Porsche ends EV-only plan for 718s adds hybrid top variants

Porsche said in late September it will reintroduce combustion-engined versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman, reversing an earlier plan to move the model line to electric-only powertrains and instead offering top-tier variants equipped with a hybrid flat-six powertrain. The decision, announced as part of a wider strategic realignment by CEO Oliver Blume, follows what the company described as a drop in demand for fully battery-electric luxury models and will also entail cancelling a planned large electric SUV and pausing development of a sport variant of the group’s next-generation SSP platform.

Blume said the company had "seen a clear drop in demand for exclusive battery-electric cars and we are taking that into account." Porsche will still launch electric 718 models, but the highest-performance variants are now planned as internal-combustion hybrids that share components with the 911 to reduce development cost and simplify production. Executives see parts and platform commonality as a way to boost economies of scale as the firm adapts to tightening emissions rules in Europe.

Technical and packaging considerations appear to have driven the choice of drivetrain. Porsche intends...