Cayman EV (and Boxster EV) may axed by new CEO Michael Leiters

[daveo4EV]

agree 100% - but it means I don't get me no Porsche EV in the future

I like the watch analogy and agree with it - and those watch makers that are doing well are increasingly more and more expensive and less mass market…

Porsche will do what is necessary to survive no doubt - but it will transform their business and I doubt I'll be part of their customer base - and many like me…that doesn't mean they can 't be successful - it just means I have to find me another vendor…and nothing else so far is quite as good…

we're seeing a glimpse of the future with 911 prices right now…last generation bump of the 911 has come with a $40k base price bump and is pushing the product beyond expensive luxury into exotic rare territory - higher margins - lower volume - different audience…

EV's are pushing the other direction and Porsche didn't want to be dragged down that sink hole…

speculation: if this all was happening "9 months ago" I betcha the Cayenne EV would've been canceled…and never seen the light of day.

I like my Porsche's they make a quality product, and I'm not going back to ICE vehicle's for daily drivers - but it is increasingly likely I'm not their customer which makes me sad personally. Because, as I said, nothing I'm looking at as my alternative choices is quite as good…

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[CAGCTG]

Porsche had a technology/complexity moat against competition for Performance - in that competing with Porsche required competitors to take on the same mechanical complexity Porsche had mastered - and while they might choose to purse that - it was hard to see how they could be profitable doing it…and it would take a lot of effort for unclear outcome…

EV's have removed the "performance" moat…and Porsche is left holding it's ass in it's hands with no where to go…in the EV world. They have no "moat" in the EV world…

solution: dont' sell EV's and return to business you know - where performance is locked behind mechanical complexity that most companies are unwilling to engage in…


[/QUOTE]
I think this is a great point. One that has been circling in the back of my frontal cortex for some time. For daily driving or even spirited back roads, my Taycan drives beautifully--but so does a Tesla or apparently even a Hyundai. From what is currently written, the Chinese have easily mastered the art of making very fast and affordable EVs. Hence the motivation, other than snob appeal, to buy Porsches is diminished as world-wide sales of EVs continue to rise. How long before a $200K entry 911 loses its appeal? I'm not convinced building complex, albeit beautiful ICE sports cars, has a long-term future.

 

[Mr.Smith]

Porsche had a technology/complexity moat against competition for Performance - in that competing with Porsche required competitors to take on the same mechanical complexity Porsche had mastered - and while they might choose to purse that - it was hard to see how they could be profitable doing it…and it would take a lot of effort for unclear outcome…

EV's have removed the "performance" moat…and Porsche is left holding it's ass in it's hands with no where to go…in the EV world. They have no "moat" in the EV world…

solution: dont' sell EV's and return to business you know - where performance is locked behind mechanical complexity that most companies are unwilling to engage in…

I think this is a great point. One that has been circling in the back of my frontal cortex for some time. For daily driving or even spirited back roads, my Taycan drives beautifully--but so does a Tesla or apparently even a Hyundai. From what is currently written, the Chinese have easily mastered the art of making very fast and affordable EVs. Hence the motivation, other than snob appeal, to buy Porsches is diminished as world-wide sales of EVs continue to rise. How long before a $200K entry 911 loses its appeal? I'm not convinced building complex, albeit beautiful ICE sports cars, has a long-term future.
[/QUOTE]

Ive driven almost every EV in the US since 1999. EV drivetrains are all the same for the Performance, so there is no moat there.
For drivng dynamics, feel, fit/finish, Taycan wins hands down. You can feel the differnce between a Taycan and every other EV produced.
Is the Taycan worth the additional premium? For most it is not.

With daily drivers, the driving dynamics becomes less relevant.

Im looking at a bigger EV SUV now, I love the Mecan & Cayenne EV, but I'm not going to pay 50% more than a Lucid Gravity or Rivian R1S which are probably better in many ways.

Incidentally, the "daily drivers" are Porsches bread and butter.

 

[Charlie R]

I have owned 2 Carreras and a Boxster, and now my Taycan. I hardly view it as an "appliance', or 'soul-less'. It is every bit a Porsche and fun to drive. I was eagerly awaiting the EV Cayman as I don't really need a back seat or 4 doors. But I understand the economic problems that Porsche (as well as other manufacturers) have faced with the current 'trend' away from electric vehicles. China has killed Porsche's sales (both EV and ICE) in that market, and they are struggling to regain footing. But I also feel that eventually the pendulum will swing back to electrification, and they will will have wasted all the time and engineering that they have already expended on the 718 EV. Porsche's ICE vehicles (leaving out the SUV's, which are what are keeping them afloat) have gotten so far into the exotic price range to sell at any meaningful volume. I loved all of my ICE Porsches, but they are not an exotic car. I hope the abandonment of this EV sports model is just rumor, but only time will tell.

