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A Brave New World (Sort Of)
What we have here is Porsche’s all-electric 718 Cayman and Boxster, caught strutting about in the Arctic, disguised under some truly heavy cladding. It’s a bit like dressing an athlete in a parka and asking them to run a sprint, but never mind that. The point is, Porsche is persisting with the electrification of one of its most beloved sports car lines, despite the automotive world currently feeling as stable as a wobbly tea tray.
Once upon a time, Alpine and Lotus were meant to collaborate on electric sports cars, forming a three-way punch-up with the Cayman. But here we are in 2025, and that plan has crumbled like a stale biscuit. Lotus’s electric Elise successor seems to be perpetually delayed, Alpine is being suspiciously quiet, and the MG Cyberster—while looking the part—isn’t exactly setting the world on fire dynamically. And yet, Porsche soldiers on, because Porsche.
Spot the Difference
Now, thanks to the disguise, spotting design changes is a bit like trying to read a book through frosted glass. But even so, this new Cayman is visibly broader, stockier, and longer than its petrol-powered predecessor, which has been around in some form since 2012. The front lights mimic those found on the Taycan and Macan Electric, while the rear trades in its traditional lozenges for an increasingly fashionable light bar. One notable absence is the prominent side air intakes—formerly a defining feature of the Cayman. They’ve been reduced to little more than vestigial slits, hinting at Porsche’s confidence in cooling an EV without the need for enormous scoops.
As for what’s underneath, the details are still murky. Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has stated that the new cars will sit on a bespoke platform designed specifically for sports cars, rather than adopting the usual skateboard-style architecture. This should help preserve the traditional driving position and ensure the battery mass is optimally placed for handling. And yes, the car will still be a two-seater, mid-engined in spirit if not in reality, and, one hopes, just as practical for a weekend jaunt to the shops.
Power and Performance
This is where things start to get properly interesting. The electric Cayman and Boxster are expected to produce around 600bhp in their more potent forms. For context, that’s about 200bhp more than the current Cayman GT4 RS, which is already fast enough to make your face feel a bit loose. The Macan EV, with its dual-motor setup, already manages 630bhp, so we can expect similar figures from the new 718 lineup. Porsche’s most extreme EV, the Taycan Turbo GT, churns out a frankly ludicrous 1020bhp and 1340Nm of torque, but let’s not get carried away—there’s little chance of the Cayman getting that sort of firepower. At least, not yet.
The Real Question: Will Anyone Buy One?
Of course, the biggest elephant in the room isn’t the performance, or the design, or even the absence of a flat-six wailing behind your ears. It’s whether anyone actually wants one. Back when Porsche started developing this thing, electric cars were still in their honeymoon period, with bright-eyed optimism and tax breaks aplenty. Now, in 2025, EV sales have plateaued, resale values are questionable, and people are starting to remember that petrol engines make rather a nice noise.
All of which means that Porsche is facing a tricky balancing act. If this all-electric Cayman and Boxster are brilliant to drive, it might just win over the sceptics. But if buyers remain hesitant, it at least gives Porsche a stronger argument for keeping combustion engines in the 911, possibly with a bit of hybrid wizardry thrown in. And if synthetic fuel takes off, well, that could be a whole new game altogether.
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