Porsche is broadening the 718 Cayman and Boxster ranges for 2019 with the introduction of new ‘T’ versions to expand the entry-level line-up of the coupe and roadster two-seater.
Positioned above the base 718 cars whose engine they share, the 718 Cayman T and 718 Boxster T are priced just below the ‘S’ versions, which themselves are positioned beneath the range-topping GTS models.
It’s a small niche but Porsche reckons it’s worth exploring, as “T stands for Touring in the Porsche lexicon and is synonymous with driving dynamic performance”.
As such, both 718 T models pair the 300hp 2.0-litre flat-four turbo engine of the standard 718 with sharper, sportier wheels, chassis and standard equipment.
Previously, the sport chassis, lowered by 20mm and fitted with PASM adaptive dampers as standard, was only offered with the faster 350hp 2.5-litre 718 S.
Other niceties include 20-inch alloys, a six-speed manual gearbox with short-shift mechanism (and red paint for the gearshift pattern marking), dynamic gearbox mount, Porsche Torque Vectoring and a mechanical rear differential lock. The Sport Chrono package is also standard.
As we’ve previously seen in the Porsche 911, ‘T’ also stands for an amusingly basic level of standard equipment. The 718 T both have lightweight fabric cord pulls instead of doorhandles, retro-look ‘Sport-Tex’ centre seat fabric with basic two-way electric adjustment and a plastic storage box taking the place of a radio.
Don’t worry, the Porsche Communication Management infotainment system is still available as an option, one that most owners are expected to choose – particularly as it comes at no extra cost. (A PDK automatic gearbox is available too, albeit at extra cost.)
Porsche says a fully ‘naked’ 718 T offsets the weight of installing an emissions-reducing gasoline particulate filter (GPF), which is needed to pass the latest WLTP legislation.
Porsche 718 T: styling and performance
Marking out the new cars are ‘718 Boxster T’ or ‘718 Cayman T’ stickers on the lower door sides, fitted to paint either in Black, Guards Red, Racing Yellow, White, Carrera White, Jet Back or GT Silver paint.
If you really want to go to town, Lava Orange and Miami Blue are offered as special order options.
The 20-inch wheels are finished in high-gloss titanium grey and the centre sports exhaust has twin black chrome-plated tailpipes.
As for performance, 0-62mph takes 5.1 seconds, which falls to 4.7 seconds for the PDK cars. The top speed is 171mph.
Interestingly, this makes the new 718 T models SLOWER than the standard 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman they share a 300hp engine with: that does 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds with the manual gearbox (although matching it in PDK spec). Presumably, the GPF has a bit of an impact on the stick-shift’s responsiveness.
Prices? £51,145 for the Porsche 718 Cayman T and £53,006 for the Boxster T. A Regular Cayman costs from £46,074, and a Cayman S costs £51,835, showing the small gap into which the Cayman T fits. Ordering at Porsche dealers opens soon.