Latest news with #FrankWiesmann
NDTV
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Porsche To Retire 718 Boxster And Cayman, Production Ends In October
Porsche has now announced the retirement of its petrol-powered 718 Boxster and Cayman. The 718 duo was facing troubles for the past year, but it is now that we know that the 718 Boxster and the Cayman will be off the production line in October. Previously, Porsche had delisted the 718 Boxster and the Cayman from the Indian website and stopped taking bookings for the duo. As per Motor1, Frank Wiesmann, Product Communications, Porsche Cars North America, stated that the Porsche 718 Boxster and the Cayman are in the final stages of production, after which it will come to a full stop in October. Porsche 718 Boxster and the Cayman were earlier pushed off the European market due to some cybersecurity concerns, back in 2024. However, the Boxster RS Spyder and Cayman GT4 RS continue in the European market as they were limited edition sports cars, and were exempted from the regulations. Porsche is not in a hurry to fill the gap after the discontinuation of the 718 duo, as the planning of its electrified iteration is still underway and will be revealed about a year later. The electrified iteration of the Boxter and Cayman is expected to be built on the same production line as the ICE models at Porsche's Zuffenhausen plant. Also, Porsche has previously said that it will be phasing out the Macan in 2026. Though it may feel like a piece of sad news for the petrol heads, there is still hope, as, according to reports, Porsche's former Chief Financial Officer, Lutz Meschke, mentioned the possibility of the originally planned all-electric vehicles getting a hybrid drive or a combustion engine.
Motor 1
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Game Over: Porsche Is Ending Gas Boxster and Cayman Production
We knew this day would come, so don't be too sad that Porsche is about to pull the plug on its gas-fueled 718 duo. The current-generation Boxster and Cayman have been on their deathbeds since last year, when the sports cars were retired from Europe due to stricter cybersecurity regulations. Motor1 has now learned that the rest of the world will also lose Zuffenhausen's entry-level performance machines later this year. Porsche Cars North America's head of Product Communications, Frank Wiesmann, told us that the fourth-generation Boxster and Cayman (982 series) have entered their final months of production. The last units are scheduled to be built in October. While the main Zuffenhausen plant has been assembling the cars since 2016, some production was moved in 2022 to Osnabrück, where Volkswagen will continue building the oddball T-Roc Convertible until 2027. 2024 marked the final full year of production for the mid-engine coupe and convertible, with sales rising 15 percent to 23,670 units. In the first quarter of 2025, shipments fell 22 percent to 4,498 vehicles, unsurprising given the 718's discontinuation in the European Union and other markets following EU legislation. It's worth noting that the Boxster RS Spyder and Cayman GT4 RS continued in those regions, as the special editions were exempt from the rules due to their limited production runs. Although discontinued models are almost always replaced quickly by next-generation versions or different vehicles, Porsche is taking time with the 718's (indirect) successor. The fully electric Boxster and Cayman are still being developed, so the EVs won't launch this year. During the Annual General Meeting yesterday, CEO Oliver Blume said that the silent sports cars will arrive in the 'medium term.' He added that both will be 'even more dynamic, even more powerful, with a pure driving experience.' Porsche has admitted its previous goal of having EVs account for 80 percent of annual sales by 2030 is no longer feasible. Even so, that doesn't change the fact that the ICE Boxster and Cayman are being phased out. However, Zuffenhausen is applying a different strategy to the rest of its lineup. The Cayenne will coexist with the upcoming EV variant well into the 2030s. The Panamera will also retain its gas engines into the next decade. The twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 is being reengineered to comply with Euro 7 regulations and will continue into the 2030s . The first-generation Macan will be retired in 2026, leaving only the electric second-generation model on sale. It died last year in the EU for the same reason Porsche was forced to pull the plug on the 718s. However, Porsche is exploring a new gas-powered crossover to replace the original Macan, launched 11 years ago. If approved, the unnamed model would arrive near the end of the decade with pure ICE and hybrid powertrains. Additionally, Porsche is even considering adding combustion engines to vehicles initially intended to be fully electric. Last November, the company's former Chief Financial Officer, Lutz Meschke, mentioned that surprising possibility : 'We are currently looking at the possibility of the originally planned all-electric vehicles having a hybrid drive or a combustion engine.' During this week's meeting, Blume also mentioned that the electric lineup 'will continue to grow as planned.' His statement indicates that the large, three-row SUV first announced a few years ago is still in development, despite EV sales falling short of Porsche's earlier projections. Catch Up With Porsche: Porsche Is Still Testing the Electric Cayman and Boxster Porsche Could Quit EVs In China Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Associated Press
