By thatcar.co.za
Ask any Porsche lover and I’m pretty sure they’ll all agree: of all the Porsche ranges, the Boxster and Cayman are among the most balanced sports cars you can drive.
Yes, the 911 GT3 RS is a monster. But the Cayman and Boxster? There is just something about them that makes them special.
Until now…
THE NEXT GEN
The next-generation Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman will be launched in 2028 as pure Eskom…
Oops. I mean, pure EV. 😂
We know it will be fast, but will it still have the Hlaudi? Let’s tell you more about it.
Porsche’s e-core layout will have the batteries stacked up in the centre of the car.
Remember what I said about the balance? Porsche says it intends to maintain that balance by positioning the batteries in the middle of the car, roughly where the combustion engine would sit in an ICE-powered Boxster.
The idea is to give the electric 718 a similar weight distribution and balance to the current combustion-powered car.
And that is important, Because that balance is a massive part of what makes the Boxster and Cayman so special.
THE ENGINE?
Well…
It won’t have one.
But it will make fake sounds that apparently sound like the real thing. Look, please ignore my negativity for a moment. Porsche is a sports-car brand that we have come to love for very specific reasons:
The sound of the flat-six.
The inertia.
The speed.
The cornering.
The steering feel.
I know I sound like some pseudo-journalist wannabe, but these are the things that make a Porsche feel like a Porsche.
And Porsche is currently facing some pretty serious financial challenges, with its EVs being one of the issues. Hence, Porsche announced last year that it would continue to offer combustion power in “top” variants of the models.
Now?
Porsche boss Michael Leiters, who took over as CEO last year, has apparently scrapped that plan.
And his reasoning?
“Being very honest, I was very, very sceptical about this vehicle. But that only lasted until I drove a development car for validation. Since then, I’ve been thrilled. It is an absolutely fantastic sports car.”
So…
Sizothini ke thina?
Not like we’re paying customers here.
OK, I’m talking on behalf of the actual paying customers.
Me?
I’m still budgeting for a Fiesta. 😂
SO…
Let me stop being a sour grape.
Everyone seems to be convinced that this new electric 718 will be as Porsche as Porsche can possibly be.
And if Porsche can somehow give us the balance, steering feel, performance and character of a Boxster without the flat-six…
Well…
Maybe they really have cracked it.
We’ll have to wait and see.
What do you guys think?
Could an electric Boxster still be a proper Porsche?
Or is the flat-six part of the recipe that simply cannot be replaced?
Let us know.
Ohhh, by the way…
I’m going to some car launch tomorrow, so I won’t be posting.
Not like you’ll see the difference now, will you? 😂
Happy motoring, and see you Friday!
