New Porsche 718 Cayman EV Spied For First Time

The latest model of the Porsche 718 Cayman EV seems to be going into production. The latest spy shots show a next-gen Cayman prototype not camouflaged, exposing a handful of details of unique design that distinguish it from its Boxster sibling. Porsche claims the new model will sit on a new, lightweight sports car platform.

This model will mark a major shift, as it goes electric (EV) for the first time. Its shape is reminiscent of  the iconic Porsche 911, with a steeply angled liftback opening sprawling from the top down to the end of an active spoiler. Up front, the car features a new set of headlights, while the rear of the car maintains separated taillights like one in the current generation, although the third brake light moves to the top of the hatch vertically.

One of the most interesting design elements introduced is the flaps, which are either potentially functional, channeling air for cooling the battery, or part of an aerodynamic aid package. We saw a similar method with the Porsche Mission R concept, which has active louvers in the bumper sides and twin rear spoilers that collaborate to form a drag reduction system (DRS). The Mission R’s flaps closed and its spoilers extended to generate maximum downforce. These traits raise the question: What are the flaps on the 718 Cayman for?

Coming to performance, the 718 Cayman EV’s powertrain is expected to offer a powertrain that might deliver up to 1,000 horsepower in high-performance trims or make about 400 horsepower on either of its base models. The range estimates to be as high as 200 and plus miles per charge. Porsche claims the car will offer fast charging capability from 10 percent to 80 percent charge in 18 minutes.