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Porsche 911 Carrera GTS named World's Greatest Auto Disruptors 2025 Powertrain Disruptor of the Year by Newsweek
Atlanta., April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Porsche 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid is the winner of the Newsweek World's Greatest Auto Disruptors 2025 Powertrain Disruptor of the Year award, which celebrates significant technological advances. The new ' T-Hybrid ' powertrain uses a small 1.9 kWh lithium ion battery to power two electric motors: one between the engine and transmission and the other in the single turbocharger. The powertrain eliminates the need for a starter motor, instead relying on the electric motor to start the engine. The so-called e-turbo does without a wastegate, converting excess pressure to energy that is sent back to the battery to help power the hybrid system. 'The idea of a high performance hybrid Porsche has been alive and well for more than a decade. Like so many other technologies, we forged our expertise on the field of competition in motorsport where the 911 GT3 R Hybrid combined internal combustion with electric performance,' Timo Resch, President and CEO Porsche Cars North America said. 'Today, we use plug-in hybrid powertrains to augment the performance of several variants from the Cayenne and Panamera model lines. The most logical step for the 911 was to apply learning from our prior projects and create an extremely sporty, lightweight hybrid system that would enhance driving prowess without adding much weight. In the sports car segment this is a truly disruptive idea, so winning this award is especially meaningful.' By using a small battery and foregoing a separator clutch to allow for electric-only driving, the hybrid system in the new 911 Carrera GTS adds minimal weight, leaving the new model only about 110 lbs. heavier than its predecessor. Applying electric power to the turbocharger eliminates the need for exhaust gas to spool the turbocharger, meaning boost is immediate. The electric motor connected directly to the transmission also provides immediate torque for a large powerband and highly responsive throttle pedal. The new hybrid system also allows for advances in the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) system. Thanks to the onboard high voltage system, the newest generation of PDCC is now electro-hydraulically controlled, allowing for much quicker response and even better body control than in prior models. Every 2025 Porsche 911 GTS model variant uses the new T-Hybrid powertrain. This includes the 911 Carrera GTS, 911 Carrera 4 GTS, 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet and 911 Targa GTS. U.S. customer delivery for all five model variants began in the first quarter of 2025. Attachment Frank Wiesmann Porsche Cars North America, Inc. 404.539.5031 [email protected] Luke Vandezande Porsche Cars North America, Inc. 470.363.5001 [email protected]
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Porsche will offer gas power into 2030s, EV 718 still a go
Between a well-documented commitment to synthetic fuels and a high-adrenaline lineup of iconic sports cars, Porsche is making a serious case for itself as the internal combustion engine enthusiast brand to beat. Now, we have even more insight into where the brand will lead us. And the good news isn't limited to gas-powered models. Porsche isn't giving up on gas-powered engines. But even in the face of faltering EV demand, the automaker isn't willing to risk getting left behind in electrified segments, either. "At Porsche, all three drive technologies symbolize emotion, performance, and efficiency," a press release begins, referring to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), gas-only, and electric powertrains. A separate statement from Frank Wiesmann, Manager of Product Communications at Porsche North America, clarifies that Porsche plans to offer combustion, PHEVs, and fully electrified vehicles "in every vehicle segment well into the 2030s." That's a huge commitment, especially as Euro 7 regulations take hold for models on sale today in 2027. That said, we've already seen the brand take preemptive steps, such as hybridizing the latest generation of the beloved Porsche 911. Furthermore, Porsche hinted at new things to come. They say they're "currently evaluating an independent model line in the SUV segment with combustion and hybrid powertrains." There's no other firm details, but the press release states that the model could debut before the end of the decade. If a new model were to join the Cayenne and Macan, a three-row SUV seems likely. It could also slot below the Macan, but we'll have to wait and see. Either way, it shows even more commitment to the gasoline engine. It isn't all about the dino juice over in Zuffenhausen. As previously announced, an all-electric Cayenne is officially slated