Porsche 718 Boxster/Cayman GTS ruled out for India

Porsche recently unveiled the 718 Boxster/Cayman in GTS form with extra power and more performance-enhancing features than the standard versions. The new GTS models, which made their public debut at the 2017 Los Angeles Motor Show, put out 365hp, up 15hp over the 718 Boxster S and 718 Cayman S and almost 65hp over the standard 718s which are on sale in India.

However, Porsche will not launch either of the 718 GTS' in India – and India's duty structure is to blame for this. Both GTS models come powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol unit. This puts them outside the purview of tax breaks on cars with petrol engines with displacement less than 2,000cc. Without the benefits, the models will inevitably be priced closer to the 911 range – a situation Porsche wants to avoid. It is for this very reason India does not get the 'S' versions of the 718 Boxster/Cayman, either.

Porsche was able to launch the standard 718 Boxster and Cayman – which run a 300hp 2.0-litre motor – at a relatively inviting price (down Rs 25 lakh to their preceding versions) since they fell into the lower duty bracket, on account of their smaller engine size. The models were launched at Rs 85.53 lakh and Rs 81.63 lakh, respectively (both prices ex-showroom, Delhi) making them the most affordable sports cars in the carmaker's range. In fact, the tax concessions also enabled Porsche to price the 2.0-litre petrol engine-equipped base Macan fairly attractively, when the SUV was launched in late 2016.

India might be missing out on the driver-focused 718 GTS range but Indian Porsche enthusiasts have much to look forward to as the German performance car-maker has lined up a host of models for launch in 2018 – starting with the Panamera Sport Turismo around January, third-generation Cayenne by June and 911 GT2 RS sometime in the first half of the year.