Porsche 718 Baby Boxster Due in 2016
A new back to basics small Porsche sports car has been rumored for some time, and new information on the car has been revealed.
According to Car Magazine, the car will be called the 718 Roadster, and will arrive in 2016. The small two-seater will share its platform and wheelbase dimension with the Boxster, but the 718 will have much smaller overhangs and unique style. It will also weigh roughly 260 pounds less than the Boxster, with Porsche targeting a 2,600 pound curb weight.
Power will come from a new flat-four cylinder engine that will be offered in two different flavors, either a 2.0-liter or 2.5-liter. Both engines will be turbocharged, with the smaller of the two making 286 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque and the larger pumping out 360 hp and 347 lb-ft of torque. There will be a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission available.
SEE ALSO: Porsche Lineup to Add at Least Four Models
A canvas convertible roof will be used to help keep weight down, and will be manually operated. On the interior, things will be kept simple, with manually adjusted seats and a simple guage cluster that doesn’t feature the complex screens of cars like the 911 or Audi TT.
To accommodate the new 718 in the lineup, the existing Boxster will be pushed upmarket to sit above the Cayman. That way, the fixed-roof coupe will separate the brand’s two convertibles in the lineup.
SEE ALSO: 2016 Porsche 718 Baby Boxster Specs on our Future Cars Page
Car says that the 718 will cost about £32,000. When it makes it to North America, the car will likely cost somewhere between $40,000 and $45,000.
[Source: Car Magazine]
Discuss this story at our Porsche 718 Forum
Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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this is madness. What you are witnessing here is the implosion of Porsche. Moving the Boxster upscale when the Cayman GT4 is already going to be $125,000 is madness. You will have Boxster competing against the other "other convertible" the 911. Or are they planning on moving that even further upscale? $200,000 911 Convertible? The 718's power figures of 2.0 286HP/295lbft and 2.5 360HP/347lbft simply means any hope of sales will be cannibalized by AUDI'S TT S and RS.
The new 944? :)