Porsche Boxster, Cayman Will Revive 718 Designation
The Porsche Boxster and Cayman models will now be marketed as the 718 model series.
Effective starting with the 2016 model year, the Boxster and Cayman models will take the 718 designation as a reference to the ground-breaking sports car from 1957. The nameplate will also reflect the new turbocharged four-cylinder engines heading to both models, serving as a continuation of the proven four-cylinder concept and the history of distinguished Porsche sports cars. Besides its production engines, the German automaker is also using turbocharged four-cylinder engines in its 919 Hybrid LMP1 race car that not only finished first and second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but also earned the manufacturer’s and driver’s championship titles in the WEC World Endurance Championship.
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Porsche also confirmed that the 718 Boxster will be priced higher than the 718 Cayman, which is a switch from the current pricing model where the Cayman starts at $500 more than the Boxster. Both models will be unveiled throughout next year.
In the late 1950s, the 718 served as the successor to the legendary Porsche 550 Spyder with a powerful and efficient four-cylinder flat engine. At the 1958 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 718 RSK with a 142-horsepower four-cylinder engine claimed a class victory.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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