Update: ‘Charging’ sub-section of ‘Specifications’ updated.
Ever since its arrival in 1996, the Porsche Boxster has been the sports car of choice for those who wanted good looks and the freedom of an open-top convertible. Currently in its fourth generation, the 718 Boxster is lauded for its affable driving dynamics and for being a technical tour-de-force. However, gearing up for a clean future, Porsche is developing the next-gen 718 series exclusively with EV power. Here’s everything we know so far about the Porsche 718 Boxster Electric.
Porsche’s e-mobility strategy
Porsche is planning to make pure-electric versions of almost all models – including the Cayenne, Panamera, Macan, and the 718 range. As part of its ‘e-mobility’ strategy, Porsche is hoping that over 80% of all vehicle deliveries in 2030 to be EVs. Like the Macan Electric, the 718 Boxster Electric has been spotted undergoing road-testing in the real world.
We’re also planning all-electric versions for a large part of our portfolio, including the 718 and a new all-electric SUV in the luxury class.
Oliver Blume, CEO, Porsche, on Dec 15, 2022 (via Porsche Newsroom)
Design
Early spy shots seemed to show what looked like a heavily camouflaged 718 Boxster prototype being tested on a public stretch of road in Germany. At first, the test mule resembled a regular ICE-powered Boxster. However, a YouTube video that DrGumoLunatic shot in Stuttgart, Germany, and posted on November 26, 2022, suggested otherwise. With no engine/exhaust sounds to be heard, it’s possible that the prototype was motivated by electric power alone.
The spy shots also showed a staggered wheel arrangement (common in many sports cars), but what’s interesting to note here is how the front & rear wheels of this test mule are of completely different designs. Apart from that, the rear end features one of the 718 Boxster’s characteristic single exhaust tip. Of course, that might have been left on there to confuse curious eyes!
Recent spy shots of a test mule with less camouflage, snapped in Sweden, have revealed some more details. These images show the Porsche 718 Boxster Electric featuring sleeker headlamps similar to those of the facelifted Porsche Taycan. The design of these flat headlamps originally comes from the Porsche Mission R concept, though. Unlike what we imagined and depicted in our rendering earlier, the headlamps aren’t connected to air curtains, leading to a cleaner styling.
Video Source: YouTube/CarSpyMedia
Professional car spotter CarSpyMedia has released videos of the 718 Boxster Electric undergoing testing around the Nürburgring as well as the Scandinavian region. The latter shows the car featuring a fake exhaust tip and emitting a sci-fi-inspired noise that is typical of the electric motor whine. Most body panels seem to be of the gas-powered 718 Boxster that’s currently in showrooms, helping Porsche keep the final design hidden from outsiders.
LED headlights with HD Matrix beam
Porsche will likely fit its new LED headlights with HD matrix beam on the 718 Boxster Electric. These headlights have a range of up to 600 meters and offer a high resolution that’s up to 2X brighter than previous systems. They feature a new non-dazzling high beam function that makes the areas on the left and right of an oncoming vehicle significantly brighter.
Interior
According to a report auto motor und sport released on August 18, 2023, the interior of the Porsche 718 Boxster Electric and Porsche 718 Cayman Electric would be the “most modern Porsches.” Their interior would be much more futuristic than the Taycan and their cockpit would mark a “tremendous leap.”
The all-electric 718 is planned for the middle of the decade.
Porsche’s announcement on March 12, 2023 (via Porsche Newsroom)
Test prototypes have provided an early look at the dashboard of the Boxster EV. It comes with a digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen, similar to the Macan EV. Underneath the infotainment system, we spot aircraft-inspired switches for the hazard lights and traction control, beneath which are the AC vents, and two USB outlets. The HVAC (dual-zone AC) and seat heating/ventilation, windshield defroster switches are placed in the central tunnel, with a mix of physical and touch-operated controls.
The functionalities in the cabin could improve over the years with regular software updates released over the air, and customers should be able to unlock new functions even after vehicle purchase (FoD).
