Is the future of the Boxster/Cayman is question?
 

I hope not but if you have seen the recent sales figures and know about the upcoming compliance requirements the Boxster and Cayman’s future is in question.

The Porsche 911's Future is Secure. The 718's? | Automobile Magazine

Option 3 from the article: "Bring Audi on board to boost the volume and spread the costs of an all-new small sports car."

What's that... a Porsche/Audi BoxsTTer? :eek:

What the hell would a "Particulate filter for petrol engines" consist of?

Can remember a few years ago when Parent Company VW had debuted a mid-engined sports car, believe it was named the "Blue Sport" which was to share parts with an upcoming Porsche offering. The project was killed off as costs to Porsche were deemed to high I believe...to me, I was thinking VW could get a mid-engined diesel powered, two seat, roadster in the 30-40k range...which would have been absolutely awesome. (Still a big VW fan)

http://hanabi.autoweek.com/sites/def...?itok=owiJzCCQ

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnV...oadster-15.jpg

Not sure how much credence I'd put into a 13 sentence article. The famous Mark Twain quote comes to mind.

However, there's no ignoring the drastic drop in 718 sales. No doubt has to do with the loss of 2 cyl. Porsche would be stupid to drop the platform - they need an entry level sports car. So how do they address the problem? Will Porsche give it time? Will sales eventually rebound? Do they have to make changes (ie, add 2 cyl)? Or do they muddy the waters and spread costs with a shared platform with Audi or VW? I think this last option would sink 718 sales further, but might improve the bottom line. I would prefer it stay separate and have Porsche sell more Cayennes, Macans, and Panameras to subsidize the sports cars.

With the 718, I think we're living in the modern day version of air cooled vs water cooled that occurred 20 yrs ago.

Hey Navy - put a buck in the tip jar for the oversized pics.

Right, back to 70’s...


Maybe we will see 718-6 or return of 924 with Audi contents:)

Gasoline particulate filters explained here:

https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/03/f8/deer12_bischof.pdf

:) Great......So the technology (DI) that creates soot, carbon or whatever PM issues with intake valve fouling and requires hazardous chemicals to clean, will now require an additional catalyst to clean up the PM, soot, carbon, whatever for the potential increased fuel economy. Got it! I recommend a turbo powered turbo centrifuge to spin out the heavy PM :)

Knowing Porsche, yes they'll introduce a 718-6 and charge an extra $20K for it.

I believe it's already in the works. The Spyder is rumored to have a flat 6.

Ever since their introduction, direct injection engines have suffered from notable issues such as carbon buildup in the combustion chambers, increased cylinder wall scuffing, and particulates in the exhaust similar to diesel engine's (most of the smoke produced by diesel engines is actually small particles). On diesels, particulate traps solved the issue by filtering out the particles, and then periodically super heating the filters to burn them off, which is also why diesels have heat shields on their exhaust tips, both to prevent burns on passerby's, and limit their ability to set other things on fire.

Yet another example of improving technology creating a whole new set of problems.......

I can't remember where. I also recently read about a 6 cyl 718 (GTS?) in the future also.

Here's one.

Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder Will Get 911 GT3's Flat Six Engine - The Drive

So all those DI 9a1 S engine owners who think they have a superior engine to the M97 are really sooty, not snooty?

Maybe they can roll coal.

First, Porsche sells their soul in order to market Cayenne's, Macan's, and Panamera's to the masses.

Next, Porsche swaps a turbo four in place of the beloved flat-six that defines a Porsche sports car.

Then, they rebrand the Boxster with a "718" moniker that no one understands.

Now, they're worried about low sales volume? :confused::confused::confused:

Lots of makers of small displacement, DFI, Turbo engines are suffering. It isn't just Porsche. Go to a CRV forum and see how their 1.5L turbo engines are faring in the winter. Gas in the oil massively, requiring a new oil formulation whose standards have yet to be approved, etc.

Oh to be a lawyer.

$90k (around here) for a reasonably well optioned 4 cyl sports car is a tough sell IMHO. It sounds like hell too. I'm not surprised they are not selling.

Yeah, when the four banger "entry level" sport coupe runs an average of 80k... gonna be a tough sell IMO. Especially with the flat 6's to be had for much more reasonable $$$.

Plus, with Europe especially hitting hard on the internal combustion engine, who knows how much longer cars will be "fun" and be completely relegated to styrofoam filled fluff mobiles designed simply to transport. My god, we are getting passion taken out of our lives at every turn.

So Cal is full of Porsches of all shapes, sizes and years - but I have to say I could count the number of 718 Boxsters or Caymans around on one hand! You just don't see them around. The local P car dealership doesn't even have any - BUT they did have a couple of used 2015 Caymans and even a 2014 Boxster (6cyl of course).

The 718 Caymans and Boxsters are essential to keeping Porsche compliant with increasingly strict fuel economy standards in Europe and other countries. If anything, Porsche will need to make them more attractive to the buying public, either by lowering the price or by fixing the exhaust sound.

Interestingly, the exhaust sound is going to be less and less of an issue over time because more and more sports cars will be 4 banger turbos.

Porche has hybrid platforms and its only a matter of time they make their way to the Boxster/Cayman models

As long as they have an EBIT margin of 17,4% i don't think they have to worry in any way. ;)

Regards, Markus

The last time I was in a Porsche dealership was last summer. Normally salesmen at car dealerships won't let you park before they're swarming. There was no one there that wanted to talk to me about the cars. Finally the receptionist wandered over and when I asked a question she had no idea and wandered off to find someone that knew anything. We left 15 minutes later without any answers. It was weird.

I get the same attention. There are a lot of people with big money out there and I guess they don't think that I am one of them. They are probably right :) I would however love a 997.1 GT3 one day.

There are two big markets. China has already said that there is little future in ICE driven cars. In the US, cars are not a lust after item for younger workers facing uncertain income/career futures.

So where is the market?.

There is no doubt, in terms of new cars anyway, the ICE's day is coming to an end. The only reason the US hasn't really started to clamp down, particularly on the diesel side of the game, is our private and personal hauling requirements. Even with that, the end is near, probably not in my lifetime, but it WILL happen. Then it's Mad Max time...

I do believe there will always be some level of submarket for sports cars, but not at the high dollar most are going for these days. But then, look at the air-cooled market. It's just STUPID!

I was watching Meekam this morning. The $$ figures some of the muscle cars were going for was crazy. The Vette's average was 140-150k. Crazy numbers. Cool thing is, I will get my dads '65 one day! Point is, there are people willing to spend SERIOUS money for these old cars.

Last week I was trying to get a price for a new 718 Cayman (base). I wanted one built to my specs. The salesman said he would call me back. That was 4 days ago. I guess Porsche doesn't need my money.