News

Porsche has axed the 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster sports cars – and there are no plans to create another ICE generation.

The German brand has stopped taking new car orders for the coupé and convertible ahead of planned end to production next year. Cars can still be ordered from stock and existing orders will be fulfilled.

The models have been an integral part of the Porsche line-up since 1996 and 2005 respectively, and the fourth-generation models have been in production since 2016.

They will be sold exclusively as electric cars when they return in 2026.

Recent speculation that suggested the decision to cease production of the ICE 718s could be reversed has been denied to Autocar by high-ranking Porsche sources. 

The speculation followed Porsche’s new stance that it would adopt a more flexible product portfolio to extend the life of pure-combustion and hybrid models until well into the 2030s. 

This has led to the creation of the incoming ICE Macan replacement and update for the Cayenne – cars that will sit alongside electric namesakes.

This, however, will not happen for the 718s. Instead, the badge will exclusively adorn EVs based on the Volkswagen Group’s new EV-specific PPE platform.

While technically unrelated, testing mules (pictured below) confirm the new cars will still be positioned similarly to the existing ICE versions in their size, styling and philosophy. 

What's more, Porsche R&D chief Michael Steiner previously told Autocar that they will be set up to feature motorsport-honed braking and handling to ensure they offer a “real sports car feeling”.

The electric pair were originally due to go on sale this year and be built – albeit for a short time – alongside their ICE counterparts at Porsche’s Zuffenhausen factory. However, delays with engineering, software development and battery sourcing meant the launch date was pushed back.

Global production and sales of JLR models have been “severely disrupted” by a cyber attack that the firm is continuing to grapple with for a second day.

Autocar first reported the issues affecting JLR dealer registrations on Monday. The firm confirmed on Tuesday that it has been “shutting down our systems” to mitigate the impact of a "cyber incident" that occurred over the weekend.

JLR added that “at this stage there is no evidence any customer data has been stolen” and “we are now working at pace to restart our global applications in a controlled manner”. 

This shutting down of systems is understood to have led to a halt of production at Solihull, where the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport are built.

Autocar also understood the issues are impacting parts supplies and new car handovers.

JLR however would not confirm this. It was also unable to confirm a timescale for the fix.

Autocar was first made aware of the "cyber incident" on Monday. A JLR dealer confirmed the issue and said the branch had registered no new cars on 'new plate' day (1 September), traditionally one of the year's busiest for new car registrations.

JLR parent company Tata posted a notice to the Indian stock exchange on Monday that referred to the issue as an "IT security incidence" without giving further details. 

JLR's public-facing website appears to be fully operational, including the car configurator.

Audi will reveal a radical new sports car concept inspired by the TT later today - but leaked images have given an early look at what to expect.

New images posted to online forums this morning provide a more complete look at the sleek, low-slung sports coupé, revealing a new grille treatment similar to that on the C6-generation A6.

This is flanked by a pair of narrow headlights and large intakes, which likely channel air to the car's front brakes – hinting at the car's performance-focused billing.

Inside, it gets a new-look steering wheel with rotary dial controls and buttons, as well as metal-finished doorhandles that appear to draw on the Bauhaus movement that influenced the original TT.

The concept has obvious mid-engined-style proportions and a two-seat cabin. 

An official disclaimer posted to Audi's Canadian social media feeds – before being quickly taken down – stated the car shown is a concept vehicle that is "not available as a production vehicle". However, the design looks far more production-ready than some recent outlandish concepts, so there is potential for a road-going version.

Indeed, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner has previously said the company would not "show studies any more", suggesting it plans to launch a production version of every show car it unveils from now on.

More details will be given this evening, when Audi officially unwraps the new concept - as confirmed on social media by its designer Massimo Frascella, under the tagline 'strive for clarity' - which hints that the concept will set the tone for a new minimalist design language that could be rolled out across Audi's line-up under Frascella's stewardship. 

As previously reported by Autocar, the concept will preview an all-new look for the German manufacturer.

Döllner previously said that the design would be “a bold step for the brand” and that it would “would look to the future and the strengths of Audi design, for clarity and to bring that to the future, not copying the past”.

This is a sentiment that has been echoed in a new video posted to Audi’s social media channels.

The clip states “the legends of yesterday are the blueprint for tomorrow” with the strapline “strive for clarity” while showing images of the TT, the 1991 Avus concept and several Auto Union grand prix cars from the 1930s.

“The absolutely fantastic aspect is that it seems that he [Frascella] somehow had Audi in his mind for his whole career," said Döllner. "Now is the time to let Audi out of the mind of Massimo Frascella."