Porsche 718
 

Hmm. this could be stiff competition.

http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2014/6/1...90-KG-7720851/

Have been reading about this one recently, seems like my new realistic dream car.

agreed

Vert, no care.

Hardly competition in the marketplace if it's priced at $40k usd. This does slot in right against the Alfa 4C though!

I wish it were a coupe too :(

Good point, out the door you're probably closer to 50k+

Agree, not a fan of a convertible (otherwise I'd be in a Miata or S2k) and I thought the price was too much until I read the specs:

1,190 kg = 2,624 lbs
2.0L Tarbo = 286 hp
2.5L = 360 hp

:eyebulge:

Then again they thought the GT86 would produce those numbers at that price anyway and that didn't pan out. If you can walk out the door with a Porsche for <$40k that's under 2,900 lbs and producing >250 hp it'll be a serious contender.

Maybe they're reading these boards and think they can scoop up all the paranoid owners with minimal engineering effort.
Edit: No mention of engine config, when's the last time they made a flat four?

From what I can find, a 2L in 1976, in the 912 and 914...

I rather they make a front engine, rear wheel drive car. Either like the 944 or the cult status 928.

(And yes, I know you probably meant a lightweight, small FR car that isn't fugly...)

$10K less than a boxter could get well past $50K in a hurry.

They didn't mention drivetrain layout in the rumor article, it could very well be FR, although personally if it's only going to have two seats anyway might as well go MR, it'd be cheaper to repurpose their Cayman/Boxster drivetrain than to cannibalize their SUV's and Sedan. Article did claim RWD though.

The more I think about it the more I think it's just going to be a stripped out boxster, which is nice, but not terribly interesting.

2.0L Turbo in the Macan produces 234 hp, that'd probably be the most economical engine to put in there since it's shared across the VW line and if they hit the idealized 2600 lbs should be a nice upgrade from the Toyobaru. And to @chrisl according to the wiki article on the Macan, Porsche's last 4 cylinder car was the 968 so I think you're right that the 914 was the last flat-4.