CONFIRMED: no baby Boxster planned says Porsche

By: Steve Smith

Codenamed the Porsche 718, this “baby Boxster” project that was first rumoured back in 2010 will definitley not go into production. This was confirmed by Porsche’s head of research and development, Wolfgang Hatz.

“The project is stopped,” said Hatz. “We have a very good entry point to the range with the Boxster, and we see no reason to go below that. Porsche should remain exclusive, and you cannot chase volume when you are such a brand. The Boxster is our perfect entry point – we have already set the right entry level.”

For more about what the company’s sportscar plans are in the next five years, read our upcoming Feb 2015 issue where August Achleitner, Vice President Product Line 911, gives us key insights.

The real death knell for this project came when Audi canned its plans for a small roadster dubbed the R4. The idea was that Porsche would’ve developed this new Audi mid-engined aluminium and steel platform, but with that car shelved, the sales volumes the VW group would expect of such a project would never be reached.

Engines would’ve been sourced from the new range of turbocharged flat-four powerplants that will feature in the facelifted Cayman and Boxster ranges scheduled for 2015.

For car fans, it’s a pity of course. Having a contemporary version of the classic 550 Spyder as an entry-level model would’ve been an enticing prospect.

This photo-gallery shows some of the renderings that appeared on the web speculating what the baby Boxster may have looked like.

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