Could the 718 replacement be an EV?

[Motorhead]

Interesting to see that the RS models are available in the EU when the marmite 718s aren’t Ralph. Any idea how Porsche has found a way around the cyber security requirements for those cars and not the others … limited numbers perhaps?

Apparently the 2.0L F4-T cars are popular in China because they’re taxed at a lower rate.

Jeff

 

[ianthow]

Feb issue of Car mag has impressions of 983 Boxster and Cayman with a brief write up.

This issue also includes a lot of other interesting stuff on other brand electric plans and tech plus a feature on a V16 engine being developed by Cosworth for Bugatti.

 

[ralphmusic]

Interesting to see that the RS models are available in the EU when the marmite 718s aren’t Ralph. Any idea how Porsche has found a way around the cyber security requirements for those cars and not the others … limited numbers perhaps?

Apparently the 2.0L F4-T cars are popular in China because they’re taxed at a lower rate.

Jeff

Jeff,

The SRS and 4RS are sold in the EU under specific low volume homologations which provide waivers for cyber and some nannies but limit sales to 1,500 pa across all EU countries and which will expire in a year or less. The (and my SRS) CoC (Certificate of Conformance) is issued under approval "e13*KS18/858*00016*02"

The "e13" shows the CoC is issued by Luxembourg - why? - it's apparently a more "efficient" process there

The "KS18/858" type homologation provides for a number of “small series” type approvals that have lesser technical and administrative requirements.

There was a China F4 version Spyder at one time...

I haven't read the article on EV 718 replacement Ian refers to but I guess it is a child of hope beyond reality unless there is another 800v battery system that can be engineered in and validated by next year, or they can go for a Macan EV system variant with lower charging and range efficiency and introduce a .2 800v version in a few years time.

 

[Motorhead]

Thanks for all that info Ralph … interesting!

I’ve not read the Car magazine article either, but other than extending the life of the 718 by making it cyber security compliant, maybe more, I can’t see any future for an ICE Cayman or Boxster because - unlike the Macan - there’s no VAG ICE shared platform which can be adapted, plus vehicle assembly options are very limited with Osnabrück scheduled to close this year I believe.

The battery supply issue is a major headache for Porsche such that I just can’t see how the EV cars will make it to market this year. A temporary lifeline for the 718 maybe, a car which essentially has been in production for about 13-years … in true Porsche tradition!

Jeff

 

[JohnCRS]

Perhaps they will be able to reverse engineer the cyber security electrics from the EV into the 4 cylinder 718, add mild hybrid technology and sell it as going in the right direction, keeping the 4.0 alive as a limited option GT offering. I suspect there is a wider range of options being considered as things are looking a bit desperate.

 

[Motorhead]

Whilst we live in hope John, I doubt that what you suggest is possible given that it would require significant costs and engineering effort to design, implement and type-approve such updates for what is likely to be a relatively short-lived car, although I’m sure that such thoughts are engaging those at Porsche responsible for these decisions.

Jeff

 

[Scrounger]

718 E Cayman spotted

Electric Porsche 718 Cayman spied for first time | Auto Express

Along with its convertible sibling, Porsche’s mid-engined 718 Cayman coupe will also switch to electric propulsion

www.autoexpress.co.uk

Not sure if I'm a lover of those headlights.

Dan

 

[Motorhead]

Thanks Dan. Not sure if those headlights are for production though, and the article mentions that they look almost identical to those on the pre-facelift Taycan.

Interesting that even the scribes are mentioning a 2026 reveal rather than this year, and even then just the Boxster initially with the Cayman not far behind. Maybe that’s why we haven’t seen any Cayman prototypes out and about so far?

Jeff

 

[Motorhead]

A few more pics here:

Behold the all-new electric Porsche 718 Cayman

Meet the new boss - definitely not the same as the old boss...

www.pistonheads.com

There’s a lot of camouflage on the front and rear light structures as well as on the rear side window and lower door/intake/sills areas.

Jeff

 

[ianthow]

A few more pics here:

Behold the all-new electric Porsche 718 Cayman

Meet the new boss - definitely not the same as the old boss...

www.pistonheads.com

There’s a lot of camouflage on the front and rear light structures as well as on the rear side window and lower door/intake/sills areas.

