Audi dismisses reports claiming Porsche has axed electric 718 plans

Audi has moved to quell speculation that Porsche has abandoned battery-electric versions of the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman, describing the reports as unverified. Porsche itself has so far declined to comment publicly, leaving uncertainty around the future of the sports car pair’s planned electric successors.

Rumours point to rising costs and a possible change of direction at Porsche

The latest round of stories suggests Porsche’s new management team has allegedly decided to drop the electric 718 programme after development costs rose sharply. The claims have attracted attention beyond Porsche because the project is closely linked to Audi’s own forthcoming electric sports car.

Audi has already confirmed it intends to bring a production model based on its Concept C to market. The company says the series version is due to be revealed before the end of this year, with a launch expected by 2027.

Porsche silence and fewer test sightings add to the uncertainty

With Porsche offering no official response, the lack of recent spy photographs of electric Boxster and Cayman prototypes has fuelled further conjecture. However, the absence of sightings is not, by itself, evidence the programme has been cancelled.

Car makers routinely shift testing between locations worldwide, including private proving grounds and southern hemisphere sites where scrutiny is typically lower, particularly outside peak development phases.

Audi has a lot at stake as it prepares an electric TT successor

For Audi, any halt to the electric 718 effort could carry significant implications. The brand’s electric successor to the Audi TT is understood to be built on related architecture, meaning a late-stage change would risk major financial losses.

Industry observers note that bespoke electric platforms are expensive to develop, making a sudden abandonment late in the process unlikely unless there is a credible alternative use case. One possibility sometimes cited in such scenarios is adapting the underlying architecture for hybrid powertrains, potentially retaining an 800-volt electrical system.

A cautious stance from Audi as electrification pressure grows

Audi has opted for a careful line, saying it will not comment on rumours while making clear it does not consider reports of an electric 718 cancellation to be confirmed. Until Porsche breaks its silence, the situation remains unresolved-highlighting how contentious and commercially sensitive electrification has become, even for performance-focused models.