Porsche has detailed the Porsche electric 718 battery placement for its next-generation Boxster and Cayman, confirming the pack sits behind the seats in the same space where the gasoline engine used to live. The layout, revealed as part of Porsche’s broader future product plans, replaces the mid-mounted combustion engine with a battery pack rather than spreading cells under the floor as most electric cars do, according to Motor1.
The next-generation 718 Boxster and Cayman are set to launch in 2027, more than four years after Porsche first announced the project. Neither model will get a gasoline-powered version this time around, a shift from earlier signals that Porsche was weighing combustion derivatives alongside the electric cars.
Battery Placement And What Porsche Has Confirmed
Porsche said putting the battery behind the seats, rather than under the floor, serves two purposes. First, it turns the pack into part of the car’s crash structure, which the automaker said improves structural rigidity. Second, it lets occupants sit lower in the cabin than they would in a typical EV with an underfloor battery.
Porsche described the approach as an “innovative battery concept [that] preserves Porsche mid-engine character” and said it delivers an “authentic sports car feeling thanks to low seating position.” Those are the only two attributed Porsche statements tied directly to the layout so far.
The electric 718 models will also offer the Taycan’s optional E-Shift system, which simulates gear changes and engine sounds. Porsche has not released motor specifications such as power or torque, acceleration figures, battery capacity or range numbers for the new cars.
Weight And Packaging Estimates
Auto Express has reported, via Motor1, that the electric 718 models could weigh around 1,700 kilograms, or just under 3,750 pounds. That figure is a reported estimate, not an official Porsche number. For comparison, a previous-generation Cayman S weighed 2,988 pounds in U.S. specification, meaning the electric version could add several hundred pounds despite losing its gas engine, based on the reported estimate.
Porsche has not detailed how the rear-mounted battery affects packaging elsewhere in the car, including trunk space, suspension layout or front storage. Those specifics remain unconfirmed.
Where The 718 Fits In Porsche’s Lineup
The 718’s shift to a rear battery pack comes as Porsche reshapes its broader powertrain strategy under CEO Michael Leiters, who took over in January. Leiters has said “the 911 will never be electric,” underscoring that the 911 and 718 are on separate paths within the lineup, according to Car and Driver.
Porsche is also developing a mid-engined super-sports-car architecture positioned above the 911, which will be previewed by a concept called Mission S debuting Oct. 15. Details on that architecture and its production timeline have not been released.
Separately, Porsche plans to bring back a gasoline-powered Macan in 2028, developed with Audi and offered alongside the current all-electric Macan with both pure-gas and plug-in hybrid options, as Total Apex Entertainment reported. Porsche is also exploring a larger SUV positioned above the Cayenne.
Leiters has framed the company’s approach around “value over volume,” with Porsche aiming to lower its break-even point to below 200,000 units and raise average selling prices on its top-end models by 20%. The automaker said it will pursue a mixed powertrain lineup going forward, targeting a ratio of two gas or hybrid models for every electric model, according to Car and Driver.
What’s Next
Porsche is expected to show more of its upcoming lineup direction when the Mission S concept debuts Oct. 15. The electric 718 Boxster and Cayman remain on track for a 2027 launch, though Porsche has not released pricing, range or performance figures for either model. Readers interested in Porsche’s parallel combustion plans can also see the automaker’s 911 special edition announcements for how gas-powered models continue alongside the EV push.
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