Porsche 718 Bolt-On Roadmap: 2.0L to 440 WHP · 2.5L to 530+ WHP

Most 718 owners start with a tune and end up frustrated. Not because the tune is wrong — but because the rest of the car wasn't ready for it. The 2017–2024 Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster (2.0L and 2.5L turbocharged) is one of the most under-tapped performance platforms on the market. The honest ceilings, with the right roadmap and supporting mods, are:

• 2.0L Base / T → ~500 crank / ~440 wheel HP on pump fuel
• 2.5L S / GTS → 470–500+ wheel on pump · 600+ crank / 530+ wheel on 100 octane, E85, and methanol injection

(Approx. 12% drivetrain loss from crank to wheel.)

This is the order we recommend, and why.

Stage 1: Breathing & Cooling

Before you touch power, fix airflow and heat. The factory inlet, intercooler, and intake all become bottlenecks the moment boost climbs.

Start with: • RaggDoll 3" High-Flow Turbo Inlet — removes the restrictive plastic OEM inlet and resonator, adds ~22% more airflow • RaggDoll Single-Pass Intercooler — eliminates the dual-pass heat soak issue baked into the OEM (and most aftermarket) cores • RaggDoll High-Flow Cold Air Intake — opens up the upstream side so the inlet upgrade isn't bottlenecked • Stage 1 ECU tune from a reputable 718 tuner

You'll feel sharper throttle response, earlier spool, and more consistent power on back-to-back pulls. This is the highest ROI stage on the entire platform.

Stage 2: Exhaust & Fueling

Once airflow in is solved, you need a clear path out — and enough fuel to support the new boost.

Add: • RaggDoll 3.5" Stainless Turbo Downpipe — unlocks turbine-side flow, drops backpressure, helps spool • RaggDoll ELEV Turbo Exhaust Manifold — improves exhaust gas velocity into the turbo for faster, cleaner boost ramp • High-Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) upgrade • Stage 2 tune calibrated for downpipe + manifold + HPFP

A daily-driven 2.5L on pump 93–94 lands around 470–500+ wheel here, which is genuinely fast. The 2.0L is in 400+ WHP territory on the same hardware.

Stage 3: Turbocharger Upgrade

The OEM turbo runs out of efficiency well before the engine does. To get to platform ceiling reliably, the turbo has to come off.

Choose based on platform: • 2.0L base / T → RaggDoll Velocity Anti-Surge Turbo (430–440 WHP on pump fuel — the honest 2.0L ceiling) • 2.5L S / GTS → RaggDoll Anti-Surge Turbo (2.5L) — 500–530 WHP territory on pump or light ethanol blends • Track / max-effort 2.5L → RaggDoll RS1 (Core Exchange or New Build), built to scale into the 530+ WHP range on full E85 + meth

Pair with: • Flex fuel kit + ethanol blend (E40–E85, 2.5L) • Methanol injection (2.5L max-effort builds only) • Custom tune dialed for your exact hardware • Upgraded clutch on PDK-delete or manual cars at higher torque numbers

What You Don't Need

A lot of forum advice will push you toward parts that don't move the needle on this platform. Skip: • 3.0" exhaust systems — restrictive vs the 3.5" path; do not use these as a destination • "Stage 1 air filter only" power claims — meaningless without the inlet • Generic universal intercoolers — the dual-pass design problem still applies • Tunes without supporting mods — you'll just heat-soak and pull timing

Reliability Notes

We've validated the 2.5L roadmap on builds making 600+ crank / 530+ wheel on 100 octane, E85, and methanol injection, with no internal engine work, driven daily. The 9A2 engine is stronger than people give it credit for, but it requires honest cooling and clean fueling. Skip a stage and the next one won't deliver what it should.

Ready to Build

Every product in this roadmap is in stock and engineered specifically for the Porsche 718 platform — not adapted from another car. Start at any stage; each one stands on its own.