Porsche 718 Boxster And Cayman Officially Launched In India

The hard top 718 Cayman costs Rs 81.63 lakh while the 718 Boxster convertible has a sticker price of Rs 85.53 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi prices)

Say hello to Porsche's latest baby sportscars, the 718 Boxster and the 718 Cayman. Wondering what's with the 718 prefix? The 718 moniker pays homage to the successful flat-four cylinder Porsche 718 sports car of the '50s, and because the latest Cayman and Boxster get a new 2.0-litre, four-pot motor themselves, the 718 nameplate is back.

For those underestimating the capabilities of a 2.0-litre petrol engine, be informed that Porsche has slapped the smaller engine with a turbocharger to ensure that the new cars don't let the owners down on performance. Porsche also maintains that the 718 series Boxster will be as quick as the Cayman, which has never happened before. Another first for the 718s is the fact that owners will have to shell out some extra moolah for the topless version.

What's under the hood, err, in the boot, err, in the middle? A 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine that replaces the naturally aspirated 3.5-litre flat-six. The engine cooks up 300PS of maximum power and 380Nm of torque and lunges the 718s to 100kmph from standstill in 4.5s.

Engine & Performance

Displacement and type - 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine

Maximum power – 300PS (35PS more compared to the previous Boxster and 25PS more compared to the previous Cayman, both powered by a 3.5-litre flat six unit)

Max torque – 380Nm@1,950-4,500 rpm (100Nm more compared to the previous Boxster and 91Nm more compared to the previous Cayman)

Performance – 0-100kmph in 4.7s

Top speed - 275 kmph

Transmission - 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK)

Other changes

The 718s underwent a plastic surgery with the heart transplant. Both the 718 Boxster and the 718 Cayman get a redesigned front with larger cooling intakes, and the Bi-Xenon headlights with the LED DRLs get a design update too. The Ignis and 2017 City owners can have a hearty laugh holding the respective spec sheets in hand as Porsche still offers the LED headlamps as an optional fitment on the 718 twins. The rear with the Porsche badge on the thick strip looks cool.

On the inside, the upper part of the dashboard and the air vents are new, and the 718 Boxster and Cayman get a 918 Spyder design sport steering wheel. PCM (Porsche Communication Management) now forms a part of the standard equipment.

The 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman will prove to be more confident on the bends now with a retuned suspension that aids cornering. The brakes too are improved, and the electric steering is 10 percent more direct than before.

Competition check - The Porsche 718 Boxster competes with the Mercedes-AMG SLC43, priced at Rs 77.50 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The 718 Cayman doesn't have any real competition for now as there is no other 2-seater sports coupe available in the price range.