Porsche's Gentrification of Internal Combustion Engines Is Just the Beginning of Exclusively Premium Features | Carscoops

Porsche's Gentrification of Internal Combustion Engines Is Just the Beginning of Exclusively Premium Features | Carscoops

      The 718 Boxster and Cayman were initially designed as electric vehicles but will now offer an internal combustion engine option for premium customers.

      22 hours ago

      by Chris Chilton

      Porsche plans to bring back flat-six engines in the upcoming 718 Boxster and Cayman models.

      Only the higher-end variants will come with an ICE, while the base models will remain fully electric.

      Manual transmissions and naturally aspirated engines are becoming luxury features.

      Forget ABC's reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel and the associated drama. This week’s most significant and positive reversal comes from Porsche’s choice to reintroduce combustion engines in the 718 Boxster and Cayman. The next-generation models, expected in 2026, were originally intended as electric vehicles. However, due to customer requests and stagnant EV growth, Porsche will add ICE options for high-end models a few years after launch.

      The term ‘top-tier’ is important here. The standard 718 models will continue to be offered exclusively with electric power, while Porsche’s wealthiest clients will have the opportunity to upgrade to a flat-six combustion engine. This situation is somewhat similar to how Porsche offered six-cylinder engines as premium options on the previous 718s, which transitioned to turbocharged boxer fours in 2016. In that instance, the GTS models and above featured the six-cylinder engines, but it remains unclear if the same will apply this time around, with the engines possibly being exclusive to the GT4 and Spyder models.

      Power for the Affluent

      Porsche is likely not the only automaker that will keep combustion engines available for its wealthiest customers in the future. The appeal of an authentic exhaust note, as opposed to a synthesized one, is just one feature that enthusiasts cherish and may become exclusive over time.

      Manual gear shifts may also fall into this category. This trend is already underway, with automatic transmissions, once considered a premium feature, becoming standard, while the simpler manual option comes at a higher cost. For instance, a base 911 Carrera cannot be purchased with a manual transmission; to have one, you must upgrade to either the Carrera T or the GT3. This mindset is similarly applied to more budget-friendly vehicles; for example, Acura only offers a manual transmission on its Integra as part of the A-spec package.

      When Simplicity Becomes Exclusive

      Once the last of the low-tech, traditional naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines, still available in some entry-level American cars, are phased out, turbo-free engines will be viewed as the pinnacle of automotive engineering and desirability.

      Wealthy car enthusiasts are likely to pay a premium because these engines provide the emotional connection that electric vehicles and even turbocharged combustion engines cannot. This trend is already visible with models like the GMA T.50, Aston Martin Valkyrie, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and Bugatti’s Tourbillon.

      The Bugatti Tourbillon also features another nearly retro quality that distinguishes it from most other vehicles: it has one of the finest dashboards globally, not due to an expansive digital display, but because it contains very little digital content.

      It’s easy to envision how this could evolve in a few decades. Mercedes’ Drive Pilot L3 semi-autonomous package will be an expensive option in 2025, but it’s conceivable that a steering wheel and large ADAS-OFF button will carry a hefty premium in the future, even if real driving is only allowed on closed courses.

      Considering all of this, what current feature that we take for granted in cars would you pay extra for in the future?

Porsche's Gentrification of Internal Combustion Engines Is Just the Beginning of Exclusively Premium Features | Carscoops Porsche's Gentrification of Internal Combustion Engines Is Just the Beginning of Exclusively Premium Features | Carscoops Porsche's Gentrification of Internal Combustion Engines Is Just the Beginning of Exclusively Premium Features | Carscoops Porsche's Gentrification of Internal Combustion Engines Is Just the Beginning of Exclusively Premium Features | Carscoops

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Porsche's Gentrification of Internal Combustion Engines Is Just the Beginning of Exclusively Premium Features | Carscoops

The 718 Boxster and Cayman were initially designed as electric vehicles but will now offer an internal combustion engine option for high-end customers.