kwikit356

Question For Discussion: From Porsche's perspective as a manufacturer how long will it decide to produce any of the current ICE 718 models?
I do not have any inside information, so I certainly do not know Porsche's plan regarding these models, but it seems there are many factors and variables for it to consider. I can only think of a limited number, so there must be many others:
1. End production on a specific date or continue longer, say into the 2023 Model Year, based on actual dealer/customer orders?
2. There seems to be low demand for the 4 cyl. models, but much higher demand for all four 4.0L models. Stop or continue the 4.0L into 2023 MY?
3. How important is it to satisfy its existing customers within the small volume sportscar market?
4. Upcoming EU emissions regulations will cause Porsche to sacrifice the ICE 718 to BEV in order to keep the 911 as ICE?
5. With the new BEV Boxster/Cayman requiring a completely new platform, how likely is production to continue on the ICE 718 platform? End in 2022 MY?
6. Demand for the new BEV Boxster/Cayman:
a. New customers in all or most markets?
b. What about traditional markets such as the EU and NA, as opposed to newer markets in Asia, especially China (PRC)?
c. Will traditional ICE Porsche enthusiasts adapt to BEV, go away, focus on 911s, or decide to just hold on to what they already have?

What do all of you here with brilliant automotive and economic minds think will happen?

I'm a long-time Porsche customer (though with far fewer new car purchases than most on here) who has recently ordered a CGTS, with no confirmed allocation yet, or maybe ever. Only one thing is certain in my Porsche world: I will not be selling my wonderful 993 coupe until I am certain I will get a CGTS.

Zhao

Answering any of those questions is speculation but IMO it's almost guaranteed there will be a MY23 due to the RS not even being revealed yet that will have limited non RS production along side it. I would suspect you will see base model up to GTS allocations in very limited numbers like we saw with MY20s. GT4s and maybe spyders could see MY22 as the last year potentially also. There is a good chance My23 will be the last year just because it is very rare for a german manufacturer to stretch a platform for longer than 7 years, which was already more a face lift than new model.

LnC993

I’m guessing MY23 too, GT4 will probably end at MY22 and GT4 RS as MY23. However, with all the parts shortages, low production number and robust demand for these cars, I wouldn’t be surprised if they extend the production longer than they normally do.

FrenchToast

I would guess 2024 for the last 718s to leave the door. EV Boxman/Cayster is already under development. It has to be if they're going to roll it out for 24/25. I am curious if the EV will use the front half of the 911, as has been done historically with the Boxster.

Keep in mind the 718 is a 982, which is really just a facelifted 981 with different engine options. The chassis has been in production since 2013.

I believe China recently surpassed NA as Porsche's largest market. Last I read, the demographic in China that buys a Porsche is typically seeking a luxury vehicle (many times chauffeur-driven), so I don't think a sports car will be designed with China as a primary buyer. I could be wrong but I imagine NA is still Porsche's largest market for the 911 and 718.

People will buy EVs because there a huge amount of political and corporate push for it. VW Group is shoveling money into EV development as fast or faster than any other manufacturer. The EV Boxman will get serious media push from VW. Enthusiats, which are a minority/niche market for most automotive brands, will complain loudly and not buy EVs. Porsche will continue to throw a bone to them once in a while, because sports cars are on what the company was founded.

Making the Coxster an EV is actually a clever marketing maneuver for model hierarchy. As an EV, the Bayman can become a sports car that plays in a different category than the 911. The Bayman will, by the very nature of being an EV, surpass the 911 in certain performance criteria.

But it puts Porsche as a company in a philosophy conundrum. With an EV Cayster, the 911 could become seen as an 'old tech sports car.' That sounds great for enthusiasts, but that won't keep the 911 alive. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Just like 1980, the 911's destiny could be hanging in the balance.

CaymanSinAR

The 4.0 motor is emissions compliant through 2025 or 2026. I would expect Porsche to continue using it through that time to recoup the investment in it.

