2025… https://www.thedrive.com/news/44820/the-next-porsche-718-boxster-and-cayman-will-be-exclusively-electric?xid=emailshare Expected but it will necessarily bring the 911 along, because Porsche can’t let its flagship be outgunned Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
As you say, it was expected but it is still very sad to see, IMHO, if this change does indeed materialize. My question is, does the 911 survive this epic shift towards electric cars? The 928 couldn't kill the 911 but perhaps electrification can do the job. So much of the 911s identity is its heart -- a 6 cyl boxer engine to be exact. Change its heart and you no longer truly have a 911 IMHO. The switch from air-cooled to water-cooled engines in the 911 sent many "purists" into a mental breakdown, just imagine the effect when/if Porsche tries to change the hallowed 911 to electric power as the only option. On the other hand, the 911 is so synonymous with Porsche's brand identity that discontinuing the model may not be a viable option for the company.
Yeah I don’t know how the 911 survives translation to the electric world. The signature profile could live on, but it came about from form following function with a flat six, air cooled, rear mounted engine. None of this is really relevant in an electric future. But you’re right, Porsche without a 911 is hard to imagine. Of course, Porsche without the 356 was hard to imagine in 1963… Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
That's a good point about the 356. Porsche seems to inspire a type of following that is almost cult-like in its reverence and adhesion to the past. All of this makes me think that the potential shift towards all-electric cars will really hit the brand hard. To be honest, I'm a member of the cult and a transition to an all-electric Porsche line-up will not be embraced by me. It really is amazing to consider that in Porsche's roughly 74 year history as a car manufacturer, they have continually produced at least one these two models (356 and 911) of cars...long live Porsche.
I’m in the same boat as many here, being on the wrong side of 50. I really enjoy my 964, with all its charms and flaws, but hopefully something new and inspiring comes along. In the last century, it was definitely Ferrari and Porsche that for me captured the motor sports feel. I’d like to think they’ll be aspirational and exciting in 2050, but that’s someone else’s story. Ultimately guys 30 years younger than I am will decide what the next 911 looks like. It may be Porsche’s third iconic car… Sent from my iPad using FerrariChat.com mobile app
FWIW and IMHO Porsche will never get "rid" of the 911 but they will offer an EV variant to satisfy regulations and make the tree huggers happy but will always have a gas-powered 911 or at least a hybrid. I'm not an engineer but imagine they can tweak/reuse the PU from the Taycan to reduce design/engineering costs and continue with some sort of multi-option 911 series- Like they always have. Just my passionate but uneducated opinion. Cheers
What’s interesting is that the design language of the 356 and 911 has its origins in rear engined, air-cooled technology. Porsche could retain the low hood line and sloped, vented tail, because it would be easy in an EV. But it’s no longer form following function so much as form following brand history. Maybe that’s ok, but part of the appeal of Porsche was its Teutonic austerity — no gratuitous styling. Just win a lot of races, and let the image take care of itself. Sent from my iPad using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Yep you bring up a great point - not to mention the surgical use of the terms "Teutonic austerity" - that alone should wind a prize To further your point, as I understand it (could be wrong) but I believe for at least the last couple of years the 911 RSRs that run in IMSA/LeMans etc. actually have the engines mounted in front of the rear axle - this technically making them more "mid engine" - and depleting the iconic "rear engine" 911 race car history - Again I could be wrong but being a GT3 owner I had a good friend challenge me on this and I was left looking dumb until I researched it and had to buy beers Like I said, I could see a 911 EV variant - perhaps using the Taycan PU (?) but just don't see Porsche ever completely electrifying the 911. Hell the Porsche owners/community threw such massive (and justified) tantrums and rallied up against them doing away with manual transmissions that they reverted their position and offerings - I can only imagine the mutiny if they fully electrified the 911! Cheers
I humbly accept the 2022 Automotive Cliche Revival Award. Sent from my iPad using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Maybe I am being a bit of a skeptic, but I think there is zero chance they go EV only for the Boxster and Cayamn. Might the main models be EV only? Sure...but they know there are enough people that will pay out the ass for a special edition flat 6 with a manual that they will continue to make some. Same with the 911. As long as regulations allow, they will build them. Porsche also sell a lot of GT4, GT3 and GTE cars to race teams. Doing EV only road cars kills their motorsport programs as well.
Word from Weissach is that, for the 2025+ 911 , we'll be looking at a hybrid. One that borrows from the 918. Not a bad pedigree -- it is reminiscent of the 959 technology trickling down to the 964 --- and it may mean a reprieve for the flat 6. Longer term will they go all-electric. Likely, though I could see a range of hybrid cars for their motorsport customers.
Its like the expected demise of the stick that never happened because porche realized that there was a premium market for a NA flat 6 stick. If all the other plans worked, the 928 woudl have replaced the aircooled ass engined 911. The 4CYL turbo boxter with pdk would have worked out and we never would have seen the GTS with flat 6 and stick, ditto the Gt4 and now the Gt4 rs which is pdk but na flat 6. the Gt4 when it came out doubled cayman sales, that speaks volumes. Porche is going to hedge its bets to the extent allowed. The 911 for sure is a visceral sportscar. there may be some electric only versions like eurpoe where its mandated, but we will see hybrid versions and probably some pure NA ones too. After all porche is investing heavily in making carbon neutral liquid fuels, they're doing that for a reason, its a market.
