Porsche has updated the Boxster with a hint of turbocharging and a lot of premium!
The new Porsche 718 Boxster is christened after the legendary Porsche open cockpit racer from the late 50s. These machines were champions at the Targo Florio and Le Mans back in 1958 and were powered by revolutionary flat-four boxer engines. The 718 Boxster inherits this race pedigree in the form of two brand new turbocharged flat-four boxer engines. The standard 718 will be powered by a 2.0 litre derivation while the Boxster S would receive a 2.5 litre mill. The flat-four configuration, along with the turbocharging allows Porsche to churn out an astonishing 300 HP and 350 HP respectively for both motors! Along with the increase in power, the smaller turbocharged motors also boast of improved torque figures, especially at lower RPMs compared to its older flat-six counterparts, making the new 718 Boxster a very tractable and potent machine!
Porsche is offering the new 718 Boxster with a PDK gearbox as well as a six-speed manual transmission, although the Boxster still misses out on the highly admired 911 seven-speed manual box. The fact that a manual gearbox is still being offered though, points towards Porsche’s commitment towards maintaining the driving experience as organic as possible, in this supremely modern technology-driven automotive environment! The PDK equipped standard 718 should do the 0-100 kmph sprint in under 4.5 secs, and the Boxster ‘S’ will be chasing it down with a quicker 4.0 secs.
The 718 Boxster will also inherit its predecessor’s Active Suspension, which drops the ride height by 0.4 inches. Porsche also offers a Sport Chrono package that features subtle improved tuning settings along with a very fancy stop-watch to keep track of those nail-biting lap times you post on your Sunday track day!
In terms of styling, the Boxster is more of an update to the old car, rather than a brand new machine since it features almost similar design elements. The new car features an updated air intake design for the front bumpers, along with Porsche’s new signature four-point LED DRLs that come as an option. The Boxster definitely looks a lot like its predecessor but Porsche claims that most parts of the car have been updated.
The new 718 Boxster is definitely an exciting prospect! The new engine configuration promises improved performance along with better overall efficiency. The Boxster has always been an exciting roadster and with these updates, it should set a new trend, especially since Porsche has re-positioned the Boxster above the Cayman. Expect the 718 Boxster priced at a premium above the Cayman. India will also be expecting a launch of the 718 Boxster, but not anytime soon sadly.
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