Porsche has disclosed plans to introduce the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman next year as a replacement for the company’s current entry-level models. The decision to rename these two cars has been taken as a throwback to the Porsche 718 that debuted back in 1957 and also as a connection to the company’s history of flat-four engines. Porsche reminds us the 718 RSK triumphed in its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in 1958 thanks to its 4-cylinder engine that generated 142 hp (105 kW). In addition, the firm’s 919 Hybrid LMP1 racecar is motivated by a 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter motor and as you know it allowed Porsche to take the driver’s and manufacturer’s titles this year in WEC.
Porsche isn’t providing any exact details about the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman, but we do know both are due in 2016 and the Boxster will be a tad more expensive than the Cayman. From what we have heard so far, there are going to be new 1.6 and 2.0 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engines developing as much as 286 hp (213 kW) for the range-topping version.
Porsche could show the cars in Geneva in March 2016 or they’ll wait until Paris in October the same year.
Source: Porsche
