Porsche announces important changes inside its range for 2016. Its entry-level models and one of the most accesible sports cars in the luxury segment, the Cayman and Boxster, will change their name as they are preparing for new technical features also. The 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman: these will be the new names of the two-door mid-engine sports cars.
718 designation is a reference to the ground-breaking sports car of this type of the year 1957, which enjoyed much success in renowned car races of the period. In the late 1950s, the 718 – a successor to the legendary Porsche 550 Spyder – represented the highest configuration level of the four-cylinder flat engine. The 718 took first place between 1959 and 1960 at the legendary Italian Targa Florio race in Sicily. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1958, the 718 RSK with its 142-hp four-cylinder engine scored a class victory.
In the future, both 718 models will have equally powerful flat four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engines with turbocharging. And the roadster will be positioned at a higher price level than the Coupé – as is the case for the 911 models.
The 718 model series is a continuation of the four-cylinder concept and the history of Porsche sports cars. The latest example is the 919 Hybrid LMP1 race car, which also has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 2.0 litre displacement. So, not only did Porsche finish first and second in the 24 hours of Le Mans, but most recently it also won the manufacturer’s and driver’s championship titles in the WEC World Endurance Championship. With these victories, the 919 Hybrid has opened up the prospects for the performance potential of future sports car engines from Porsche.
