Porsche is looking to gain added traction in China by offering less powerful but cheaper versions of its new 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman models. By offering base versions of the two cars for under 600,000 renminbi, the automaker is hoping to almost double its yearly sales of the duo in the republic.
The pared-down vehicles will feature 250 hp, unlike the 300 hp found on entry-level European and US versions, and China will be the only country in the world to feature a 250 hp 2.0 litre four-cylinder mill. Porsche’s head of the 718 model line, Jan Roth, told Automotive News Europe that the 600,000 renminbi price is a magical threshold for customers in China, as shown by competitors’ offerings.
Roth added that the move is expected to bring sales of the two cars to the 4,500 mark next year, a significant jump over the 2,500 Boxsters and Caymans it sold there in 2015. The 718 Cayman will begin selling in China in December, a month after its sales debut in European and US markets.
China is Porsche’s biggest single market, but buyers there seem more enamoured of its SUVs than its sports cars – the report adds that sales of the Cayenne is around 16 times higher than that of the 911, and so it’s hoping to spark interest in the sports car segment by going low with the 718 duo.
GALLERY: Porsche 718 Boxster
GALLERY: Porsche 718 Cayman
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Why Porsche is not bringing this in M’sia? Under RMB600K that’s less than MYR360K. It will be selling like a hot cake back here!
Left Hand Drive model only
Tax bro….tax
U don’t know our Proton still need protection like a baby one meh?
Nobody’s plotek P1 anymore. How saddings
VW continue to dilute the Porsche brand, one day Porsche = VW = Toyota = Honda.
Bring to malaysia the new 718 with old 6 cyl engine at RM300k confirm sales go up!
bring to malaysia the new 718 with old 6 cyl engine and sell at 300K sure sales go up
Might as well get an audi tt convertible
not so “porsche” if it has only 250hp..
The older 986 model with a 3.2l had 260hp and was good for the century sprint in under 6 seconds
cheaper price ok la (rmb600k!), but lower output?…emmm, there are tons of 2.0T 250hp rivals in china, better close shop if u think chinese are stupid
would love to own this. yum yum!