Why A 718 Hybrid Is The Need Of The Hour For Porsche

The ICE-powered Porsche 718 is too successful to kill off

Sports cars may have an insignificant market share compared to mainstream vehicles, but they typically sell well and bring greater profit margins than mass-produced models. A case in point is the Porsche 718 Cayman/Boxster. While EV models like the Taycan are plummeting in terms of sales figures, the Porsche 718 has seen a 10-percent increase in sales, in 2024. The combustion-powered variants of the mid-engine Porsche were originally scheduled for retirement in 2025, paving the way for a new, fully electric 718. Given the sales figures, it would be unwise to axe one of the company’s more successful models, which is why, the 983-generation Porsche 718 should most likely, continue to offer a variety of boxer engines.

Is the ICE-powered Porsche 718 staying?

We already know that the next-generation Porsche 718 will be an EV, but given the latest developments, the company is guaranteed to be working on combustion-powered variants of its next, mid-engine sports car. But what will they be? Porsche recently announced that it will be integrating internal combustion and hybrid powertrains across its models, initially conceived as EVs. This shift in strategy is a response to the Taycan’s declining sales, but the EV sedan will be far from the only model affected. What does this mean for the Porsche 718?

Porsche may have its work cut out for it, adapting the 718 EV platform for internal combustion engines. We know the Macan and Macan EV are on different platforms despite similar dimensions. This could mean that the current 718 might stick around and be on offer for a bit longer until Porsche makes tweaks to the 983 platform. Perhaps a new, hybrid platform that is a mix of the two?

T-Hybrid powertrains might seem like the ideal choice for a Porsche 718 hybrid

Porsche’s T-Hybrid powertrain is something that other automakers should look up to. It only adds 110 pounds while adding tons of performance, making the 992.2 Carrera 4 GTS about as quick as the 992.1 Turbo S. We know the upcoming, Porsche 992.2 Turbo models will be powered by a more potent version of the T-Hybrid powertrain, and it only makes sense that more variations of the same hybrid setup are developed. Perhaps, Prosche’s newly-patented, six-stroke engine could see the light of day in the next 718.

I have reason to believe the next-generation Porsche 718 will feature hybrid powertrains similar to what we see on the 992.2. Porsche would have no trouble scaling down the architecture of the 992.2 Carrera GTS’ 3.6-liter engine, to create a smaller unit, possibly even a flat-four. What makes things easier is that the internal combustion engine in the T-Hybrid architecture features a lower profile, making for an easier fit inside the engine bays of Porsche’s sports cars, which don’t exactly offer an abundance of space.

While not yet confirmed, it is only logical that the next-generation 718 follows in the footsteps of the hybrid Porsche 911 variants of the 992.2. Track-focused, naturally aspirated variants like the GT4 will, likely, continue to be on offer for some time in the future. It is, pretty much, guaranteed that ICE power will return to the Porsche 718. The real question is when.