Audi electric sports car to borrow Porsche’s next-generation 718 EV platform
Julian Hayes
2 minutes read
Porsche has effectively confirmed that the upcoming Audi electric sports car will share its platform with the next-generation 718 Boxster and Cayman. During the third-quarter 2026 earnings call, CFO Jochen Breckner called it a straightforward cash deal. Porsche gets paid, Audi gets a head start, and enthusiasts get a rare look at two brands sharing their skeleton.
Platform sharing is the smartest play in the modern sports car playbook. Developing a dedicated EV architecture costs billions, so splitting that bill makes financial sense for both sides. Audi still controls the styling, suspension tuning, and powertrain calibration. It mirrors the logic behind the Porsche EV platform story, where shared hardware creates distinctly different personalities.
Concept C points toward a rear-wheel-drive, single-motor layout, and that is the right recipe for purity. Even so, the platform can accommodate a front motor for Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system. Meanwhile, Porsche’s own official site confirms the next-generation 718 is coming in 2027.
| ⚙️Engine / Powertrain | Single rear-mounted electric motor (est.) |
| 🐎Power Output | 400 HP (est.) |
| ⚡Peak Torque | 600 Nm (442 lb-ft) (est.) |
| ⏱️0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) | 0-60 mph in 4.2s (est.) |
| 🚀Top Speed | 155 mph (250 km/h) (est.) |
| 🔄Drivetrain / Gearbox | RWD, with optional quattro AWD via front motor |
| 💰Starting Price / Est. | $90,000 (est.) |
Inside the Audi electric sports shortcut
On paper, the production car should deliver roughly 400 horsepower (est.) from a rear-mounted motor. Silicon-carbide inverters and an 800V charging architecture would keep the thermal cooling loop calm during repeated hard laps. Pricing is speculative, but a figure near $90,000 (est.) seems realistic for this segment.
A bold prediction for enthusiasts
Early examples will likely hold their value better than rival EV coupes. A purpose-built sports car with a proven electric backbone tends to attract collectors who value driving dynamics. Ultimately, Audi must prove its own tuning can separate it from Porsche in the corners.
Stay tuned to Auto News Magazine as the 2027 launch approaches. The shared architecture story is only getting more interesting.
Julian Hayes
Future Mobility & Technology Editor at Auto News Magazine. Covering the next frontier of electric powertrains, 800V architectures, solid-state battery chemistry, and autonomous vehicle platforms.
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