Pared back for maximum driving pleasure

The new Porsche 718 T is characterised by its puristic design, which the interior of the sports car also reflects in its sporty accents and minimalistic features. These include black opening loops in the door panels, and sports seats with electric two-way adjustment, black Sport-Tex centre sections and “718” embroidered on the headrests. Sports and full-bucket seats are optionally available.

The plush, padded leather rim of the easy-to-handle GT sports steering wheel, with a comfortable diameter of 360 millimetres, sits just as surely in the hand as the shortened gearshift with its red gear markings. The black instrument dials are adorned with “Boxster T” or “Cayman T” logos in white, while the instrument panel and central console are finished with gleaming, gloss black trim. The door entry strips also bear “Boxster T” or “Cayman T” logos.

The Porsche Communication Management Module (PCM) has been replaced by a large, central storage compartment in the centre console – though if preferred, the entertainment system is still available for customers to order at no extra charge. Taken together, these adjustments broadly compensate for the additional weight created by the installation of the gasoline particulate filter (GPF).

Porsche will also supply the sports car with the option of the 718 T interior package, which includes very distinctive contrasting decorative stitching on the seats, door pulls and armrests, leather-upholstered door panels, and the top section of the instrument panel, which is also covered in leather. The contrasting colour is further used for the Sport-Tex stripe centre sections of the seats, the loops for opening the doors, the seatbelts and the “718” embroidered on the headrests. Black mats bearing the Porsche logo add a finishing touch.

A beautifully toned exterior design

Even when stationary, the Porsche 718 T projects power; the gleaming 20-inch Carrera S alloy wheels, painted titanium grey, along with the 20 mm lower positioning of the vehicle because of the standard PASM sports chassis, mean that the model crouches so low on the road it looks as though it is ready to pounce. Agate-grey mirror shells and “718 Boxster T” or “718 Cayman T” logos on the sides indicate the model variant, which is also identifiable from the centrally positioned sports exhaust at the rear, with black, high-gloss chrome-plated twin tailpipes. In terms of exterior colours, buyers can choose from black, Indian Red, Racing Yellow and white as well as Carrara White, Deep Black and GT Silver metallic colours. Porsche is also offering Lava Orange and Miami Blue as special colours.

Adjusted for equipment, 718 T buyers can enjoy a price advantage of 5–10% compared to a similarly equipped basic model.

Classic elements underpin the stylish design

The designers of the 718 took inspiration from Porsche heritage, looking to legendary Porsche cars with centre-mounted engines such as the 550 Coupé (1953), 718 GTR Coupé (1962) and the 904 Carrera GTS (1963) – their shapes and proportions have been given new life in the 718 Cayman and Boxster. The design was influenced by more recent history too, as a glance at the Carrera GT models built between 2004 and 2006 illustrates: all of these cars left behind genetic traces which feed into the Porsche design DNA. The 718 is continuing the history of these unique sports cars with centre-mounted engines.

The taut proportions of the 718, the accentuated air intakes on the front and sides, and the low silhouette of the Cayman and Boxster highlight the enhanced dynamics. The front has a distinctly more profiled shape, which makes the front appear wider and more masculine. This effect is bolstered by slender headlights above the side air intakes, which also contain the position light and indicators. Significantly enlarged cooling air inlets on the front look striking and hint at the new turbo engine concept. Bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights add the finishing touch to the front of the 718 T. LED headlights with four-point daytime running lights are also available as an option.

From the side, the sports coupé looks like its convertible sibling, but with pronounced fenders and sills, and the contour in the door leading to an air intake with an even more sharply defined light edge and an enlarged grille which emphasises its improved performance. The rear fenders have been given a flatter design to highlight the horizontal spread of the 718, and the new rear aspect looks considerably broader as a result of the glossy black accent strip with integrated Porsche lettering between the tail lights. The completely redesigned tail lights are characterised by the three-dimensional technology inside, which can be seen through the clear glass pane.