge to see how an electric car performs as a two-door.

The acoustic sound doesnt really play that huge a role with a GT like the Taycan and adding weight is okay, he added. But the additional weight for a sports car, we are not satisfied with today. This is one of the reasons why our next electric car will be a small SUV not a two-door sports car.

Thats the new 2024 Porsche Macan, the second EV to hail from Porsche.

Porsche Taycan electric car review

Steiner (above) said that improved battery technology was needed before an electric Porsche sports car would be ready for production. If there was a breakthrough in battery technology, something like solid-state batteries this direction would trigger a two-door sports car fully electrified. But I do not see in the first half of this decade a good chance of a breakthrough in battery technology, he told us during the Covid lockdowns.

We will see step-by-step incremental benefit with lithium-ion batteries. We predict a 2-3% improvement year-by-year in lithium-ion battery improvement. I am still not happy with the weight, though.

The companys battery progress has improved considerably since then, however meaning that the battery sports cars will be shown next year.

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What will happen to todays Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman?

The current, mostly four-cylinder, 718 twins will have to soldier on until mid-decade in their current forms. Expect special editions and tweaks to keep the Boxster and Cayman selling until the advent of their electric successors.

Porsche and Rimac: how future sports cars will be developed

Porsches investment in Rimac is a big deal for its future electrified cars and one of the reasons that the battery tech and motor know-how has advanced to pave the way for an electric Boxster and Cayman to launch.

While the start-up has had little to do with the Taycan, the first project to come from Stuttgarts Croatian venture will be the electric Macan, then further development with the smaller sports car project.

Will the 911 also go electric?

Porsche execs understand that the time may come for a fully-electric 911, but they dont want to go messing with a 60-year old icon just yet. Expect hybridisation options first, as the job of pioneering a fully electric Porsche sports car will fall to the 718 successor.

Lutz Meschke, deputy chairman of Porsche AG, said: In the sports car segment we have to think about the pure electric car. With the 911 it will be a bit difficult, but for the 718 I think it could be a very good step for the future, on a completely new platform we can then discuss to share with other brands.

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