Jeff

I agree, the whole rear end may even be a mock-up as the wheels seem lost inside these wide arches and the rear overhang looks excessive. Looking bloated like a 992 (apologies to 992 owners, just my opinion).

 

[JohnCRS]

Heavy - at least it looks as if the rear disks are desined to deal with significant loads.

 

[Motorhead]

It does look bulky John, but as noted there’s a lot of camouflage, including what look to be dummy front and rear PUs, and intake vanes like those on the 992.2 GTS are visible behind the front intakes so the finished product probably will look closer to the Car mag’s rendering shown above in post #182.

Big brakes are also featured on the Taycan, which is unusual for an EV, but Porsche don’t appear to be too keen on regenerative braking so they’re necessary to deal with large mass.

Jeff

 

[ralphmusic]

Some management turmoil with CFO (Blume’s friend) who wants to retain some NA model(s) v Blume who is for 100% EV and CFO & Sales being boss being ousted.

 

[Motorhead]

It sounds as though the breakdown of consensus politics in Germany has spread to the Porsche boardroom Ralph!

Jeff

 

[ianthow]

See also

https://www.electrive.com/2025/02/03/porsche-wants-to-part-with-two-board-members/

 

[ralphmusic]

EV v NA

www.autonews.com/volkswagen/porsche/ane-porsche-profit-ice-phev-evs-margins/

 

[ralphmusic]

Audi updating Q5 cyber etc with NA engine - Porsche must regret not planning same with Macan.

Also

Porsche will mehr Verbrenner bauen

Porsche reagiert auf den schleppenden Absatz von Elektro-Sportwagen: Alarmiert von einem Gewinneinbruch, will das Management wieder mehr Modelle mit Verbrenner-Motor ausstatten. Dafür nimmt die VW-Tochter auch 2025 ein geringeres operatives Ergebnis in Kauf.

www.n-tv.de

Google translate:

‘Porsche is reacting to the sluggish sales of electric sports cars: Alarmed by a drop in profits, the management wants to equip more models with combustion engines. In return, the VW subsidiary also accepts a lower operating result in 2025.

The Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer Porsche AG is seting up a savings and investment program after a profit collapse and is accepting further loss of earnings this year. The Management Board had "decided on extensive measures to strengthen the company's short- and medium-term profitability," the Volkswagen subsidiary announced in the evening. Among other things, more Porsche models are to be equipped and built with internal combustion or plug-in hybrid engines after the business with electric sports cars is slow. "Adadments in the corporate organization" are also planned. A significant additional effort is to be expected for vehicle development and battery business. All in all, the operating result will be reduced by around 800 million euros.


ECONOMICS02.02.25
"Internaa there is pure panic"Porsche wants to part with two top managers


Porsche expects lower sales and plans to have stagnant sales of 39 to 40 billion euros. In 2023, it was still 40.5 billion. The operating return on sales will decrease to ten to twelve percent in 2025. Last year, it was at the lower end of the planning already reduced in the summer, i.e. at about 14 (2023: 18) percent. This results in an operating result of EUR 5.5 to 5.6 billion for 2024. That would be a decrease of about a quarter.

Family holding expects loss of value​

The dividend is expected to remain approximately at the previous year's level. For 2023, Porsche had distributed 2.30 euros per ordinary share and 2.31 euros on the listed benefits. Majority shareholder VW, which, like Porsche AG, is managed by Oliver Blume, did not want to comment on the plans.


CAR31.10.24
Last generation in the driving reportPorsche Panamera - lots of fine things for the finale
The second major shareholder, the listed family holding company Porsche SE, expects a greater loss of value of its stake as a result of the business figures and the sports car manufacturer's plans. Instead of one to two billion euros, the share package is expected to be devalued by 2.5 to 3.5 billion euros. At Volkswagen, it will amount to a write-off of approximately 20 billion euros.

Last year, the cash flow return in the automotive business was above its own plans, Porsche AG explained: at just over ten (2023: 10.6) percent - the Executive Board had promised 7.0 to 8.5 percent. This is partly due to the reduction in inventories in the fourth quarter and positive special effects at the end of the year.’

Blume has ended up with his ex-CFO’s NA/EV position..