The all-electric Boxster won't debut until 2025. Porsche has repeatedly been spotted testing the sporty convertible without a combustion engine.
In this new batch of images, the 718 EV has been caught by car paparazzi cold-weather testing near the Arctic Circle. Temperatures dropped to -25°C (-13°F), which isn't ideal for electric cars.
Several old and new parts were hidden under body-colored camouflage on the prototype. Porsche added a fake exhaust tip below the license plate on the rear bumper of the Taycan and 2024 Macan EV test vehicles.
Clearly, Zuffenhausen was trying to emulate the base Boxster's shape. Despite the removal of the ICE, the 718's proportions remain the same.
An early look at Porsche's electric cabrio was provided by the Mission R concept last year. While that was a track-only Cayman EV, some design cues are likely to be carried over to the road-going 718. The zero-emission machines will ride on a dedicated platform but use parts from other cars.
Cayman chassis were modified for the Mission R. Porsche says the 718 EVs will not carry over any hardware from the gasoline-fueled models. The ICE-powered vehicles will be phased out in 2025 when their electric successors arrive.
Since the Macan will be sold with both types of propulsion for a while, the German brand is doing things differently.
Performance cars are always heavy, and EVs are no exception. At about 1,500 kilograms (3,306 pounds), the Mission R is only 85 kg (187 lbs) heavier than a Cayman GT4 RS. Due to its dual-motor configuration, a single electric motor would be slightly lighter on the entry-level variant.
From concept to production, hopefully it won't gain much weight. The battery's weight penalty will be kept in check by advances in energy density.
Rather than a test drive for an electric sports car, the 718 Boxster/Cayman EV will be a stepping stone. By the end of the decade, Porsche expects cars without ICE to generate 80 percent of sales.
image credit:moto1.com
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