Porsche 718 T Cayman and Boxster: for lovers of driving enjoyment

If there is anything more sporty than a Porsche, it is a Porsche “T”. Now, the German brand adds these versions to its Porsche 718 range, setting up a car for purists.

Porsche presented the Porsche 911 Carrera T at the end of 2017, a tribute to the 1968 Porsche 911 T. This continued a saga that, fortunately for sports car enthusiasts in general and for cars from the Stuttgart brand, was not going to stop there.

Now, Porsche is launching the new Porsche 718 T in Spain, in both the Cayman version and the convertible variant Boxster. And their prices? The Porsche 718 Cayman T costs 70,863 euros, while the 718 Boxster T is priced at 73,086 euros.

You are surely wondering who in their right mind would prefer one of these “T” versions over a “standard” 718 or a 718 S, since the 718 T are much closer in price to the latter. To understand this, you need to know clearly what a Porsche “T” means.

High performance in its purest state

The purpose of the T versions of the Porsche (the “T” comes from “Touring”) is to offer high-performance models where special attention is paid to everything that can increase driving pleasure compared to the base versions. Even if that means giving up some things… if you want.

Thus, the new Porsche 718 T do not need the most powerful version of the 4-cylinder turbo with 350 CV fitted to the Porsche 718 S, and make do with the 300 CV of the Boxster and Cayman that give access to the range. Maximum power is reached at 7,500 rpm, with a maximum torque of 380 Nm at 2,150 rpm.

For many it will be good news that Porsche keeps the six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with the PDK dual-clutch gearbox as an option. With a final weight of 1,350 kg, the Porsche 718 Cayman T accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds with the manual gearbox (4.7 with PDK), and reaches a top speed of 275 km/h. The homologated average consumption stays at 7.9 l/100 km.

The improvements in this case lie in the chassis. Porsche adds to these versions a specific equipment package that includes 20-inch alloy wheels, a PASM sport chassis with 20 mm lowered suspension, a shorter gear lever and the Sport Chrono package. The latter offers four driving modes (Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual) selectable from the steering wheel.

The mechanical rear limited-slip differential and the Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) torque distribution system also come as standard. A novelty is the adoption of dynamic transmission mounts: stiffer during sporty driving for greater precision, softer during relaxed driving for greater comfort.

Porsche 718 T Cayman and Boxster: also with aesthetic changes

Aesthetically, the Porsche 718 T Cayman and Boxster are distinguished by the wheels finished in bright titanium grey, the badges identifying these versions, twin central exhaust outlets in chrome black, and grey mirror housings. The 718 colour range is joined by Lava Orange and Miami Blue.

Inside, the black handles on the door panels stand out, as do the sport seats (electric adjustment is retained) with the central part upholstered in black and the “718” logo embroidered on the headrests. The dashboard and centre console trim is finished in gloss black, and “Boxster T” or “Cayman T” logos adorn both the door sills and the instrument dials, with a black background.

Porsche has chosen to offer the 718 T without the infotainment module, the Porsche Communication Management (PCM). Instead, there is a storage compartment in the centre console. It is practically the only concession to weight reduction, which according to Porsche offsets the extra kilos gained by fitting a particulate filter to the engine to meet emissions regulations. However, customers who wish to can order their 718 T with the PCM installed at no extra cost.

Porsche 718 T Boxster and Cayman image gallery