STG

"718" and Flat 4's!


http://www.worldcarfans.com/11412228...ed-porsche-718

patdonahue

I am sure they will be splendid cars, but this talk of 4 cylinder engines was the main reason I got my Cayman now rather than later. Porsche will make it work they always do, but I would rather have more liters.....
Having said THAT my 944 Turbo S did really well with a 4 cylinder turbo and I drove it 90,000 miles with no problem. I am sure the turbo technology will be mind boggling, variable vanes or electric spin up to reduce turbo lag, etc. etc.

SillyGoose

I am all for changing the "Cayman" name. A lot of people confuse Cayenne with Cayman, and you can't blame them, after all, since both words start with "cay" and the names sound similar. The Cayman is like, Porsche's worst selling model, and I think changing the name from Cayman to something else would make for a better marketing choice.

Spokayman

It seems like using a number as a name (718) is more in line with Porsche's sports car heritage.

But, I have always liked the name "Cayman", despite people's confusion. The difference should be obvious by the pronunciation "Kayman" vs "ki-anne", but non-car people just don't pay a lot of attention to car models.

I would hope the 6 cyl Cayman and Boxster would continue to be built along with the new 718.

pfbz

Naming the car Cayman (and giving it the some model number as the Boxster) IMHO ranks high in Porsche's 'WTFwere you thinking?' moments...

Who woulda thunk that the general public would mix up two Porsche's that start with the same three letters and have a trailing n.

And don't get me started on how many owners of the 'other' 987 think they drive a 'Boxter'.

Spokayman

I think Porsche thought that people who care about Porsches would easily be able to tell the difference.

Also regarding names vs numbers, Porsche identifies the different variations of the Carrera by their official numbers 996.1, 996.2, 997.1, 997.2, and 991, as well as the Cayman through three variations (987.1, .2, and 981). Same thing with Boxsters,
But the public knows these cars as simply Carrera, Cayman, and Boxster no matter what the actual model is.
So, what is going to happen when the second generation of 718 comes out? Will Porsche slap a badge on the rear saying 718.2?
I think names make more sense than numbers to the general public.

rx7turbo

Maybe the 718 will be a less expensive entry model in addition to keeping the Boxster and Cayman models.

That was the original plan according to the linked article and the mag printing saying it has changed does not necessarily make it so.

As for the name change, no thanks. The 911s have actually been 996, 997, 991, 930, 935 internally, etc but the public name has always been 911.

The Caymans and Boxsters have been 987.1, 987.1, and now 981 for internal use.

It would make no sense for such a sweeping change from the 98x line to 718 as well as the major change to the cars themselves.

They have a great thing going with the Cayman/Boxster so why take such a drastic step unless they feel that the Cayman/Boxster is hurting 911 sales?

I take with a huge grain of salt anything any "enthusiast" mag has to say about much of anything. I have seen them basically talk out their behinds in several fields. Car rags are some of the worst.

Just my take on the whole thing.


BTW, a question:

I take it you have to be a paying member to have the ability to have the car list show us a a signature. Correct or not?

f22c

Reviving this thread...

Not even the dealer has been able to confirm what "718" really means.
964, 993, 996, 997 all refer to the 911. Not even "Carrera" has always been around. Some even say that the 991 is not a "911."

So what is the Cayman going to be moving forward? Is the "718" everyone's "911" in the naming sense. So, are 2006 Caymans going to technically be 718 Caymans? Or does 718 only refer to 2017+MY cars?

Spokayman

As far as I can tell "718" is a name and not a model number.
For example the 2006 987.1 was called a Cayman or Boxster. That was the name on the car. But from 2005-2008 it's model number was 987.1.
Likewise later versions of the Cayman and Boxster were still called Cayman and Boxster, but their model numbers changed as they were updated. There was 987.2 and then 981.

Now the name "718" has been added to both the Boxster and Cayman as part of the name that you see on the back of the car.
Internally I believe the model is 982 (coming after the prior gen number of 981).
The bottom line is not to confuse the name of the car with Porsche's internal model designation.

718 will only refer to 2017+ Caymans and Boxsters. 718 will be part of their (new) name much like in the 996 series cars there was the Carrera, Carrera 4, Carrera 4S, and Turbo. Despite their names, all of those were 996.1 or 996.2 cars, and of course people mostly still called them 911s.

f22c

So, like a 996, 911 Carrera, the new Cayman will be a 982, 718 Cayman. The reason why this doesn't work for me is that the "911" moniker, I thought, was used internally as well as "externally." It denoted the model of the car. I think if Porsche wants to use "718," it should refer to the body style, like "911," and thus all caymans since 2006 should be called 718. Alas that doesn't make sense because 718 is throwback to the 4-cylinder cars (ROADSTERS) ....718 is just a poor attempt at marketing "heritage" for these new 4-cylinder cars.

denniscasey

Coincidentally was just browsing through Porsche magazine "Christophorus" which dealer gave me and said was latest edition--I can only quickly find 1/2016 to identify which edition. Anyhow on p 43 article explaining model designations and why a "legendary digit combination is making a comeback" the last paragraph says QUOTING: " But now the names Boxster and Cayman are giving way to a new number code from the legendary nomenclature--the 718. With the model change the mid-engine sports cars will now be called the 718 model line. The logic behind the change is clear: two-door Porsches bear the numbers 718, 911 and 918 as well as affixes such as Carrera, Boxster, Cayman, Spyder or Targa. Models with fours doors receive names: Cayenne, Macan, Panamera. Charming intelligence" END QUOTE. The intro page says 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman. Not sure if that is "charming intelligence" but...

In same issue on p 45 they have a story about the "legendary" 718 RSK Spyder from late 1950's. That must be what they mean in above quote...."new number code from the legendary nomenclature..."

Just saying that is how Porsche magazine tries to explain "718."

f22c

So then, to me, I take that as, all Caymans and boxsters should be called 718 from now on then, just like 911. 981 and 981are just like 996 997 and 991.

pfbz

Why do you insist on trying to retroactively rename Boxster's and Caymans? "718 Cayman" nomenclature applies to current Cayman's forward, not past years. Seems pretty simple to figure out.

987.1, 987.2, 981 etc. have ALWAYS been internal model designations and continue to be.

Also, I'd wait to drive the 'lowly' 4-cylinder 718's before I disparage them... I just spent a weekend driving a 2017 'base' Carrera and the new 3.0L turbo engine blew me away. Absolutely fantastic. Pulled from any RPM with gusto, silky smooth, no lag, sounded great. FAR superior in my opinion to the NA sixes it replaced, even the S engine.

If Porsche does anywhere near as good of a job on the new 2.5L Turbo, it will be a fantastic in a Cayman Chassis...

BillC3

I suspect the new naming is the first step in getting rid of the names "Boxster" and "Cayman". My suspicion is the next version of these cars (either the 982.2 facelift or the next major version/release) will simply be called 718 Cabriolet and 718 Coupe, patterned after what Porsche's been doing for years with the Carrera Cab and Carrera Coupe.

f22c

Rennlist has a glitch....