Porsche CEO on new electric 718

i thought you guys might find this interesting, I hope the buying public shares his enthusiasm given Porsche ‘s recent financial blights. https://www.motor1.com/news/789757/porsche-boss-praises-electric-718/

After all the anticipation and delays, it would be nice to see the 718 platform put out a good product(s). But overall, I’m quite disappointed at Porsche . They have abandoned the middle class enthusiast customer base that. Those are the folks who appreciate Porsche the car rather than Porsche the status symbol and collectible. While this news about the 718 is encouraging, I’m also seeing news items about Porsche fixing its financial problems with range topping models. I don’t have anything against those models - unless they come at the expense of the 718 having a robust offering.

I read about the “ investments for exclusive buyers “ plan as well. Hopefully some of that design language filters into production. I agree with you though, a new 924, 944, even an updated 914 would save them like the Boxster all over again. I believe when some of the entry models of yore fell into blight conditions it may have been a thorn in their eye. Either way nobody is suggesting a cheap model, merely a realistic entry point for passionate drivers who would be fans for a very long time for the effort. Partner with VW and the rest of the toybox. VW could use a new Sirocco too.

I totally agree with you on VW should come out with the Sirocco and Porsche would do great with a reasonably priced car like the 924. I always thought the 924 looked a little better than the 944. Now if they came out with a great looking 914 in British racing green I would be pretty excited.

I fear that Porsche has started a business model from several years ago leading the company down the road away from their original (Ferry Porsche ) vision. I hope Porsche can continue to be a valid player in the sports car market, but they may find themselves on a "slippery slope" trying to keep the ship afloat and stay true to their roots.

I'm an old analog, manual tranny, unassisted, ICE guy. I have 4 pre-1980 sports cars including 2 historic racers and the only Ferrari 328 GT4 /LM in existence. My daily driver is a wonderful 2015 PDK Cayman . I would never buy an electric automobile.

Porsche is interested in fighting for the Ferrari market, not building reasonably affordable sports cars. This isn't exactly new: I recall in the mid 80s the CEO of PCNA visited us at Golden Gate Region where he thanked us for being enthusiasts but advised us that our demographics didn't fit their new 911 buyer's profile. However we were positioned as purchasers of their used 911s . At least they wanted us involved. Today I get the impression they would like to forget the middle class enthusiasts as they want the "premium" class of buyer. It's an irony for me as I have several Porsches and can afford to buy a new one. I simply don't like much of their "product" enough to spend my hard earned money and really DISLIKE their attitude. I'm bordering on hoping they go belly up and get rid of the management structure. Granted, enormous financial changes with selling EVs in the US have recently occurred. But Porsche management created much of this problem and need to do an entire rethink IF they can manage their way past this- but until the next upset with their new customer base. If I want anything EV I'll try American because I'm American.. or Asia because they are so far ahead in terms of reliable technology.

I've had a reasonably happy experience with Porsche for the last 55 years, however, maybe it's just as well that my association with the brand will come to an end, along with my dwindling supply of expendable income and enthusiasm. Perhaps the younger generation will find something "meaningful" with ownership of an EV......something I just don't appreciate.

So happy I was able to obtain a 2025 GT4RS at MSRP. The electric 718 is going to be a bust. Looking at the spy pictures, it’s looks ugly.

So " Porsche Boss Praises Electric 718: 'Great Car'". Well knock me down with a feather. Completely independent and objective boss praises own company's product. "And with the electric engine, of course, it gives you even more dynamic driving." This is concerning. Just what is Porsche's current understanding of "dynamic driving", and how does an electric engine (with batteries etc) give even more of it?

Disturbing that Porsche is seriously going this route still. Appreciate many of the sentiments in this thread. Slightly shocked that enthusiast buyers are treated as an afterthought. Uhm, is racing heritage not what Porsche is all about, what built their brand?? Ferrari competitor? Niche status symbol? Porsche can offer "exotics" like a new Carrera GT or a 918, if they are chasing high budget buyers. Does that mean the "average fanatic" can't also dream of owning a racing inspired Porsche ? Sad to see such self destructive thinking going on at Porsche .

