Words by Yash Sunil
Porsche India is all set to launch the new 718 Cayman and the 718 Boxster on February 15.
Unlike the older generation cars, which were powered by a 3-litre flat-six engine, both the new generation 718s are powered by a downsized 2-litre, 4-cylinder engine which makes 295bhp of power and 380Nm of torque. The India bound 718s will only come with the Porsche PDK gearbox. The Cayman can clock the 0-100kmph runs in just 5.1 seconds and go all the way to its top speed at 275kmph if you find the space. Apart from the engine changes, Porsche has also tweaked the suspension and brakes for superior dynamics. At the moment Porsche isn’t planning to get the 718 Cayman and the 718 Boxster in the S guise, which are equipped with a larger capacity 2.4-litre engine.
On the outside, the 718 gets blink-and-you-will-miss updates such as a sleeker front air intake and side air intakes, similar to the Porsche 911. The silhouette of the car remains the same, although the baby Porsches now get LED headlights. The interiors remain untouched apart from the 918 styled steering wheel and the addition of a touchscreen infotainment system, derived from the Porsche 911, again. Being a Porsche, the options available with the cars are immense and can be personalized as per the owner’s request.
Our Ed. took the 718 Boxster out for a spin at the Yas Marina Circuit a few months ago and and we can safely report that the original driving aspects of the car remain untouched even after downsizing the engine. We will be driving the cars on our roads, so stay tuned for a detailed review.