We have an idea.
A new post on Instagram published by Porsche hints the concept is motorsport-related. That doesn’t necessarily exclude an electric 718.
Porsche announced that it will attend the IAA show in Frankfurt, Germany. The IAA is moving from Frankfurt to Munich starting with 2021. This will allow them to present a future-oriented concept study. This teaser image strongly suggests that we are dealing in an EV, as the four-point LED headlights look very similar to the Mission E concept and the Taycanproduction cars.
Although the headlight shape may remind you of the 996-gen 911’s “fried eggs” lights, we don’t believe the IAA-bound car is related to Zuffenhausen. Porsche has made it clear that a fully-electric 911 will not arrive in this decade. Therefore, it would be premature to show off a zero emissions version that won’t make it to the streets before 2030.
But what then? We’re also ruling the Macan EV out, as the clay model that was accidentally leaked by Porsche had a different headlight design. The concept car’s front appears to be quite short, as the black area at its top is where the wipers are located. This rule outs a Porsche version of the Audi A6E-Tron, since the PPE-based electrical concept had a longer nose than a car with a combustion engine.
This brings us to the 718. You may recall that Michael Steiner, Porsche’s executive board member for R&D told Car and Driver all about the company’s plans to develop an electric 718 concept car. Is this the end? There are good reasons to believe that Porsche will preview a Boxster/Cayman Electric after excluding the Macan, 911, and Porsche-ified A6 E-Tron.
If this assumption is true, it means Porsche has decided to equip the next generation of its baby sports cars with an all-electric motor. Michael Steiner stated to Car and Driver that the 718 should follow the same path as the Mission E concept. It was made into a production model four-years later. This means that the next-generation Boxster/Cayman will be delayed without a combustion engine.
The gasoline-powered 718 is still in development. The Cayman GT4 RS has been spotted repeatedly, and it should be available before 2021 ends. Although it is not clear if the concept will be featured at IAA Munich as an electric vehicle, its eagerly awaited unveiling should happen soon.
Porsche claims it will reveal the new concept car in September 6.