for release, and it will spearhead the fourth generation of the SUV later this year in the US. Stateside sales of the electric Macan have been "particularly gratifying," according to Porsche CEO Oliver Blume, so it's no surprise that the automaker is putting further focus on EV SUVs. When you further consider that North America is Porsche's largest single market, we're not surprised the automaker is debuting the electric Cayenne at arguably the brand's home away from home. Separately, the brand has also confirmed that the widely reported-on electric 718 Cayman/Boxster is still in the works, although that car is now scheduled to arrive sometime after the electric Cayenne. It's likely we won't have many firm details until later this year. The second half of the decade is shaping up to be an interesting time for Porsche, especially when you consider what the automaker has planned for its flagship and Heritage Design 911 models. Like some other German automakers, Porsche is doing a good job of balancing constantly changing regulations and a fanbase deeply rooted in motorsports. We can't wait to drive the new stuff.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Why Porsche's Next 911 Should Have a Battery-Electric Version
Porsche is introducing all-electric versions throughout its portfolio, but Stuttgart doubts the world is ready for a battery-electric 911 Engineers in Weissach have developed hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric powertrains that compromise none of Porsche's high-performance attributes. If those engineers can build an all-electric 911 that upholds this heralded sports car's legacy, then no one should be surprised. Much of the coverage coming from Porsche's annual press conference in Stuttgart this week has been devoted to the launch of the all-new Cayenne EV later this year and a mysterious new SUV model with internal-combustion and hybrid powertrains, potentially arriving before decade's end. And there was news about derivatives of the iconic 911 sports car, including a reinterpreted 1970s limited-edition model from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur and an additional 911 flagship model to 'raise the bar even further,' as the automaker says. But this line in the press conference synopsis deserves closer scrutiny: 'Its customers will still be able to choose between combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric drivetrains in every vehicle segment well into the 2030s.' If the 911 is in one of these segments, is this a coded way of revealing—or at least planting a seed—that the next-generation 911 will have an all-electric variant? That would certainly be newsworthy, so we reached out to Porsche PR rep Frank Wiesmann and got a reasonable explanation: 'In this case, we're referring to our two-door sports cars as one segment. The 911 is offered with a combustion engine and a very sporty t-hybrid powertrain while our two-door sports car in the 718 segment will be fully electric in the future.' OK, that makes sense, but the question remains: Why does Porsche—at least publicly—reject the notion of an electric 911? Do the deep-pocketed 911 purist collectors find this idea so repugnant that Stuttgart knows better than to offend these loyal customers? Now, I'm not supporting the crazy idea that the next 911 should only be an EV. Internal-combustion driving the rear wheels must always be the core formula, but the 2025 model year brings with it—as Wiesmann mentioned—the 532-hp 911 Carrera GTS with a turbocharged "T-Hybrid" six-cylinder powertrain as a midcycle upgrade. Should this 911 GTS hybrid be perceived as a trial balloon? If customers appreciate its 2.9-second sprint to 60 mph, couldn't an all-electric 911 be even faster? Heck, the larger, four-door all-electric Porsche Taycan Turbo S (with launch control) can make that run in 2.6 seconds. Porsche has been aggressive in its EV product expansion: The new Macan has an all-electric version, and 44% of takers in the US so far this year are choosing the EV. Porsche plans to launch an all-electric Panamera, and after the all-electric fourth-generation Cayenne (to be revealed later this year in the US) will come the all-electric 718 Boxster and Cayman sports cars. That's the entire Porsche portfolio, leaving the 911 as the sole offering without a battery-electric option. Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has said the 911 will likely never be fully electric due to its rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive design. But the engineers in Weissach already have vast experience developing hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric powertrains that compromise none of Porsche's high-performance attributes. One could argue these advanced powertrains are a natural step up from conventional internal combustion. If those engineers can find a way to build an all-electric 911 that upholds this heralded sports car's legacy, then no one should be surprised. Perhaps it all boils down to sales—and the prospects of an uncertain EV market: All-electric Taycan sales in the US fell from 7,500 units in 2023 to 4,700 last year, while 911 sales ballooned from 11,700 to 14,100 units. What do you think of an all-electric 911? Please comment below.
