Electric 718: What It Is and Why It Still Matters
The electric Porsche 718 is the planned battery-powered successor to the 718 Boxster and Cayman, intended to replace the outgoing combustion models with a modern 718 Boxster Cayman EV that preserves the brand’s sports-car character while introducing a new electric Porsche 718 platform tailored to high-performance driving enthusiasts.
The headline news is simple: Porsche’s electric 718 sports car program is delayed, not cancelled. After months of speculation that the 718 Boxster Cayman EV had been shelved, CEO Michael Leiters has confirmed the company will still build the model because leadership “came to the conclusion that we will build the [EV] – because it is the best solution economically and will be a fantastic car.” That’s a rare moment of clarity in a confused transition era for performance brands. For buyers, the message is that Porsche’s entry-level sports car future is electric, even if the road to showrooms is longer and bumpier than originally promised.
Rumors vs. Reality: What Porsche Has Actually Committed To
Enthusiasts have been whiplashed by conflicting signals: the familiar 718 Cayman and Boxster are gone from dealers, a gas successor was floated, then rumored cancelled, and the EV replacement was reported to be on the chopping block. Against that noise, Leiters’ recent interview cuts through: Porsche is still working on the 718 EV, and leadership sees it as the most sensible path forward for the car and the business.
This is not a minor side project. The electric Porsche 718 has been in development for “five or more years,” according to coverage of the interview, and scrapping it now would waste serious investment. The quote that matters most to shoppers is explicit and quotable: “With the electric 718, we came to the conclusion that we will build the model because it is the best solution economically and will be a fantastic car.” In other words, the company’s official position is that the 718 EV is late, but locked in.
Timelines Slipping: What the Delay Means for Buyers
Originally, the 718 EV was supposed to reach showrooms in 2025. That date is gone. Reports now suggest the car may not arrive until late 2027, and even that isn’t formally confirmed. For anyone hoping to place an order soon, that’s a hard pill to swallow. We are well past the midpoint of 2026 with no official reveal, and at this point a public debut before year’s end would be a pleasant surprise rather than a certainty.
Practically, this means a longer wait and likely higher prices than the outgoing gas 718. The electric 718 is expected to remain below a base 911 in cost, but sit notably higher than the departed combustion 718 in the range. Buyers who want a new Porsche electric sports car sooner will either need to look at the Taycan or consider other brands, because a fresh 718 Boxster Cayman EV in the driveway before the second half of this decade looks unlikely.
The Taycan’s Future: Still a Pillar, But Trimmed
The 718 EV decision cannot be separated from the broader picture: Porsche has faced financial trouble after leaning heavily into EVs in a market that cooled faster than expected. Sales of the Taycan are falling, and the Macan Electric has not matched demand for its gas-powered sibling. That context has triggered a reassessment, including renewed investment in an entry-level combustion SUV and a change of direction for a planned flagship SUV, which will now offer gas and plug-in hybrid powertrains instead of a pure-electric setup.
Yet the Taycan is not being sacrificed. Leiters says there are “no plans to discontinue the Taycan in the short term,” even as Porsche cuts the number of variants and drops certain body styles from specific markets. For owners and would-be buyers, the Porsche Taycan future is secure for the next few years at least, albeit in a more focused lineup. The message: Porsche is pruning its EV tree, not uprooting it.
What to Expect from an Electric 718—and How to Decide Your Next Move
Technical details on the 718 EV remain sparse, but some contours are clear. Coverage of the project points to an 800-volt electrical architecture for rapid charging and a mix of single-motor rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive versions. Spy photos suggest a shape close to the previous 718, with new lighting and design tweaks rather than a radical silhouette. Porsche has previewed the concept direction with the Mission R, and the goal is to keep the 718 as the brand’s entry-level sports car even as the price moves upmarket.
For now, enthusiasts face a choice. If you want a Porsche electric sports car with two doors, you are waiting—likely several years. If you want an electric Porsche today, your realistic option is the Taycan, which remains in production despite a slimmer catalog. If you want an open-top sports car immediately, you will be looking outside the Porsche showroom. The conclusion is clear: Porsche is still committed to the electric 718, but buyers must be equally committed to patience.
