Tentatively called 718, Porsche’s entry-level model will take the form of a small roadster loosely billed as the successor to the 550 Spyder race car built in the 1950s. It will ride on a modified Boxster platform but it will be much lighter than its more expensive sibling thanks to noticeably smaller dimensions and the widespread use of aluminum in its construction.
The 718′s entry-level positioning won’t make it a low-cost car, and its cockpit will remain well-built and well-appointed. Bucket seats, a three-spoke steering wheel and comprehensive selection of analog gauges will be part of the package.
Power will come from a 2.0-liter flat-four engine that will send 286 horsepower to the rear wheels via either a manual or a dual-clutch DSG gearbox. Buyers after more grunt will be able to select a 2.5-liter version of the boxer mill rated at 260 horsepower, and additional variants will likely join the lineup over the course of the production run.
If the rumor proves true, the Porsche 718 could be unveiled at the 2016 edition of the Geneva Motor Show and go on sale in the United States and in Europe shortly after. In Germany, the roadster will reportedly carry a base price of €39,000 (approximately $53,300), €10,000 (roughly $13,700) less than the most affordable Boxster.
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