The Real Reason Why The Porsche 718 Never Got A Turbo Variant

The Boxster and Cayman were never meant to receive the "Turbo” moniker because it is an entry-level model

To be clear, Porsche has never given a clear explanation behind not giving us a Cayman/Boxster Turbo, but there are a couple of reasons why such a car does not exist, and they are as logical as they are controversial. The 986 Boxster started the modern-day, budget-friendly Porsche sports car. The entry-level model was an evolution of a platform that, essentially kept the German automaker in business until the first-generation Cayenne came along to generate serious revenues for a cash-strapped Porsche through the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Porsche has a good reason for naming its more mainstream models with different names, instead of numbers. That said, the suits have decided that Porsche’s entry-level sports car will not be getting the same treatment as the 911 since its purpose is solely to give Porsche enthusiasts a more budget-friendly alternative to the iconic 911. Porsche’s Boxster and Cayman have always been significantly more affordable than the 911.

Typically, a base-model Boxster or Cayman has an original MSRP, which is around 60 percent of what a base 911 Carrera could be had for. And yet, Porsche doesn’t want you to know how much the mid-engine Porsche and 911 have in common. The fact that Porsche is giving us a fully-electric Boxster/ Cayman while keeping the 911 combustion-powered even though it has become a hybrid, speaks plenty about the company’s desire to keep the 911 its flagship model – something that a Cayman/Boxster Turbo could potentially hinder (more on that in a bit).

A Variety of Porsche Models have received the coveted "Turbo” badge

There is a stigma surrounding the mid-engine, Porsche. Despite each generation since the 986 Boxster sharing many parts with the 911 of the same period, many people dismiss the Boxster/ Cayman as “the one you get when you don’t want to (or can’t) afford 911 money”. Yes, the 718 Cayman/ Boxster has turbocharged variants, but even the base 911 Carrera is turbocharged, without being called a “Turbo”. At the same time, more mainstream models like the Cayenne, Macan, and even the heavyweight Panamera Turbo Hybrid, have the iconic Turbo nameplate slapped on them, despite having more in common with other VAG products.

A Cayman/Boxster Turbo could ruin the 911 Turbo legacy

While the Porsche 911’s signature, rear-engine layout provides some advantages, it also comes with some disadvantages, especially when compared with the mid-engine layout. The 718 is a slightly lighter, nimbler, mid-engine sports car that boasts superior balance without resorting to clever tech (as much as the 911). Now imagine a 718 Turbo, powered by Porsche’s iconic boxer-six engine, featuring two turbochargers, and making over 600 horsepower. If you add all-wheel drive with the quick-shifting PDK transmission, you get a car that could destroy any 911 Turbo, and still be more affordable.

There might still be a "Turbo” 718 yet

The fact Porsche scrapped a flat-eight-powered, mid-engine supercar in favor of making the Porsche 718 all-electric is among the most controversial decisions Porsche executives have made. That said, a 718 “Turbo” could still be happening after all. So far, we know three variants of the Porsche 718 EV are happening – the 718 base, 718 S, and 718 GTS.

Turbo models typically take another year or two to come out, and we are holding our breath to see if Porsche announces something in the coming months. The brand certainly isn’t shy about putting the "Turbo” badge on EVs like the Porsche Taycan and Porsche Macan EV, so a 718 EV Turbo could be in the pipeline for 2026-2027. We know companies like TECHART are no strangers to making the 911 Turbo even more insane, but the real question is what if such a company decided to take a combustion-powered Porsche 718 and transform it into a mid-engine Porsche 911 Turbo killer?