The Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman are both going electric. That may sound like bad news for fans of the brand's entry-level performance cars, but don't worry. Porsche says its two-door EVs will have the same level of exhilarating performance and high-end luxury that buyers have come to know and love. Fingers crossed.
The first Boxster and Cayman EVs will debut later sometime next year once the gas models are officially out of production globally. They've already reached the end of the line in Europe and will soon disappear from the US market entirely. That said, we won't know all the details about the electric sports car duo until they do show up in 2026.
In the meantime, here's what we do know.
Why Are the Boxster / Cayman Going Electric?
Porsche is one of the most bullish brands on electrification. The Taycan kicked things off in 2019, followed recently by the electric Macan, and soon there will be an electric Cayenne. There are even rumors of an electric Porsche hypercar. The 911 remains the lone holdout of all-electric adoption, while the Boxster and Cayman are slated to get a battery-electric powertrain next year.
Porsche believes that electrification is the future, and Stuttgart isn’t shy about turning its most iconic nameplates into EVs. Its entry-level sports cars are no exception.
What Will They Look Like?
Based on spy photos—and knowing what Porsche's current EV lineup looks like—the electric Boxster and Cayman will draw heavily from the Macan and Taycan, most notably on the front end. Prototypes show Porsche's signature four-element headlights up front, with ultra-slim light fixtures on either side of the rear. Those same prototypes don't appear to have the same rear light bar as the Macan or Taycan.
Unlike the Taycan, though, the Boxster's and Cayman's front bumpers won't be entirely smooth (aka, they won't have the “surgeon's mask” look of many modern EVs). Details show active vents on either side of the bumper with unique angular details, unlike anything we've seen on modern Porsches. It's unclear if those details will go into production untouched, or if Porsche will make changes and smooth things out along the way.
Even though there is no gas engine behind the driver, the general proportions of the prototypes make the Boxster EV appear as if it still has a mid-mounted mill. It might fool you into thinking there's an actual engine back there.
Our rendering artists looked into their crystal balls to imagine what the new Boxster and Cayman could look like based on those spy photos. The renderings draw heavily from the Taycan and have a similar size and shape to the current 718 models; we don't expect the dimensions to change much from gas to electric.
What's the Powertrain and Battery?
The Boxster and Cayman EVs will reportedly borrow the Premium Platform Electric from the Macan and the Audi A6 E-Tron. We don't know the specifics, but the Macan packs a powerful 100.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack (95.0 kilowatt-hours usable) with two electric motors making up to 630 horsepower on the Turbo model with launch control.
The Boxster and Cayman EVs should at least have 300 hp out of the box, with more powerful variants pushing those numbers past 400 hp (hopefully). This may be hard for purists to hear, but this will also be the first 718 line with available all-wheel drive. Though, the base models are likely to retain their standard rear-drive configuration.
In terms of range, the Macan EV offers 288 miles on the base model and up to 315 miles on the most efficient version. Its 800-volt architecture allows it to charge at a rate of 270 kilowatts on a DC fast charger, bringing it from 10 to 80 percent in just 21 minutes.
Again, we don't know how much—if any—of this technology will transfer to the Boxster and Cayman, but at least expect similar range and charging figures.
| Model | Output | Range | Price |
| Porsche Macan EV | 355 - 630 HP | 288 - 315 Miles | $77,295 |
| Porsche 718 Boxster / Cayman EV | 300 - 400 HP (est.) | 250 - 320 Miles (est.) | $78,000 - $80,000 (est.) |
When Will the Boxster and Cayman EVs Debut?
Due to a change of plans, Porsche will debut the electric Cayenne first, which means that the sports car duo will have to wait: "Following on from the all-electric Cayenne, Porsche will introduce the all-electric sports cars in the 718 segment," the company said.
The Porsche Boxster and Cayman EVs, then, will debut by 2026. Once the current gas models are out of production globally (they’ve already been discontinued in Europe), Porsche will debut their electric successors and begin rolling them out to customers sometime later next year, likely for the 2027 model year.
How Much Will They Cost?
The current 718 Cayman starts at $74,795 with destination, while the 718 Boxster costs $76,895. Both sports cars are likely to see an increase with their new battery powertrains. Estimates put the starting price of the base Cayman EV at around $78,000 and the Boxster EV at around $80,000.
Will There Still Be Gas Versions?
That’s the big question. As many automakers have, Porsche has rolled back some of its ambitious EV plans and promises to continue producing gas engines in the future. It’s unclear if the company will build new gas versions of the Boxster and Cayman alongside the upcoming EVs. Time will tell.
