It’s a time of reckoning for the Volkswagen Group. Whether Audi, Porsche, or Volkswagen itself, the symptoms are rather similar: Growth hasn’t panned out as expected, margins are down, and drastic measures may be needed for the group to survive. Amid all the turmoil, a version of the future Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman is allegedly in trouble, but not the variant people might’ve expected.
German newspaper Bild reports that ten next-generation Volkswagen Group models may be on the chopping block. As translated by Google:
According to BILD information, there is a concrete list of discontinued models: In the Core brand group – which includes VW, Škoda, Cupra and Seat – the successor models of the Raval, Jetta, Taos and Fabia are among those at risk of being discontinued, according to the plans.
Audi and the Progressive brand group are planning to discontinue the Q6 e-tron Sportback and Q5 Sportback.
In the sports and luxury group around Porsche , the Taycan (project code J2), the successor to the combustion engine 718 and the Cayenne Coupé are said to be on the list of candidates for discontinuation.
Some of them make perfect sense. With future Volkswagen Golf production rumored to be returning to Mexico, is the Jetta really necessary? Likewise, the Taos isn’t Volkswagen’s only B-segment crossover. Making something like the T-Roc a global model would fill that niche while reducing development spend. Speaking of redundancy, potentially axing the next-generation Audi Q5 Sportback, Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback, and Porsche Cayenne Coupe models sounds fine, as crossover coupes are rather silly. Oh, and then there’s the matter of the next-generation Taycan. With the posh sedan market continuing to shrink and electrification offering tax and regulatory breaks in certain markets, it wouldn’t be surprising if Porsche considered rolling the next-generation Taycan and Panamera into one car, effectively discontinuing one nameplate.
However, there’s one car on this list that would sting especially hard because it wouldn’t have direct redundancy. No, not the Skoda Fabia, as that’s essentially a Volkswagen Polo or Seat Ibiza with some Czech flair. I’m talking about future combustion-powered variants of the Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman.
Photo credit: Thomas Hundal
Over the past half-century, there have only been two model years during which Porsche offered only one model of two-door sports car: 1996 and 2026. The first was due to the gap between the 968 front-engined coupe and the Boxster convertible. The second is because Porsche pulled the plug on the mid-engined 718 Boxster and Cayman after 2025. For more than a quarter of a century, the Boxster offered real Porsche sports car thrills at a far lower price than a 911. Compact, nimble, surprisingly practical and instantly likeable, it let scores of enthusiasts realize their dreams of Porsche ownership. Honestly now, did you spend your youth dreaming about someday owning a Cayenne or a Panamera?
Mind you, the 718 nameplate isn’t dead yet. When it eventually returns after years of delay, it’ll be on an electric roadster and coupe planned long before America and Europe backed down from hardline dreams of an all-electric future. Unfortunately, it’s not nearly as easy to sell enthusiasts on an electric sports car as it is to sell luxury car buyers on an electric crossover, and the backlash has been real.
Photo credit: Porsche
As a Boxster owner, the overwhelming community sentiment towards the electric model hasn’t exactly been that of excitement. Think a quarter-cup of cautious optimism whisked together with a cup of disappointment. It’s sure to be monstrously quick and offer serious grip, but even simulated paddle shifts just aren’t the same as dipping the clutch and selecting a gear. What’s more, batteries are generally fairly heavy. Sticking close to the weight of the outgoing models would likely sacrifice range, while offering big range would likely sacrifice lightness. Oh, and let’s not forget that the electric Macan launched at a base price five figures greater than that of its combustion-powered counterpart. The entry level of any genre is price-sensitive to a degree.
Screenshot: Porsche
However, for ballers and shot-callers who like their Porsches with the engine in the middle, a ray of hope emerged last autumn during an investor presentation. A slide giving a brief overview of future models appeared, and it said “Addition” followed by “Top ICE derivatives for next 718.” It seemed that Porsche was considering at least something like a new GT4 or Spyder for those seeking that old-time sports car magic at a more affordable price point than a similarly exhilarating 911.
Photo credit: Porsche
Now though, this report means that the future of a combustion-powered 718 is at least somewhat in doubt. It would be a shame if it didn’t end up happening. As strange as it sounds, there are only really two players in the $70,000-to-$100,000-ish combustion-powered sports car arena anymore: The Corvette and the Lotus Emira. The former’s an astonishing performance car, but also rather big. The second might be getting a four-speed automatic. Yes, a four-speed automatic. The BMW Z4’s dead, the Toyota GR Supra’s dead, the Mercedes-Benz SLC didn’t really count, but it’s dead anyway, and the Porsche 911 has simply grown too expensive. Only time will tell if there’s a future for a gasoline-burning entry-level Porsche sports car, and the waiting’s always the hardest part.
Top graphic image: Porsche