Porsche Cayman

It’s hard to believe that the Porsche 718 Cayman is now almost a decade old. With the upcoming all-electric Cayman/Boxster combo set to kickstart a new chapter for Porsche’s entry-level sportscar, 2025 will be the final gas-powered Cayman. To me, it’s the end of an era for lightweight and relatively cheaper Porsche sports cars. Sure, the all-electric Caymans and Boxsters should be quicker, but can they match the enthusiasm of the intake sound you’d get with the gas-powered Cayman? Well, I don’t want to answer that. But if you prefer a well-sorted chassis, a more analog feel in both drivability and features, with good old gasoline power, now is the time to act and snag a brand-new one while you still can. So what exactly does the latest Porsche 718 have to offer? From everything that’s new for this year and the specs and features across various trims, here’s a detailed overview of the 2025 Porsche 718 Cayman.

No Porsche can truly be called slow, but then again, no Porsche is truly affordable either. The sports carmaker has long traditions in motorsport, which has nicely transitioned into its road cars. While much can be said about the Porsche 911, you need to put together a hefty sum of money if you want to buy one. The base-model 992.2 Carrera starts at $122,000 and special-edition models like the GT3 RS are over $240,000. Not long ago, you could get behind the wheel of a 911 for under $100,000, but that is no longer the case with the 992.

Porsche cars are widely considered as some of the best sports cars that are also suitable for daily drivers. While there are a few exceptions, those being the more track-focused GT variants of the 911 and 718 models, the level of engineering and fine-tuning that goes into a Porsche is matched only by a few other companies in the industry. And even then, they would charge you a lot more. But that doesn’t mean Porsche sports cars are affordable.

Porsche’s 718 Cayman and Boxster, will soon go electric! It marks the end of an era for these mid-engine sports cars. So If you’re looking for an entry-level German sports car, the gas-powered 718 still remains a solid choice and this may also be your last chance to snag a brand-new example with gasoline power.

Like several other automakers, Porsche has a notable hierarchy in its model lineup. Sadly, this means that some platforms will never achieve their full potential unless independent specialists work their magic on them. Such is the case with Porsche’s entry-level performance model – the Cayman/Boxster. The fixed-head, coupe version of the Porsche Boxster is sometimes regarded as the brand’s best sports car. This is due to the mid-engine layout, which is considered superior to the 911’s rear-engine setup. That said, tradition dictates that the 911 remains the top dog in the Porsche lineup. While even the more mainstream Porsche models like the Cayenne and Panamera, feature a Turbo variant, the 718 range tops out with the GT4 RS, and the Spyder RS. So, why is it that Porsche in all its wisdom and rich motorsport heritage, decided to forgo an opportunity to create a Turbo 718? Let’s find out.

Porsche’s Boxster/ Cayman models are, often, regarded as the budget-friendly alternative to the 911. It used to be the one you get when you can’t or don’t want to spend 911 money. This isn’t necessarily the case anymore since the Cayman/ Boxster models have their fair share of high-performance versions that borrow tech straight from the 911. The 987-generation of the mid-engine Porsche (2004-2010) is particularly sought-after on the used market, and there are a couple of reasons for that.

Sharing production costs between models is not uncommon in the modern-day automotive industry. It seems even Porsche’s iconic sports cars are no exception and the Porsche 981 and 991 models are a perfect example. The 911 doesn’t need an introduction as it has been Porsche’s flagship sports car since 1964, after succeeding the 356 - Porsche’s first sports car, since the company officially became a brand. That said, Porsche’s financial troubles from the 1990s, prompted the company to give us a budget-friendly model. In came the 986 Boxster, and it immediately became clear it was a cut-price, mid-engine 911, minus the rear seats. This was not the last time Porsche did this. Australian YouTuber and Porsche aficionado, Jeff Richardson took a deep dive into the 981 and 991 Porsche models to examine how much they have in common. He also bought a flooded 981 Boxster solely to dismantle it. One thing became clear to him – the extent of the similarities between the 911 and Boxster/Cayman is a lot more than you initially may have thought, and it doesn’t stop with these two models.

Porsche has a long history of rallying, and its lineage includes models like the iconic Porsche 953 – the original 911 Dakar. For the 992 generation, the German automaker decided to have another crack at the 911 Dakar formula. The rally-inspired 992 was produced in just 2,500 examples, and they are all sold out. That said, these 992 Dakar models started popping up on the auction sites for more than twice the original, $222,000 asking price. Most examples seen on classic.com cost north of $350k. But thankfully, there are plenty of alternatives to the Porsche 911 Dakar. It seems every other day we are getting an off-road version of the Porsche 911 from some company. Let’s suppose you are looking for something more affordable or closer to the original, 953 Dakar. In that case, there are a few companies out there, making fully-functional Porsche 911s that can easily tackle rough terrain while still being refined enough for daily use.

