Shopping for a new Porsche 718 Boxster or 718 Cayman and find the manual-transmission-only trim levels appealing? Well, we’ve got some good news and some bad news: The good news is that all 2021 718 models gain some additional standard features that, frankly, should be standard in a $60,000-plus car from a luxury brand. The bad news (for purists) is that Porsche is making its seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission available across the lineup, ending the row-your-own exclusivity of the GTS 4.0 trim levels as well as the Boxster Spyder and Cayman GT4.
Related: Porsche 718 GTS 4.0: You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Sports Car
More Standard Goodies
All 718 models now include dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats and rain-sensing, auto-dimming mirrors. Porsche is also adding Apple CarPlay as standard equipment across all 718 models, as well as making bi-xenon headlights the standard method of illuminating the road ahead.
Added standard features don’t come without an added cost — this is still Porsche, after all — as base models of the 718 Cayman increase in price by $2,400. A 2021 718 Cayman will now cost $61,250, and the Boxster will be priced from $63,350 (all prices include $1,350 destination fee).
Automatic for the (Wealthy) People
Until now, the highest levels of performance in the 718 lineup came exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission. GTS 4.0 trim levels of the Boxster and Cayman as well as the Boxster Spyder and Cayman GT4 paired that six-speed with a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine that produced 394 horsepower in GTS guise and 414 hp for the Spyder and GT4.
For 2021, however, Porsche is letting customers order those models with its seven-speed PDK system. Not only does that allow more customers to buy the more expensive performance models, it also makes the cars quicker, according to Porsche. Just how much quicker isn’t clear yet, but expect somewhere between two-tenths and half a second to get knocked off GTS models’ 4.3-second 0-60 times and the Spyder and GT4’s 4.2-second sprint.
More From Cars.com:
- 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS, Cayenne GTS Coupe Revealed
- 2021 Porsche 911 Targa Travels Back in Time With 4S Heritage Edition
- Stalk Car? Porsche 911 Buyers Can Track Their Dream Car’s Every Move
- Porsche 911 Targa 4 and 4S Keep Retro Looks for New Generation
- What’s the Right Way to Say Porsche?
High-Performance Pricing
Pricing for the automatic-equipped GTS 4.0 models hasn’t been disclosed yet (or for the Spyder or GT4), but with the manual transmission, 2021 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 models will be priced from $88,150 while Boxster GTS 4.0 models will carry a starting price of $90,250. Ordering is open now, and Porsche expects automatic-equipped six-cylinder models to arrive at dealerships early in 2021.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
