Automotive

Porsche releases highly thrashable 718 T Cayman and Boxster

Porsche releases highly thrashable 718 T Cayman and Boxster
The Porsche 718 T Boxster is a hard-driving version of Porsche's most accessible performance sportscar
The Porsche 718 T Boxster is a hard-driving version of Porsche's most accessible performance sportscar
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Porsche 718 T Cayman: 2.0-liter flat four turbo engine
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Porsche 718 T Cayman: 2.0-liter flat four turbo engine
Porsche 718 T Cayman: conceived as a driver's car first and foremost
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Porsche 718 T Cayman: conceived as a driver's car first and foremost
Porsche 718 T Cayman: 296 fully accessible horsepower
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Porsche 718 T Cayman: 296 fully accessible horsepower
Porsche 718 T Cayman interior: the stereo/infotainment unit is removed, but you can have it back for free
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Porsche 718 T Cayman interior: the stereo/infotainment unit is removed, but you can have it back for free
The Porsche 718 T Boxster is a hard-driving version of Porsche's most accessible performance sportscar
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The Porsche 718 T Boxster is a hard-driving version of Porsche's most accessible performance sportscar
Porsche 718 T Boxster: chassis is lowered by 20 mm
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Porsche 718 T Boxster: chassis is lowered by 20 mm
Porsche 718 T Boxster: 20-inch wheels as standard
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Porsche 718 T Boxster: 20-inch wheels as standard
Porsche 718 T Boxster: a porsche you can really feel like you're working
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Porsche 718 T Boxster: a porsche you can really feel like you're working
Porsche 718 T interior: starps, because handles are heavier, or something
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Porsche 718 T interior: starps, because handles are heavier, or something
Porsche 718 T transmission: manual is standard, but you can throw a PDK dual clutch in there
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Porsche 718 T transmission: manual is standard, but you can throw a PDK dual clutch in there
Porsche 718 T Boxster interior
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Porsche 718 T Boxster interior
Porsche 718 T models: all about the driving experience
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Porsche 718 T models: all about the driving experience
A pair of Porsches that dare you to push to their limits
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A pair of Porsches that dare you to push to their limits
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With these two new T models, Porsche is taking its lowest-spec, 2.0-liter, 296-horsepower sportscars and tricking them out with the kinds of options you'd want on a hard driving car. Thus proving that sometimes less can be more, with the cars serving as a kind of rolling proof that it can be more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast one.

Slow is relative, of course. Although the 718 T's flat-four motors represent the meekest engines in the Porsche range, 296-odd horsepower is still a fair old whack, and both the hardtop Cayman and convertible Boxster manage 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.1 seconds with the manual transmission (4.7 with the optional PDK double-clutch auto), and hit top speeds around 275 km/h (171 mph), which, of course, is fast.

But here's the thing: sportscars in general are often so crazy-powerful these days that you never get the chance to really thrash the things outside of a track day. I'm talking full throttle, full power, redline coming out of corners. The sort of driving you used to do in the five-grand heaps you fell in love with cars in.

Porsche 718 T Boxster: 20-inch wheels as standard
Porsche 718 T Boxster: 20-inch wheels as standard

Dare we say it, 296 hp is an approachable level of power. Something you can probably get the most out of on a nice twisty road. That's what makes the new T models interesting as driver's cars – it's not about lap times or outright speed, it's about the feeling of laying a heavy right boot into a car that you can wring every last drop out of. You can maybe look at the 718 Ts as a classier Toyota 86 on steroids.

Thus, they get 20-inch alloy wheels, and the PASM sport chassis lowered by 20 mm (0.79 in) for harder, flatter cornering. The shortened gearshift is manual as standard, and the T models get the Sport Chrono package as well, giving you normal, sport, sport plus and custom driving modes that tailor throttle and engine management, as well as the active suspension system.

Porsche 718 T Boxster interior
Porsche 718 T Boxster interior

There's also no infotainment system – it's replaced by a storage compartment, but you can have it back for free if you want it, and I can't see why you wouldn't. Surely you can enjoy the road slightly more in a car that's a few pounds heavier, but that lets you crank a tune or two on the highway. Your call.

There's no US pricing available yet, but in Europe you're looking at a starting price of €63,047 (US$71,700) for the Cayman and €65,070 (US$74,000) for the Boxster convertible.

Check out a soundly enjoyable video below, of these two cars going quietly banzai out in the mountains, where they belong.

Source: Porsche

The new Porsche 718 Boxster T and 718 Cayman T. First Driving Footage.

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3 comments
3 comments
guzmanchinky
I have an appointment to drive at the Porsche Experience track here near Los Angeles. I will pick the smaller cars, the track isn't that big and I think it would be more enjoyable.
redlen
My 40 year old Ferrari 308 has similar power and is a small tight sports car that wraps around you and is so much more fun than the modern 488 and the F40 I used to own. It is not trying to kill you all the time haha.
highlandboy
So the same price as aTesla P75D but slower to 100kmph. Less practical, and more expensive to run. It would want to be a better drive on a windy road.