We’ve all seen this coming, but now it’s official: the sun is setting on the petrol-powered Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman. Come mid-2025, these beloved mid-engined sports cars from Stuttgart will take their final bow.

It’s no secret that Porsche has been working on a fully electric replacement for its entry-level sports car. The company has confirmed it, and we’ve even spotted it testing, cheekily trying to deceive us with a fake exhaust pipe. But now, the automotive Grim Reaper’s date has been set for the current generation of the 718.

This revelation comes straight from Porsche’s production and logistics executive, Albrecht Reimold, in an interview with German publication Automobilwoche. Reimold stated, “Production of the current generation of 718 will run until mid-2025… In Zuffenhausen, we are already concentrating on the future electric 718.”

Across most of Europe, only the hardcore Cayman GT4 RS and 718 Spyder RS remain in the lineup, as the rest were axed due to noncompliance with EU cybersecurity rules. 

However, markets like the UK still have access to the full range, from the basic 296bhp, 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder to the naturally aspirated flat-six RS models. But come mid-2025, production on all of them will wind up.

While the shift to an all-electric replacement might feel like a gut punch to many fans, Reimold reassures that the new cars will still embody the Porsche spirit: “The 718 is predestined for electric drive. It will be a really fun car. I have already driven it.” 

Reimold also emphasised Porsche’s unwavering commitment to electric cars, even as other manufacturers tread cautiously amid fluctuating EV demand: “I also cannot understand why electromobility as a whole is currently being portrayed so negatively in the public debate. In terms of sustainability alone, for me personally, there is no way around electric drive.”

Despite the transition to electric, Porsche’s love for petrol-powered sports cars isn’t entirely extinguished, especially with ongoing explorations into synthetic fuels. But it looks like future petrol delights will wear the 911 badge rather than the 718.

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In a year marked by significant product launches, Porsche has managed to maintain stable sales figures in the first half of 2024. Between January and June, the German manufacturer handed over 155,945 vehicles to customers worldwide, reflecting a moderate 7 percent decrease compared to the previous year.

The brand is currently updating five of its six model series – Cayenne, Panamera, Macan, Taycan, and 911 – which has led to temporary gaps in availability in certain markets. 

Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG, stated, “With the most powerful model range in the company’s history, we are sending out a clear signal. Our customers can rely on us. Even in a globally challenging market environment, we deliver inspiring sports cars with unique performance, many innovations, and a high degree of individualisation.”

The Porsche Cayenne led the charge with 54,587 units delivered in the first half of the year, marking a 16 percent increase. The Macan followed with 39,167 deliveries, an 18 percent decrease due to the model changeover in various markets.

Von Platen noted, “The new all-electric generation of the SUV recorded a very pleasing order intake. The first vehicles will be handed over to customers in the second half of the year.”

The iconic 911 continued to deliver, with 28,212 units sold worldwide, an 8 percent increase. The Panamera saw 13,255 deliveries, a 25 percent decline due to the current model transition.

Similarly, the Taycan experienced a significant drop, with 8,838 deliveries, reflecting a 51 percent decrease. The 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman models saw an 8 percent increase, with 11,886 units delivered.

Von Platen concluded, “In 2024, we will put the most powerful Porsche product portfolio of all time on the road. We will continue to focus on a triad of drive systems: fully electric vehicles, efficient plug-in hybrids, and emotional combustion engines.”

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