The new Porsche Boxster arrives in the UK this spring and offers open-top driving enthusiasts an improved option of the iconic roadster. The Boxster has an all-new lightweight body, flat-six engines with direct petrol injection, a completely revised chassis and styling that manages to blend a bit of the old and the new.
But it doesn’t stop there as the new Boxster also brings lower weight, a longer wheelbase, widened track and larger wheels, which all help to significantly enhance the driving dynamics of the mid-engined sports car. These attributes all help to give the Boxster improved performance but, crucially, up to 15 per cent greater fuel efficiency as well.
The styling of the new Boxster gives the driver a very large clue to the type of driving experience your going to have after you’ve turned the key. Shorter front and rear overhangs, a significantly forward-shifted windscreen and a flatter profile are some of the obvious aspects towards the Boxsters sporty heritage.
Inside the passengers are enclosed by a new, fully electric hood, which now dispenses with a compartment lid for the convertible top when stowed. The interior design offers the occupants more space, while the distinctive centre console – originating in the Carrera GT – improves the all important cabin ergonomics.
The new Porsche continues the classic choice of a standard Boxster or more powerful Boxster S models. Both derivatives are powered by charismatic flat-six engines with direct petrol injection, the efficiency of which is further enhanced by electrical system recuperation, thermal management and start/stop function.
The power unit fitted in the Boxster delivers 265hp from a 2.7-litre flat six. The Boxster S on the other hand, now delivers 315hp from a 3.4-litre flat six and both models feature a manual six-speed gearbox as standard, with the seven-speed dual-clutch PDK available as an option.
Both models achieve their best fuel consumption and acceleration performance with the PDK and fuel consumption for the Porsche Boxster with PDK is 36.7mpg and 35.3mpg for the Boxster S, respectively. With gear changes achieved without interruption to the flow of power, the Boxster sprints from zero to 62mph in just 5.7 seconds, while the Boxster S shades 0.7 seconds off that to five seconds dead.
To enhance the driving dynamics further, the Sport Chrono Package option is offered on the Boxster, featuring Dynamic Transmission Mounts for the first time. Also new in the Boxster is the option of Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with a mechanical rear limited slip differential.
Built in Zuffenhausen, Stuttgart, the Porsche Boxster goes on sale in the UK from April 28. The Boxster is priced from £37,589, and from £45,384 for the Boxster S.
