Mid-engine sports cars from Porsche get new names

The 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman – these will be the new names of the two-door mid-engine sports cars from Porsche effective with the introduction of the 2016 models. The Stuttgart sports car manufacturer’s 718 designation is a reference to the ground-breaking sports car of this type of the year 1957, which enjoyed much success in renowned car races of the period. The 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman are showing more similarities – both visual and technical. In the future, both will have equally powerful flat four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engines with turbocharging. And the roadster will be positioned at a higher price level than the Coupé – as is the case for the 911 models.

Porsche will introduce the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman over the course of 2016.

The 718 model series is a continuation of the proven four-cylinder concept and the history of distinguished Porsche sports cars. The latest example is the 919 Hybrid LMP1 race car, which also has a highly-efficient, turbocharged four-cylinder engine with just 2 litres of displacement. So, not only did Porsche finish first and second in the 24 hours of Le Mans, but most recently it also won the manufacturer’s and driver’s championship titles in the WEC World Endurance Championship. With these victories, the 919 Hybrid has opened up the prospects for the performance potential of future sports car engines from Porsche.

History of the 718: four-cylinder flat engine has many car racing victories

Four-cylinder flat engines have a long tradition at Porsche – and they have enjoyed incredible success. In the late 1950s, the 718 – a successor to the legendary Porsche 550 Spyder – represented the highest configuration level of the four-cylinder flat engine. Whether it was competing at the 12-hour race in Sebring in 1960 or at the European Hill Climb Championship that ran between 1958 and 1961, the Porsche 718 prevailed against numerous competitors with its powerful and efficient four-cylinder flat engine. The 718 took first place between 1959 and 1960 at the legendary Italian Targa Florio race in Sicily. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1958, the 718 RSK with its 142-hp four-cylinder engine scored a class victory.

Porsche 919 Hybrid: technological front-runner for production cars

In 2014, Porsche returned to the top category of the famous endurance race in Le Mans and the WEC World Endurance Championship with the 919 Hybrid race car. The LMP1 vehicle, which was designed for extreme efficiency, is the most complex race car that Porsche has ever built. It serves as a platform for fundamental technology research for future production models – combining two different energy recovery systems with a two-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine.

 

FOR THE FIRST TIME, PORSCHE EXCEEDS THE 200,000 MARK OF VEHICLES DELIVERED

New record set in November

Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG has delivered 209,894 cars worldwide from January to November 2015. This corresponds to a 24 percent increase in comparison to the same period in 2014. Thus, for the first time in the history of the company, Porsche has handed over to customers more than 200,000 vehicles. Last year, the Stuttgart-based sports car maker set a record with a total of 189,849 deliveries globally. “With more than 200,000 Porsche models delivered, we have reached a milestone of our strategy 2018 well ahead of schedule”, underscores Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board – Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG, thanking the employees: “Porsche employees worldwide have joined forces to contribute to making this success possible. With our future-oriented products, our motivated staff and our powerful sales partners the world over, we are clearly well positioned for the future.”

In November, Porsche delivered a total of 18,110 new cars. The Cayenne is the clear growth driver here: with 6,579 vehicles delivered in November 2015, the delivery volumes rose 39% compared to the same period last year. The Cayenne has also been a best seller in the period of January to November 2015. 68,029 models (an increase of 14 percent) were handed over to customers all over the world.

The strongest single market during the period of January to November 2015 was China: Porsche delivered 54,302 cars there. This corresponds to an increase of 34 percent. Right behind it was the United States, with 47,819 vehicles delivered (a 9 percent increase). The European market grew by 30 percent to 70,509 units sold.

PORSCHE AG Deliveries	November			January to November
	2015	2014	Difference (%)	2015	2014	Difference (%)
World	18,110	17,743	+ 2%	209,894	169,205	+ 24%
Europe	5,668	5,173	+ 10%	70,509	54,455	+ 30%
Germany	2,031	1,977	+ 3%	26,992	22,221	+ 22%
America	5,290	5,481	– 4%	57,397	51,649	+ 11%
U.S.	4,449	4,699	– 5%	47,819	43,732	+ 9%
Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle East	7,152	7,089	+ 1%	81,988	63,101	+ 30%
China	5,112	4,483	+ 14%	54,302	40,504	+ 34%

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About Porsche Cars North America, Inc. | One Porsche Drive, Atlanta, GA 30354 USA
Established in 1984, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA) is the exclusive U.S. importer of Porsche 918 Spyder, 911, Boxster and Cayman sports cars, the Macan and Cayenne SUVs, and Panamera sports sedans. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia since 1998, PCNA is also home to the first Porsche Experience Center in North America featuring a module-based 1.6 mile driver development track, business center, human performance center, and fine dining restaurant. PCNA employs approximately 300 people who provide parts, service, marketing, and training for 186 dealers. They, in turn, work to provide Porsche customers with a best-in-class experience that is in keeping with the brand’s 65-plus year history and leadership in the advancement of vehicle performance, safety and efficiency. PCNA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.

At the core of this success is Porsche’s proud racing heritage that boasts some 30,000-plus motorsport wins to date.