 

[daveo4EV]

I hope the abandonment of this EV sports model is just rumor, but only time will tell.

friendly $1 bet it’s nearly fact - i’m sad also

but yeah we will have to wait to find out

my guess is this has been tee’d up for months internally - but you need the new CEO to make this call - not the outgoing one…

decisions like this are rarely “out of the blue” and there has to have been broad corporate consensus on this prior to the new CEO. showing up - this has been someone’s ax to grind for a while now…and they got the new guy to sign off on it!

 

[daveo4EV]

context:

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/...0Quickest%20Gas%20Car%20We’ve%20Ever%20Tested

disclaimers all over the place that EVs are quicker - but less engaging - performance theater where EVs are weaker

price of admission for a seat in this theater? $350k to $500k

 

[Scandinavian]

Ive driven almost every EV in the US since 1999. EV drivetrains are all the same for the Performance, so there is no moat there.
For drivng dynamics, feel, fit/finish, Taycan wins hands down. You can feel the differnce between a Taycan and every other EV produced.
Is the Taycan worth the additional premium? For most it is not.

I agree with a lot of this, especially the driving dynamics. Steering, brakes, blending of brakes and road holding. I have also tried very many new EV’s, but not found anything that drives as well as the Taycan.

For the build quality though, I do not hold Porsche as anything special. Many Chinese Premium EV’s do match it.

And when it comes to software in the car as well as the features in the app, I think Porsche is way behind many others. No OTA to speak about, extremely long time to correct faults (navigation issues now) and absolutely no proactive initiative to acknowledge and communicate actions. Most seems to beg dragged in by the reports from the US.

So for me it is hard to justify staying with this brand long term. As it stands now I will not buy another Porsche.

 

[DerekS]

Like others, I am also sad.

I liked Porsches because they were great cars -without- being too exotic.

I don’t need the attention or expense of a true exotic in my life.

They’ve priced me out after 28 years.

I’m also very disappointed at their EV about face. I can’t go back to ICE.

The market is ripe to take my business if someone makes a compelling offering

 

[daveo4EV]

Like others, I am also sad.

I liked Porsches because they were great cars -without- being too exotic.

I don’t need the attention or expense of a true exotic in my life.

They’ve priced me out after 28 years.

I’m also very disappointed at their EV about face. I can’t go back to ICE.

The market is ripe to take my business if someone makes a compelling offering

#metoo 100% - well said

 

[KLHubb]

I will hang in there.....I have gotten so much pleasure from my Porsches over the past 15 years that I will continue to pay up for the fun/quality

 

[whitex]

context:

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2026-lamborghini-temerario-0-60-mph-quarter-mile-tested-review?utm_campaign=MOTORTREND-Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=SES&utm_type=organic&utm_content=20260203_MOTORTREND-Newsletter&utm_term=&email_subject=The%20Lamborghini%20Temerario%20Is%20the%20Quickest%20Gas%20Car%20We’ve%20Ever%20Tested&email_list_name=motortrend&n_em=ZG9ydG9yQG1hYy5jb20=&element_parent=Featured%20Stories&element_name=The%20Lamborghini%20Temerario%20Is%20the%20Quickest%20Gas%20Car%20We’ve%20Ever%20Tested

disclaimers all over the place that EVs are quicker - but less engaging - performance theater where EVs are weaker

price of admission for a seat in this theater? $350k to $500k

I can foresee Porsche playing cards for your bicycle spokes - tuned in Germany for only $499! Gotta reach that younger generation, and all those European no-car cities markets.

 

[jk981]

I will hang in there.....I have gotten so much pleasure from my Porsches over the past 15 years that I will continue to pay up for the fun/quality

I mean same... if I can continue affording it.

 

[whitex]

disclaimers all over the place that EVs are quicker - but less engaging - performance theater where EVs are weaker

Wasn't the same thing said about automatic transmissions in the past? Yet Porsche switches almost all their cars to automatic transmissions with not even a manual option. Perhaps the same will happen to EVs, most car will be EV and some special anniversary editions with ICE engine.

 

[babylou66]

An EV powertrain with torque vectoring is more "engaging" than an ICE with any sort of automatic transmission. Nothing is as fun as steering a car with the throttle and the fine control of an EV aids this.

 

[babylou66]

This thread got me thinking and today I did some quick estimates and built a 718 EV. Inputs were current Cayman GTS 4.0 and only EV technology available today. Result was 3000 lb, 335 hp (EV power > ICE power due to torque availability) and 320 mi range at 70 mph with ~280 combined EPA rating. That's with RWD + torque vectoring.

The above uses a full aluminum BIW like Lucid. Commercially available WeLion battery cells. EESM motor tech like BMW. cDA improved by 10%.

I would eat that up!

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