Porsche 718 Boxster & Cayman 100 Percent Electric Cancelled, Gasoline Engine Back

JAKARTA - Porsche is reportedly preparing the latest generation platform of the 718 Boxster and Cayman to once again accept gasoline engines. This is clearly a step that marks one of the most radical drivetrain reversals in the history of the manufacturer.

This decision, which was triggered by weakening EV demand and easing EU emissions regulations, changes an initial plan that had set both of these iconic models to be fully electric (EV-only).

Reported by Autocar, quoted Monday, December 15, a senior source at Porsche's Weissach engineering center revealed that engineers are now reverse-engineering the PPE Sport platform, which was originally developed specifically for the electric successor to the 718, which is scheduled to launch in 2026. The goal is to accommodate the engine installed in the middle.

Euro 7 and Synthetic Fuels Change the Game

Porsche's dramatic decision is inseparable from developments at the EU level. Porsche previously believed that their 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat six engine would not survive under the initial proposal for the very strict Euro 7 emission regulations.

However, with the final version of Euro 7 softened (announced by the European Commission) and, most importantly, the existence of an exemption for synthetic fuels (e-fuel) after 2035.

"Electric Boxster and Cayman risk becoming a niche market. Euro 7 changes the arithmetic," said a senior Porsche engineer who did not want to be named.

This easing of regulations provides a golden opportunity for performance car manufacturers to retain internal combustion engines (ICE), especially with a focus on efficiency and maximum production volumes on key components.

Reversing a pure electric platform is not an easy task. The PPE Sport platform uses a battery pack as the main structural component and has a flat floor. Removing the battery would significantly weaken the entire bodyshell.

Engineers must now develop new structural floor sections that are mounted at hard points of the existing platform to restore rigidity, as well as redesign the rear bulkhead and subframe to support the engine and transmission.

Despite facing a huge redesign challenge, this new plan indicates that the main candidate for the engine to be used is the development of the 4.0-liter flat six engine, which is capable of producing up to 493 bhp in the GT4 RS.

This step reinforces the signal that other Porsche models that were previously planned to be only electric-powered, including the Macan, are now also potentially getting an ICE "recharging" engine.