Next gen Porsche Boxster, Cayman to be electric-only

The successors to the Porsche 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster, which are due in 2025, will be electric-only. Porsche is set to adopt a bespoke electric sportscar platform, which is designed to mimic the existing ICE models’ mid-engined characteristics. This platform could also go on to underpin future models from Audi and Lamborghini.

• New EV sportscars’ design likely to draw inspiration from Mission R concept
• New flagship Porsche EV SUV in the works

The next-generation electric two-seaters are likely to spawn the third electric model line for Porsche, following the Taycan and the upcoming Macan EV, due in 2024. 

In terms of design, the new EV sportscars are likely to borrow cues from the Mission R Concept, which Porsche unveiled at the Munich Auto show last year. For the two models, Porsche is using a unique battery arrangement referred to as the ‘e-core’ layout, which will enable the brand to offer as low a seating position and centre of gravity as possible. 

New Porsche Boxster, Cayman: platform and battery details

Porsche has confirmed that it will use a bespoke EV platform for its sportscars, citing that there are too many compromises when converting an ICE platform to electric. The new platform, Porsche says, can also be used for higher-performance cars, perhaps from sibling brands Lamborghini and Audi. 

The ‘e-core’ layout for the battery pack means that the battery – the heaviest element of the vehicle – sits behind the driver but ahead of the rear axle where the engine would lie. The idea to adopt this unusual battery layout, Porsche says, is to make the car as low as possible and to reduce the drag. This is something that is not possible with a more traditional skateboard architecture with underfloor batteries, as seen on the Porsche Taycan. 

Porsche developing a new electric flagship SUV 

Porsche has confirmed an all-electric SUV that will sit above the Cayenne and take on EV SUVs like the BMW iX. The new electric SUV will be based on Volkswagen Group’s Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), like the third-gen Panamera.

The company is aiming for pure-EVs to account for 50 percent of its global sales in 2025 and 80 percent in 2030, but has yet to confirm launch dates for pure-electric equivalents to the Porsche 911 sportscar and Porsche Cayenne SUV.