Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster Production Ends Soon, But What's Going to Replace it?
By Somnath Chatterjee - News
Published: 9 June 2025 |Last Updated: 6 June 2025
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Readtime: 3 min
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718 Cayman and Boxster production winds down in October 2025
Electric replacements delayed to a possible 2027 launch because of Northvolt bankruptcy
Production stopped in Australia in 2024
It was inevitable, but the popular and revered 718 Cayman and Boxster sports cars will bow out globally towards the end of this year. Despite being around for a decade, the 718 models have been going strong in terms of worldwide sales demand, while the hardcore RS models have reached nearly the same iconic status as the limelight-grabbing 911 RS models.
Porsche has confirmed the party will end, indicating that both models will be discontinued by October, with the last few examples being sold now.
Currently, only a few cars are available worldwide, as Porsche has even pulled the 718 twins from the European markets. Meanwhile, here in Australia, orders have been stopped since late last year, alongside the petrol Macan. Production for our market was stopped from September 2024, with perhaps North America being the only market where the cars are still on sale. Of course, this news is not surprising since the 718 Models are making way for their electric successors, but the question is when. According to new reports, the launch of the all-new electric Cayman and Boxster is not happening anytime soon.
Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 | Image: Porsche Australia
While CEO Oliver Blume has said they will arrive in the 'medium term,' the electric sports cars have been delayed due to various issues. Northvolt, the Swedish battery company partly owned by Volkswagen and Goldman Sachs, recently filed for bankruptcy. Hence, Porsche has been having issues in procuring the high-performance cells for these EVs, and that has further pushed back the launch time.
'The world has changed,' said Porsche CEO, Dr Oliver Blume. 'We are experiencing a fierce storm. But we are doing everything we can to counteract them. We are resolutely investing in the future. In challenging times we are continuing to develop Porsche with a precise focus. This requires more resources in the short term, but it will make our company even more profitable in the long term. We accept the challenge. We have a plan. We are acting. And we're not wasting any time.'
It seems the 718 Cayman and Boxster will not be immediately replaced, and even the new electric three-row SUV that has been spotted testing would be delayed too. Porsche has been bullish regarding its EV strategy but has scaled back its EV-only plans, despite some success in global markets like Australia.
Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 | Image: Porsche Australia
Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 | Image: Porsche Australia
Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 | Image: Porsche Australia
Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 | Image: Porsche Australia
Recently, the brand has put some focus back into developing internal combustion engine models. Which means that the future electric 718 replacements would be prepped for a petrol version, potentially plug-in hybrid variants with similar powertrains to those of their Volkswagen brothers and sisters. Porsche has said that it will develop combustion engine or PHEV versions of its EVs, and that could include the new electric Macan and possibly sports cars like the Boxster and Cayman.
The EV market has cooled down, it remains to be seen how Porsche navigates through this, but for now, there would be a large time gap between the current 718 models being canned and their successors arriving on the market if they continue down the all-electric 718 Cayman and Boxster route.
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As real-world roads aren't racetrack-smooth, the RSP sits on the 963's tallest suspension setting, and the race-going Multimatic DSSV dampers are set to their most absorbent. Powering the RSP is a hybrid system with a 4.6-litre twin-turbo V8 at its core, plus a 1.35kWh battery, 800V electrical system, and an electric motor that can deliver up to 50kW in short bursts. The drivetrain is in race-spec trim, and overall output is limited to the V8's maximum output of around 507kW (680hp). When the electric motor operates in tandem with the petrol engine, the V8's power is clipped so the maximum output of the drivetrain is maintained. Under light loads, the 963 can operate solely on electric power. Given the RSP will live most of its life driving at a moderate pace, the electric motor has been remapped to prioritise smooth power delivery. The V8 has also been retuned to live on lower-octane petrol. 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According to Porsche, the RSP is inspired by the Count Rossi 917 (pictured below), a race car from the 1970s that was turned into a road-going vehicle, and remains on French roads to this day. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The team working on turning the 963 race car into the RSP decided early on to follow the Count Rossi 917 template, and make as few changes as possible. This, no doubt, reduced development time and cost significantly, but also means the RSP is not homologated, and is therefore limited to road use under "special circumstances". For its debut on the streets near Circuit de la Sarthe, where the Le Mans 24 Hour race is held, it wore manufacturer plates. To that end the headlights and tail-lights have been reprogrammed, while a horn and licence plate brackets have been added to the car. The most significant changes to the 963's exterior are the addition of fully covered wheel-arches, and the removal of the blanking plates for the rear wing. An enamel Porsche badge has been added to the front, while 1970s-era Michelin logos are used for the rain-spec 18-inch race tyres that are wrapped around forged OZ racing wheels. Painting the 963 RSP in Martini Silver was problematic due to the car's Kevlar and carbon-fibre body. Some smaller body parts, such as the hinges and wing connectors, are finished in satin black. For the interior, the single-piece air-conditioned carbon seat is trimmed in leather. It is made more comfortable with a cushion down the middle and a fixed head restraint fitted to the rear bulkhead. Leather is also used for the steering wheel, while faux suede is applied to the headlining, leg cushions and door trim. A 3D-printed cupholder has been added to the middle of the dashboard. As real-world roads aren't racetrack-smooth, the RSP sits on the 963's tallest suspension setting, and the race-going Multimatic DSSV dampers are set to their most absorbent. Powering the RSP is a hybrid system with a 4.6-litre twin-turbo V8 at its core, plus a 1.35kWh battery, 800V electrical system, and an electric motor that can deliver up to 50kW in short bursts. The drivetrain is in race-spec trim, and overall output is limited to the V8's maximum output of around 507kW (680hp). When the electric motor operates in tandem with the petrol engine, the V8's power is clipped so the maximum output of the drivetrain is maintained. Under light loads, the 963 can operate solely on electric power. Given the RSP will live most of its life driving at a moderate pace, the electric motor has been remapped to prioritise smooth power delivery. The V8 has also been retuned to live on lower-octane petrol. After swanning around at Le Mans, the 963 RSP will head off to the Porsche museum in Stuttgart, and then make an appearance at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. MORE: Everything Porsche Content originally sourced from: Porsche has a new hypercar based on its Le Mans Daytona hybrid (LMDh) class race car, but it's just a one-off. Unveiled ahead of this week's 24 Hours of Le Mans, the new 963 RSP is based on the 963 race car that competes in the FIA's World Endurance Championship – of which Le Mans is one of eight races – and the IMSA SportsCar Championship, which includes the 24 Hours of Daytona. The new 963 RSP is so named because it was built, nominally, for Roger Searle Penske, owner of many racing teams, the IndyCar racing series, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Porsche Penske Motorsports runs the factory team racing the 963. Through his eponymous corporation he also has his hands in car dealerships, automotive engineering, trucking, and logistics. 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