Porsche has announced a name change for the new Boxster and Cayman series, which will be known as the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman respectively with the 2016 model changeover.
Once rumored to feature on Porsche’s now canned smaller sports car project, the 718 designation pays tribute to the firm’s legendary open-cockpit racing car built between 1957 and 1962, which sported a mid-mounted flat-four engine.
Porsche didn’t choose the name by chance, as just like the classic racer, next year’s facelifted versions of the roadster and coupe will get “equally powerful four-cylinder flat engines with turbocharging”, according to the automaker.
No specific details were disclosed about the new powertrains, but some earlier reports have said that Porsche may offer the flat-four in up to three displacements, including a base 1.6-liter version with over 200 horses, a 2.0-liter with up to 290hp, and a bigger 2.5-liter mill producing around 335hp with the potential to go up to more than 400 horses. The same turbo units will eventually power the Macan too.
Together with the new moniker and engines, the 718 Boxster and Cayman will also receive a subtle visual makeover, believed to be limited to the lights, bumpers and mirrors on the outside.
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