I can sympathize with Porsche in regard to maintaining the high profit “ and the papers what to know what shirts you wear” buying members of society, reputation game is built into their business model. However, survival has to be in the pie as well, didn’t they learn from the Boxster ? Even then 911 purists had a hissy about the cars being nearly identical from the doors forward, they’re in a tough balancing act trying to satisfy and survive. My company once created a diagnostic medical product more advanced than what it was replacing. By scientific measure its capabilities in resolution crushed what we were currently selling. Now most of the world agreed with us but the southwest did not, long story made short? We had to manufacture the “old” stuff just for the radiology departments of the southwest because if we didn’t they were switching. Porsche somehow missed that vital lesson which they should have learned from the Boxster . You have to sell what your consumers desire or perish.

This article makes it seem like Porsche wants to be another Ferrari or McLaren as a way of solving their financial problems. https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/porsche-profits-2025-upmarket-expansion/

Agree with everyone here. Sad to see a pure electric play. There is no really driving dyanmic in electric. I understood the craftsmanship between several brand, Volvo, Kia, Tesla , Porsche Taycan , but one thing stood out too me, all sounded the same and sadly felt the same and a plur or minus. I have known several millennial and up generations to go back to ICE autos because of issue or just the unenjoyable drive. GENZ can't afford new cars unless parents are buying them, and my kids HS, wealthy area (bought in before the value explosion), and maybe 1% or 2% have an electric car out of 700 or so cars in the parking lot. Guess what the kids want, ICE cars. There is a feeling of Porsche doesnt want the middle class. The prices of a Cayman / Boxster now is crazy expensive. Hell, the 911 , is grossly expensive, and really to me, too bloated looking. I digress. But it is sad to see where they are going. Be curious to see what brand could fill Porsche if they continue the Ferrari and McLaren pathway. Also, is it just me, or does the EV Boxster look like a 2000's Opel GT? Definitely not my steely, feel like they are loosing their heritage.

What’s up with all these manufacturers? Why are you offering a turbo 4 to propel a heavy vehicle while obtaining roughly the same fuel economy as my current V6? Why it’s almost as if these engines running on sewing machine oil are designed for a specific service life (cynical I know). Most of the younger generation I know family or otherwise were in no particular hurry to even obtain a driver’s license. You won’t ignite a new generation of enthusiasts with a companion Panorama issue Porsche . If you build it, they will come, but it can’t price out at 100k, it’s not going to fly.

The Boxster/Cayman already has a resale value problem - a 5 year old Boxster is worth 50% of the original sticker price, whereas a 911 is worth about 90%. A gimmicky EV aimed at the mid-market buyer doesn't seem like it would be a wise move on Porsche 's part - vs. fixing the problems that the Boxster/Cayman has always had; marginal build quality, turbo 4cyl, horrifically expensive maintenance, no rear seat... It doesn't seem like Leiters has a clue about who might be the target buyer for this car? The Europeans lost the plot with their singular focus on EVs. They have thrown all their R&D dollars into EVs for a decade now, at the expense of their ICE models. Toyota and others took a far more measured approach, and it's now paying off. Unfortunately, there's not many interesting cars in the market today, nor the development pipeline for the foreseeable future.

I agree with your estimation of the Porsche EV's and their marketability, but disagree about Boxsters and Caymans having a resale problem... Boxsters and Cayman resale values are climbing and because of their replacement EV's late coming and lack of anything even close to their performance, and other political considerations, they will continue to climb. Early Cayman S 's that were selling for $27,000 a three years ago are now selling well into the $30's. I sold my 2006 Cayman S amost two years ago for $38,000 with 63K miles on it. One year later (last summer) it resold on BaT for $45,777! Hated selling that wonderful sports car, but it was replaced by one of the last (Number 10) 2025 Boxster GTS 4.0 's! I consider it to be one of the best sports cars ever built and I have no doubt that its value will contiue to appreciate - maybe even on par with the last of the air cooled 993 911s - which it can run circles around..

