“We have prototypes of the 718 running in electric now.”
Porsche CEO Oliver Blume details further electric Porsche cars to follow the Taycan and says the company has “prototypes of the 718 running in electric now”. The new models will utilise the PPE platform Porsche is sharing with Audi, and hybrid models are under consideration as well.
According to the report by Autocar, Porsche is busy working on an all-electric 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman set to launch by 2022. Moreover, the VW premium house is considering offering them alongside mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the current models.
The report cites Porsche CEO Oliver Blume detailing the progress as follows: “We have prototypes of the 718 running in electric now, and a hybrid prototype is being built. If you look to the next generation of those cars, it is possible, although it is not yet clear whether it would be plug-in hybrid or hybrid.”
The decision to also offer hybrid versions is based on current range limitations, and while the next-generation of the 718 series will feature an all-electric drive, current models may provide a bridge of now. Porsche is already employing the same strategy for the upcoming Macan. The latest generation will be an electric car and first to utilise the PPE platform, while existing models will be electrified only partially.
As reported, Porsche’s first electric model, the Taycan, brought in so many orders, that the carmaker is having to make 40,000 units, instead of 20,000 initially planned. With launch set for later this year, the electric sports car is currently undergoing final tests.
The new electric vehicles are part of an ambitious strategy as by 2025 at least half of all Porsches sold should have an electric drive. The Boxster had been slated for electrification in Porsche’s strategy before.
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