Specifications
Platform
Underpinning the Porsche 718 Boxster Electric will be a unique platform developed indigenously, although it will have some modules borrowed from other cars, Oliver Blume, the company’s CEO, said at the Porsche Mission R debut, Autocar reported on November 18, 2022. He didn’t reveal whether these modules will come from the Taycan’s J1 platform or the Macan Electric’s PPE platform, but the latter looks more likely.
While most EVs have a flat layer of batteries placed in the vehicle floor, the 718 Boxster Electric’s batteries would lie behind the driver’s seat, mimicking the gas-powered 718 Boxster’s mid-engine layout, as per the auto motor und sport report. The same report claims Porsche would source the batteries from Finnish company Valmet.
Performance & Range
According to the auto motor und sport report, Porsche would release the 718 Boxster Electric in single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD configurations. The company should ensure better performance than the gas-powered, 394-hp Boxster GTS 4.0, which takes 4.3 seconds for a 0-60 mph sprint and has a top speed of 182 mph. It could offset the heavier weight of its lithium-ion batteries by installing more power, and customers would expect 250-300 miles of range (EPA-est.).
Charging
The Porsche 718 Boxster Electric sold in the U.S. will feature the North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging port. This port will allow customers to use Tesla’s widespread Supercharger network, which comprises more than 15,000 charging stalls across North America.
Tesla Superchargers allow charging at up to 250 kW, meaning customers may need to look elsewhere to take maximum advantage of their 718 Boxster Electric’s 800-volt architecture. Tesla is likely to upgrade the peak charging output of Superchargers to 350 kW in the future, though, and it may complete that improvement by the time Porsche starts delivering the upcoming electric roadster in the U.S.
The electric roadster should have Porsche’s most advanced charging system yet. At home, drivers will likely be able to charge it with up to 22 kW of alternating current. At a public charging station, the car may support charging with 270 kW of direct current. A 5-80% DC fast-charging session could be a matter of 15-20 minutes.
The Taycan, with its system voltage of 800 volts, enables charging at up to 320 kW. The company could improve further in this aspect in future launches. For example, boasting 900-volt technology, both Mission R and GT4 e-Performance concepts take just around 15 minutes for a 5-80% DC fast-charging session. The former’s maximum charging input is 340 kW.
In March 2023, spy photographers spotted Porsche testing the 718 Boxster Electric in cold weather. Engineers were running prototypes in Sweden, and one of the cars was seen at a Tesla Supercharger. Porsche is unlikely to establish a widespread high-power charging network of its own, but American customers will likely find the Tesla Supercharger network convenient, now that it’s opening up to EVs from other brands. Plus, there’s Electrify America’s fast charging network, offering 850 charging stations having about 4,000 individual chargers in the U.S. and Canada.
Production
Production of the Porsche 718 Boxster Electric will take place alongside gas-powered sports cars at the company’s main plant in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany. The company has announced a circa-EUR 250 million (USD 272 million) investment in the construction work for preparing this factory for the future.
Porsche 718 Boxster Electric Price & Release Date
On March 13, 2023, during Porsche’s Annual Press Conference 2023, Blume indicated that the company has planned a mid-decade launch for the 718 Boxster Electric. He said:
Let’s begin with the all-electric Macan: it is scheduled to go out to our customers in 2024. Then there’s the 718: The all-electric version is planned for the middle of the decade. Here, too, we plan to introduce the completely new model in parallel with the combustion engine version. In the medium term, the 718 will only be available as an all-electric model.
Oliver Blume, CEO, Porsche (Annual Press Conference on March 13, 2023)
We expect Porsche’s first electric roadster to begin arriving at U.S. dealerships in 2025, with prices starting at around USD 80,000.
Porsche 718 Boxster Electric FAQs
What is the Porsche 718 Boxster Electric release date?
The Porsche 718 Boxster Electric is expected to arrive at U.S. dealers in 2025.
What will be the Porsche 718 Boxster Electric price?
The Porsche 718 Boxster Electric could start at around $80,000.
Which cars will be Porsche 718 Boxster Electric rivals?
The Boxster Electric would compete with the Tesla Roadster & Polestar 6, which are considerably more expensive.
Featured image: TopElectricSUV’s illustration of the Porsche Boxster EV.
I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.
