Porsche  /  718 Cayman / Boxster (982)
MODERNSports Car

Porsche 718 Cayman / Boxster (982)

2016– (GTS 2.5T 2018–2020) · Porsche 718 Cayman / Boxster (982) — Sports Car, Flat-4 Turbo, designed by Michael Mauer.

360Horsepower
180Top speed mph
3.9s0–60 mph
FLAG: per-variant production not publishedEver built

The Story

The 718 is the mid-engine Porsche that proved a brilliant chassis can survive a controversial engine. Launched in 2016, it took the superb Cayman/Boxster platform and — in the name of efficiency — replaced the beloved naturally-aspirated flat-six with turbocharged 2.0- and 2.5-litre flat-FOURS (300-350 PS). The chassis was, if anything, even better than before (Top Gear called it ‘the best in the business’), but enthusiasts mourned the four-cylinder’s flatter sound and character. Porsche listened: in 2020 it gave the range-topping GTS the glorious 4.0-litre flat-six back, and the 718 GTS 4.0 is now hailed as one of the best cars the company builds. A brilliant driver’s car — pick your engine.

The Numbers

Benchmarked against its class

360 HPPower
3.9 S0–60 mph
180 MPHTop speed
262 HP/TPower-to-weight

Each dial ranks this car within its Sports Car class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.

ENGINE · Flat-4 TurboTORQUE · 317 lb-ftWEIGHT · 3031 lbGEARBOX · 7-speed PDK / 6-speed manualDRIVE · RWD

Signature Colors

Guards Redred
Miami Blueblue
Carmine Redred
GT Silver Metallicsilver
Carrara White Metallicwhite
Racing Yellowyellow

The Designer

Michael Mauer

Born 1962GermanMercedes-Benz Sindelfingen (from 1986), Saab (design chief 2000–04), then head of Style Porsche 2004–present (VW Group design lead from 2022)

Mauer led design at Mercedes and Saab before succeeding Lagaaij at Porsche in 2004, where he has overseen every modern Porsche line. Since 2022 he has also directed design across the entire Volkswagen Group.

MAUER718 Cayman / Boxster (982) ◀ HEREPanamera (970) →Cayenne (958) →911 (991.1) →Boxster / Cayman (981) →Mercedes-Benz SLK (R170) ↗Saab 9-X / 9-3X (concepts) ↗
● In our collection◌ Cross-make ↗

Studio Motors POV

A brilliant mid-engine chassis with a choice of character — the turbo-four for value, or the sublime GTS 4.0 flat-six for the soul. The GTS 4.0 (manual if you can) is one of the best cars Porsche makes; it’s the one to seek.

The Engine

718 flat-four (turbo)

2016–present1 cars360 hpTurbocharged (single, variable-geometry)
2.0–2.5 L

Lineage

Where it sits in the bloodline

Boxster / Cayman (981) (2012) 2012718 Cayman / Boxster (982) 2016– (GTS 2.5T 2018–2020)THIS CAR

Market & Value

$80,700 (2018, 718 Cayman GTS; Boxster GTS $81,900)Original MSRP

Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.

What Reviewers Said About 718 Cayman / Boxster (982)

“If you want to experience the best chassis in the business, it’s here.”Top Gear · Top Gear (718 review) · —
“A near-perfect mid-engined sports car.”evo · evo (718 GTS 4.0 review) · —
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Worth Knowing About the 718 Cayman / Boxster (982)

3 Things You Didn’t Know

  • 1) The four-cylinder switch was so divisive that Porsche reversed course, putting a naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six back in the 2020 GTS 4.0. 2) The 718 name revives Porsche's 1950s four-cylinder racing heritage — a nod meant to justify the four-pot. 3) Top Gear called the GTS 4.0 'arguably the best car Porsche builds right now' — and a relative bargain next to the GT4.

5 Fast Facts

  1. • 2016 onward; mid-engine Cayman & Boxster. • Turbo flat-four: 2.0 (300 PS) / 2.5 S (350 PS). • The GTS 4.0 (2020) restored the NA flat-six (400 PS). • One of the best chassis on sale. • The flat-six GTS 4.0 is the one to want.

Provenance

Owners & what to look for

Famous Owners

FLAG: no documented/citable celebrity owner verified here. (Excluded rather than guessed.)

Studio Buyer’s Brief

The GTS 4.0 (2020-on, naturally-aspirated flat-six, manual or PDK) is the one enthusiasts want — and it holds value best; the turbo-four 2.5 S is the value-performance pick. Verify spec, history and miles. As a recent car, options and condition drive value. For the full mid-engine Porsche experience, hold out for a flat-six GTS 4.0.

Full Specifications

Make / Model
Porsche 718 Cayman / Boxster (982)
Class
Sports Car
Production years
2016– (GTS 2.5T 2018–2020)
Units built
FLAG: per-variant production not published
Variants
718 Boxster, 718 Cayman, S (2.5T), T, GTS 4.0 (NA flat-six)

Engine layout
Mid
Engine
Flat-4 Turbo
Engine family
718 flat-four (turbo)
Displacement
2.5L / 2497 cc

Power
360 hp
Torque
317 lb-ft
0–60 mph
3.9 s
Top speed
180 mph
Power-to-weight
262 hp/tonne · 8.4 lb/hp

Transmission
7-speed PDK / 6-speed manual
Drivetrain
RWD · Petrol
Curb weight
3031 lb

Questions

718 Cayman / Boxster (982) FAQ

What engine does the Porsche 718 GTS 2.5T use?

The 718 GTS 2.5T uses a turbocharged 2.5-litre flat-four producing 360 hp (365 PS). Torque is 309 lb-ft with the manual and 317 lb-ft with PDK / Sport Chrono, reflecting Porsche’s usual overboost-with-PDK setup. This engine replaced the naturally aspirated 3.4-litre flat-six in the base 981.

Why did Porsche switch the Boxster and Cayman to a four-cylinder engine?

Porsche adopted a 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre turbocharged flat-four for the 982-generation 718 in 2016 to meet tightening emissions and fuel-economy regulations while increasing torque. The move was controversial among enthusiasts; Porsche later restored a naturally aspirated flat-six for the GTS 4.0 in 2020.

What is a used Porsche 718 GTS worth today?

Porsche 718 GTS 2.5T models trade in the $40,000-$75,000 range in the current market, with low-mileage PDK Sport Chrono cars and the later GTS 4.0 (naturally aspirated flat-six) commanding the most. Hagerty provides condition-based valuations for all 718 variants.

How does the 718 GTS 4.0 differ from the turbo-four 718 GTS?

The GTS 4.0, introduced for 2020, replaced the 2.5-litre turbocharged flat-four with a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six producing 395 hp. It has a higher rev limit, a more characterful exhaust note, and is widely considered the definitive 982 due to its connection to Porsche’s historic flat-six engines.

Can I finance a Porsche 718 Cayman or Boxster through Studio Motors?

Yes. Specialist collector-car lenders can structure financing on these models for qualified buyers.

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