If you’ve been following what’s happening in the world of Porsche sports cars, you probably already know that from 2025, the mid-engine 718 is going fully electric. While Porsche is doing a lot to ensure the internal combustion engine remains in service for as long as possible, the brand also has goals to electrify 60 percent of its lineup, by 2030. While this may not turn out as the company initially anticipated, the next-generation Porsche Cayman/ Boxster will feature a fully electric powertrain. The thought of a fully electric Porsche sports car is detested by many Porsche purists.

Slotting in below the more potent Cayman S, launched in 2006, Porsche introduced a detuned entry-level base Cayman in 2007. This sleek, mid-engined coupe shared its platform and many components with the Boxster Roadster but featured a fixed roof and hatchback body style. It was powered by a 2.7-liter boxer-six engine producing 245 horsepower and 201 pound-feet of torque, enabling a 0-60 mph sprint in 5.8 seconds with the manual transmission.

Jeremy Snow, who runs the ‘Electric Supercar channel’ on YouTube is all about, as you may have guessed from the name, EVs. Because Elon is taking his time with delivering the Roadster (seven years and counting), Jeremy built one for himself. He has previously also built a Hummer H1 EV. One of his latest project cars taking the EV route is a 2014 Porsche Cayman, which will soon be dubbed the GT-E.

If you are a model car collector, Porsche Design of America, Inc. is offering a limited edition, 1:18 scale model of the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS (982). This high-quality collector’s model showcases impressive attention to detail, capturing the essence of the real-life sportscar. Crafted primarily from resin with metal components, the model offers a luxurious feel and durability. The white exterior with green accents and a black interior faithfully replicate the original design.

Porsche and toy maker LEGO, have had a long and fruitful relationship for many years. The LEGO Technic versions of Porsche’s best models are incredibly life-like and have become collector’s items that have adorned many a desk. In the past, they have collaborated to create the LEGO Model 911 GT3 RS, which is made up of more than 2,700 parts. This year, both brands are collaborating to host the Porsche 4Kids Summer Program, at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. This year LEGO has developed a new Technic model of the Porsche GT4 ePerformance which will be the focus of the program this year.

The Porsche 911 is one of the most iconic and recognizable and iconic sports cars of all time, and within this decade it will be an EV. However, Porsche has also claimed it will be the last of their models to be electrified. After the Macan EV, the next models to embrace electrification in the next two years will be the Boxster and the Cayman. The German brand is doubling down on its commitment to the electrified future, as evident with the discontinuation of several ICE models in Europe, including the Macan, Boxster, and Cayman. According to Porsche CEO Oliver Blume, the brand already has received 10,000 orders for the Macan EV which will be released in the second half of 2024.

Toyota is hard at work reviving iconic nameplates, and luckily for enthusiasts, this also extends to the brand’s sports cars. We have been hearing about Toyota MR-2’s return since 2019, but until a few months ago, we didn’t have any concise information. Reports from Japanese outlets were gradually revealing details about Toyota’s soon-to-be-revived, mid-engine sports car. In stark contrast to what we initially believed, the new MR-2 will not be a budget-friendly model, co-developed with Daihatsu and Suzuki. This turned out to be Toyota’s S-FR, which will also be sold as the new Suzuki Cappuccino and Daihatsu Copen and would compete with Mazda’s MX-5 Miata. This puts the MR-2 in a whole other league, and judging by the performance figures revealed, it would also likely be able to keep pace with most variants of the Porsche 718. Maybe even outperform it?

Believe it or not, the all-electric Taycan Turbo GT holds the prodigious title of the "most powerful road-going Porsche ever". This 4-door road missile combines a 1019 horsepower powertrain with sharp handling, giving it an edge over its EV competition. When optioned with the Weissach package, the Taycan Turbo GT can hit 0-60 MPH in 2.3 seconds and achieve a top speed of 190 MPH. All that power from the Taycan’s dual motors is channeled through a 2-speed direct-drive transmission to all four wheels. The GT4 RS is a track fiend with the same engine that powers the 911 GT3, albeit detuned a little to make 493 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of Torque. Interestingly the same engine produces 502 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of Torque in the 911 GT3. This flat-six engine sits in the middle of the car and directs all its power through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to the rear wheels.

In the world of Porsche, the "GT" badge has always signified a level of performance and focus beyond the ordinary. Take the 992.1 911 GT3 RS, a car barely disguising its racing roots. With its massive wing, aggressive aerodynamic bodywork, and a howling 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six engine churning out 518 horsepower, it’s the pinnacle of what a road-legal Porsche can be.

Recently, high-end racing rig simulator company, Podium 1 Racing delivered one of the most advanced set-ups to Steven Weinstock, an avid Porsche collector and sim racing enthusiast based in Miami, Florida. Podium1 Racing builds immersive gaming rigs for SIM racing, Flight Simulation, and also sells individual components that you can use to build your set-ups. If you order one of their custom rigs their team will travel to your location and set up their systems as per your requirements.