The powertrain could be sourced from the Porsche 992.2 GTS in a quest to lower development costs

From alienating parts of its devoted fanbase with SUVs and EVs to pulling a dramatic U-turn on its all-electric ambitions, Porsche has been busy rewriting its own playbook lately. The latest in that ongoing saga is the decision to bring combustion engines back to the next-generation 718 Cayman and Boxster that, until recently, were destined to use solely battery-electric powertrains.

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The move may strike the right chord with purists, though it comes with a caveat: the internal combustion options will only sit at the very top of the range.

Still, it’s a story worth cheering for those who prefer their Porsches running on gas. And now, new information suggests these mid-engined holdouts might be getting something even more intriguing – namely, a hybrid flat-six borrowed from the 911.

The sudden change of direction was explained by CEO Oliver Blume who said that “We have seen a clear drop in demand for exclusive battery-electric cars and we are taking that into account.”

Hybrid Meets Mid-Engine

In order to lower development costs, the combustion variants of the next 718 series will need to share components with the 911. This will also make it easier to comply with Europe’s strict emission regulations.

More: Porsche Kills Off Gas-Powered Boxster And Cayman

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According to Autocar, the most likely setup for the next Cayman GT4 RS and Boxster Spyder RS is the T-Hybrid powertrain from the 992.2 GTS. The system pairs a twin-turbo 3.6-liter flat-six with a single electric motor and produces a combined 532 hp (397 kW / 540 PS) and 449 lb-ft (609 Nm) of torque.

That’s a healthy increase over the naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six in the outgoing Cayman GT4 RS, which offers 495 hp (368 kW / 500 PS) and 331 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque.

The T-Hybrid unit was chosen for its compact packaging, as it is 110 mm (4.3 inches) shorter in length compared to the non-electrified flat-six engine of the standard 911 Carrera.

End of the Manual Era?

Of course, unlike the rear-engined 911, the 718 twins will retain their signature mid-engine layout preserving the handling balance that defines them. The only snag is that the hybrid powertrain is currently exclusively available with the eight-speed PDK transmission.

Unless Porsche engineers decide to adapt the system to a manual gearbox, a move that seems highly unlikely given packaging and hybrid integration constraints, this could quietly mark the end of the stick-shift era for the 718 lineup. For a brand so deeply tied to driver involvement, that might rub purists the wrong way, even though getting an ICE option, even only in top-tier variants, may soften the blow.

Illustration of the future Porsche 718 by Antoine Brigot / Instagram

While the hybrid sportscars will have more than enough power, we expect them to be slower than the fully electric 718 variants in a straight line. On track, however, the ICE versions are likely to regain the edge thanks to lighter weight, a sharper chassis, and more focused aerodynamics.

What The New 718 Could Look Like

Over the past few years, our spy photographers have spotted numerous camouflaged prototypes of the next 718 series during development testing. However, all of them were fitted with electric powertrains.

Fortunately, independent CGI artist Antonie Brigot has created renderings of a new ICE-powered Cayman GT4, adopting Porsche’s latest styling language and giving us the right visuals for this report.

The new generation of the Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman is expected to debut in 2026, following delays caused by R&D challenges. The fully electric versions will arrive first, with the hybrid successors to the GT4 RS and Spyder RS joining later in the model cycle.

That staggered rollout should give Porsche engineers enough time to adapt the EV platform for the flat-six hybrid, ensuring it lives up to the brand’s high standards.

Sources: Autocar, Porsche