Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster have been imported to India for homologation and will launch soon during the festive season.
Porsche will launch the 718 Boxster and Cayman models in India later this year. While the German automaker may have changed the moniker of the two cars, the new models don’t represent a new generation. Instead, they are more of a facelift, albeit with completely new engines and restyled exteriors.
The Porsche 718 was originally a race car in the 1950s and 1960s that won the Targa Florio and European Hill-Climb Championship. Just like the new Cayman and Boxster, the original 718 got a four-cylinder engine placed between the front and rear axles.
For the first time, the Cayman and Boxster get turbocharged engines instead of the naturally-aspirated mills. The base models are fitted with a 2.0-litre flat-four cylinder motor producing 300 HP and 380 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels by a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed PDK transmission (India likely to only get the latter).
When equipped with the Sport Chrono Package and PDK gearbox, both the Cayman and Boxster can sprint from 0 to 100 km/hr in 4.7 seconds before topping out at 275 km/hr. The ‘S’ models get a bigger 2.5-litre turbo unit with the 911 Turbo-sourced Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG) technology but the duo isn’t coming to India this year.
The exterior sees new bi-xenon headlights with daytime running LEDs and restyled taillights. Moreover, there are new side-skirts, sharper body lines, bigger air intakes and standard 18-inch wheels (with option for 19- and 20-inch). The cockpit has been overhauled with a remodelled steering wheel, freshened-up dashboard and new infotainment unit with the latest generation of the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system.
The chassis has been re-tuned and the new suspension and steering set-ups will make the Porsche 718 models more agile and precise than the predecessors. In addition to that, there are new brakes that have been sourced from the outgoing ‘S’ versions and if the purists are still not happy, there are several interesting options they can opt for like the Sport Chrono Package, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system, Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) system, carbon-ceramic brakes and a sports exhaust.
The Boxster and Cayman will arrive in India by the end of November or early December. The Cayman will be priced at Rs. 82 Lakh and the Boxster will retail at Rs. 86 Lakh (both ex-showroom, New Delhi). Booking for the cars has already commenced.
Porsche 718 Cayman & Boxster Imported To India
– Indian launch to take place in November end or early December
– Porsche only brining the base models initially
– They will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged unit producing 300 HP and 380 Nm
– Apart from the powertrain, the interior and exterior see a change too
– Cayman will be priced at Rs. 82 lakhs and the Boxster starts at Rs. 86 lakhs
