Is This Electric Porsche 718 Boxster Actually an Audi in Disguise?

Porsche’s long-awaited electric 718 Boxster/Cayman is still on track, but a near-production prototype wearing Ingolstadt plates suggests Audi’s electric sports car, the Concept C, may arrive first. A test mule registered in Audi’s hometown of Ingolstadt was spotted at the Nürburgring, sporting the Boxster EV’s silhouette but with subtle differences. The most obvious clue? The license plate. While Porsche’s electric 718 retains the classic Boxster fabric roof, Audi’s Concept C will debut with a retractable targa top—marking the brand’s first targa model.

The two cars won’t share the same body style, and Audi’s version will skip the coupe sibling entirely. Under the skin, both are expected to ride on a new Volkswagen Group platform, though Audi has confirmed its Concept C will be electric-only, while Porsche’s top variants may offer combustion engines alongside the EV powertrain. Spy shots also reveal the Audi’s targa mechanism, with two roof panels that stow under the rear deck for instant open-top motoring. The Concept C’s rear-wheel-drive layout will support an optional front motor for Quattro all-wheel drive, hinting at a performance-focused lineup. Audi plans to launch the Concept C in 2027, while Porsche’s electric 718 was originally slated for 2025 but faces delays.

Industry observers speculate Porsche’s head start in EV sports car development may have given Audi a shortcut, leveraging shared Group architecture and even Lamborghini’s engineering for its Nuvolari supercar. Neither brand has confirmed mechanical ties, but the platform sharing is all but certain. For buyers, the electric sports car segment remains unproven. Porsche retains a fallback with internal combustion engines in the Boxster and Cayman lineup, but Audi is betting the entire Concept C lineup on electric power—no combustion options planned. With no confirmed pricing or output figures, the market’s appetite for high-performance EVs in this segment remains a wildcard.