With EV sales plateauing in recent months, Porsche has recognised the growing call from customers for another petrol-powered two-seat sports car.
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Speaking to Australian media, Porsche Australia CEO and managing director Daniel Schmollinger confirmed the brand recognises the appetite for another combustion-powered 718.
“Potentially yes [to making another petrol-powered entry-level sports car], there is a market globally, but nothing confirmed,” Schmollinger said.
Porsche, according to Schmollinger, is frequently looking for “opportunities” when it comes to what can be done with the incoming model.
“[Porsche] headquarters is basically constantly evaluating where the opportunities are [for 718],” Schmollinger said.
“Every six months, it’s ‘what can we do? What do we not want to do?’ So, there is opportunity out there.
“There’s nothing we can communicate at this point in time, but definitely they know where those opportunities are.”
Not much is currently confirmed for the 718-succeeding electric vehicle (EV), but it has been in development for a number of years and will reportedly share parts with an Audi model – potentially the production version of the Concept C.
Schmollinger, who has driven a prototype, said the new Porsche is “amazing”, despite the increase in weight due to high-voltage components and a battery.
“I had a chance to drive the car, it is amazing,” Schmollinger said.
“It is everything we want from a two-seater sports car from a driving dynamics point – [and] acceleration, cornering – and even though with the battery and the weight increase, it still feels very light, very agile, very little.
“We can’t yet talk about timeline here, but definitely that’s something to look forward to.”
Porsche is expected to reveal more on the 718 successor in the coming months, and potentially reveal the model before the end of the year.
For those wanting a petrol-powered two-seat Porsche now however, Schmollinger said some stock is still remaining of the current 718 Boxster and Cayman.
“Obviously we are in the runout phase of the 718 for petrol, so there’s still some cars left in the country,” Schmollinger said.
“Whoever is interested in going for the 718 petrol, now is the time because this time will be over rather soon.
“And then of course there will the 718 electric coming in the near future.”
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Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