Noah Fect

Georg Kacher seems to think they are throwing the 911 under the (electric) bus even as we speak...

Adrift

>> People will buy EVs because people like being told what to do

lol One of the dumber statements I’ve ever heard. It has nothing g to do with business as usual being suicide. Whew, good thing you’re here to clarify.

Alpha Ice

They will cease to make them just the day before Adrift build is to start production

dnimi123

If done right.. I might want an EV Cayman! 0 to 60 2.5 sec (for the base model)... Nurburgring in well under 7 min... weight in at 3650... Tech, suspension and styling upgrades.. check, check, check... could be very enticing... I would have to order the burmeister sound system as I would need to play the sound track from my GT4 with kline exhaust to be truly happy tho... People are getting very happy modding their teslas - I got wiped out the other night by what I can only imagine was a tesla plaid... OMG it was unholy fast!

Adrift

Don’t think I haven’t considered that. lol

bubbledragon

My Spyder MT for sunny weekends , EV Cayman 4wd to replace my Subaru suv for daily traffic & all weather, safari version even better!

IL_Pete

Great question!! I have been thinking about this a lot, trying to map out what I do ever the next few years. I absolutely adore this 718 4.0, and plan to possibly experience some more versions of this over the next couple of years, and want to get something that I can keep for a long time when they stop making these.

Yes - my prediction is that they do with the 718s what they are doing with the Macan. For the Macan they stretched the life cycle beyond the typical 7 years, and did another light refresh (lighter exterior update, updated the interior), and will extend that to overlap with the introduction of the EV Macan. I think they will do the same here, a refresh perhaps as soon as MY 23, updating the interior to the 992 look and selling it through 2026 due to being certified in the EU through then. Then they will launch the EV 718 in 2024 or 2025 and have an overlap.

What that doesn't answer is what they do with the 4.0s. The GT4 and Spyder will likely stop after MY22 or MY23, making way for the RSs as the final sendoff. (Those don't really interest me - I want a Manual.) Will they continue the GTS 4.0's through 2026, if they do it this way? Probably, and hopefully.

This is my theory, anyway. One thing that indicates that this may not be the case is the spy shots of a Cayman mule testing perhaps with a longer wheelbase and a wider track. I hope there is a next gen ICE 718, but I am fearful there will not be...

Yes, this is my plan as well! I will be an empty nester by then, plan is EV Cayman for year round DD for me, ICE GT4 or Spyder with a Manual for spirited B Road drives, and wife with an SUV as always.

Westcoast

I guess for me it simply depends... my Spyder MT is fantastic, not a single complaint from me as a drivers car, sure some of the tech is old but that isn't a real concern.

Mission R, now that bring a different flavor to the game, but so does a Spyder RS (only if it comes with a manual), depending on that it might be move up to the RS or keep the Spyder and get the EV too?

Oh, and the Macan S stays too!

Zhao

I know one thing is certain. I will not buy any EV sports car for a very long time. Better to buy the best ICE has to offer rather than the beta test of EV sports cars. You're basically buying one of the worst EV sports car that will ever be made and it should rapidly improve given time to evolve.

EV's are also expensive as heck to make, so I really have a hard time seeing Porsche making the boxster/cayman full EV for it's entry level price point so quickly. Porsche has a business model of making huge profits per sports car and I don't see them upsetting that to chase entry level EVs at the moment. So if the Mission R is the cayman/boxster replacement, then expect cayman/boxsters to cost a lot more.

My opinion is the whatever the Mission R is is a new vehicle and will be very expensive. The next cayman/boxster will likely follow the 911 in going hybrid first, which explains the spyshots of the test mule having wheel flares from a wider track.

LnC993

I will not buy a pure battery powered EV sports car either. Too heavy and no sound. Maybe be I will accept a hybrid but certainly not the pure battery powered kind.