Inheriting the name of a legendary 4-cylinder sports model

Porsche's mid-engined sports models, the "Boxster" and "Cayman," will be renamed "718 Boxster" and "718 Cayman," respectively, with their 2016 model year update. In line with Porsche's push for downsizing, the engine will transition from the current naturally aspirated flat-six to a turbocharged flat-four.

The newly added "718" designation is derived from a 4-cylinder, flat-opposed engine sports model that debuted in 1957 and brought Porsche victories in races such as the Targa Florio and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Porsche 718 RSK Spyder (1957)

Porsche 919 Hybrid (2015)

Furthermore, since 2014, Porsche has entered the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with the "919 Hybrid," which combines a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine with an energy recovery system. This serves as a running platform for researching fundamental technologies for future production vehicles, achieving notable results such as a 1-2 finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Previously, the Cayman was positioned as a sportier coupe variant of the Boxster, commanding a higher price. This hierarchy is being revised, and similar to the flagship "911," the coupe will form the base, with the open-top Boxster expected to occupy a higher price bracket as a more premium offering.

While currently only a preview with no specific details released, the full information is expected to be unveiled next year.