Porsche's delayed electric 718 sports car replacement is officially moving forward. Following months of speculation regarding its potential cancellation, Porsche's new CEO, Michael Leiters, confirmed that the all-electric Boxster and Cayman remain in development and are scheduled to enter production sometime next year.Speaking with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Leiters clarified that Porsche carefully evaluated the project's financial and brand viability before deciding to push ahead. After doing the math, reviewing the SWOT analysis, and making the PowerPoints, Porsche decided that building the electric 718 remains the best economic solution.The 718 line has long served as Porsche's accessible entry point for buyers shopping for classic sports-car driving dynamics without spending 911 money. While production of the outgoing combustion-powered 718 Boxster and Cayman wrapped up late last year, the twins still managed 18,612 global deliveries during their final run.AdvertisementAdvertisementFollowing the Taycan, Macan Electric and newly introduced Cayenne Electric, the upcoming battery-powered 718 will mark Porsche's fourth dedicated EV line. Plug-in hybrids and pure EVs account for more than a third of Porsche's total global sales.While official power, range, and performance specifications remain undisclosed, spy shots of prototype testing at the Nürburgring indicate the vehicle's design. The test mules have a low-slung, compact footprint that stylistically preserves the classic mid-engine proportions of the old car.Crucially, the electric 718 utilizes a new, sports-car-specific EV architecture rather than borrowing floor-mounted battery layouts from high-riding crossovers. This specialized platform allows engineers to keep the battery mass centrally positioned and low to the ground, maintaining the traditional low-to-the-ground sports-car seating position and nimble weight distribution.The underlying platform will also support a closely related electric sports car from Audi, derived from the brand's recent Concept C prototype. That model is expected to arrive at a lower price point.AdvertisementAdvertisementPricing will be a crucial factor for the new model's market success. If Porsche keeps the entry tag reasonable, the electric 718 could successfully attract a new generation of enthusiast buyers. It's unclear if Porsche still plans to release a combustion-powered version of the 718 alongside the EV version.
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