I just sold my 2015 Cayman S . I couldn't handle how greedy Porsche is about charging customers so much for parts and service. I tracked my car and loved it but I was always terrified of something expensive going wrong. I'm actually replying because our daily driver is a Tesla Model Y Performance with performance (0-60 and quarter mile trap speed) pretty much the same as my Cayman , but no flat six sound.😒 However, being super quiet means I can use the power without alerting everyone else. The greatest thing about the car is the FSD and being able to have it totally drive me anywhere I want to go. The Cayman was a fun daily driver but I worried about putting miles on it and most of my driving is ho hum and not Porsche 's style. To replace my track time with the Porsche , I've bought a couple of racing go karts. I don't race them, I just take them to a local track and blast around. I can buy a new motor if I ever need one and it would cost about what an oil change service on the Cayman would be! A set of4 tires is only $250 ans the karts themselves were $1,500 each used and I can sell them anytime for that. Next month I am taking the Tesla to a small track I ran the Cayman on, and am interested to see if it's fun.

have you driven a new model 3 performance and compared to like 3 series? EVs do handle better due to low Cog. its almost impossible to rollover an EV.

Can’t take them to the track. Many race facilities won’t allow electrics at HPDE.

Yes, they are amazingly fast, but oh so numb. No emotion, no noise, just G-forces that give you nausea if you are a passenger... Not for me.

really? I dont take my EV to track but plenty of people do that in US and we've chargers on track. unsure where you're. Curious why wouldnt they allow EVs? A friend of mine brings new model 3 performance. he's often overtaking Gt4 and pretty much every other car on track. so EVs do feel like cheating

Honestly if porsche built a 718 EV with good gear simulation, engine noise (like ioniq 5N/6N), and is still lighter than model 3P, I might consider that over gas. Problem is all previous attempts on Porsche EVs had resulted in heavy cars. Taycan is 1500lbs heavier than Model 3 performance. What a shame.

FIFY Try Ioniq 5N or 6N. has the fake drama of fake gear shifts, fake engine noise and fake revs. feels like a fake gas car.

Haters are often the people who never tried it.

I am not sure why the defensiveness on EV @darrenfx . EV is for some just like JDM die hards don't want a Euro and will talk smack about Euro cars. EVs have their place in this world just like a Cayman has a place in this world. I had the opportunity to test the Taycan S vs Panamera GTS Turbo, and I would still take the Panamera. Yes, there is instant power, lower center of gravity, regen braking assist with braking, but it over all was lackluster for me. The Panamera, it wasn't just hearing the engine, it was feeling the engine, feeling the trans shifts, it was a weight distro that made me feel like I needed to know the car, how to push the car, it was the rawness of that 4.0TT that rumble that's thrill that I felt. The Taycan for me was, instant torque, I start speed, but it was quick to learn, quick push and then just felt... Blah... For me. I have many friends with EVs and I have driven many EVs. I have known a few people who are car enthusits and many have them traded the Tesla model 3 for a BMW X3M, or from Taycans back to Panamera, Nissan Leaf for Golf R. But also, I have a friend who is die hard Tesla and buys every new refresh and loves them to death. I find EVs souless, I find them the same with different interiors and programmed for different experiences. I love ICE, because not everyone can have the 4.0TT, and it takes real work to get power, make it more yours, and for the pure rawness if done right of the car that just makes the Expierence fun. I too believe there is a point of too fast, and too much and for that, I would not own a hypercar either. Not that I can afford one today too. We have a S7, completely modded, two new turbos away from Stage 3. Currently stage 2.5 pushing ~620hp and 680ftlb torque, and its way too much. Inexperienced drivers should never tough this car, and it's too much for daily driving style. I personally am glad Porsche is still dedicated to producing ICE. Pure EV is the wrong direction for enthusits like me.