Another set of numbers that is as significant as “911” in Porsche’s history is “718.” Currently, this historic model name lives on in the Porsche 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman, modern mid-engine sports cars honoring a legend born on the racetrack more than six decades ago.
The 718 RSK originally appeared in 1957. Derived from the iconic Porsche 550 Spyder, it was a lightweight open-top sports car powered by a 1.5-liter, mid-mounted, flat-four engine.
This mid-engine layout afforded the 718 RSK perfect balance and a performance level above its class. Through the years these traits let the model clinch victories at some of motorsport’s most prestigious events, like the Targa Florio and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
A defining characteristic of the 718 RSK that still shapes the 718 Boxster and Cayman models of today is a high degree of balance, precision and performance. With the 718 Boxster lineup, this comes with open-top driving thrills. On the other hand, the 718 Cayman coupe models deliver the same excitement, but with even sharper responses that are welcome on the road and track.
At the heart of the current models are the 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster, both powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four engine producing 300 hp and 380 Nm of torque. The output can launch the sports cars from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds.
Moving up, the 718 Cayman S and 718 Boxster S variants are equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four engine delivering 350 hp and 420 Nm of torque. With these figures, the sports cars’ acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h drops to 4.2 seconds.
For its part, the 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 provides a more visceral, naturally-aspirated experience. Powering the coupe is a 4.0-liter flat-six engine that outputs 400 hp and 430 Nm of torque, resulting in a sprint time of 4.0 seconds to 100 km/h.
Standing as the crowning achievement of the 718 model line is the naturally aspirated 718 Boxster Spyder RS. Porsche’s most powerful mid-engine sports car comes equipped with the same 500-hp, 450-Nm, naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine that propels both the 911 GT3 road car and 911 GT3 Cup race car to fame. This engine revs to a sensational 9,000 rpm, and is mated to a short-ratio seven-speed PDK transmission.
The combination of the boxer engine and dual-clutch gearbox lets the 718 Boxster Spyder RS sprint from rest to 100 km/h in only 3.4 seconds. Top speed is a blistering 308 km/h — even with the soft top down.
Clearly, while the current 718 models pay homage to Porsche’s racing roots, they have become a pillar of the brand in terms of dynamism and usability, offering diverse options to those seeking an exhilarating everyday sports car and to enthusiasts craving for high-performance machines alike.
