Porsche’s tradition of favouring cautious evolutionary adjustments over revolutionary changes is strongly reflected in the new Boxster. Pictured here officially for the first time is Zuffenhausen’s new mid-engined rival to the Audi TT, BMWZ4 and Mercedes SLK.
Despite its familiar appearance, Porsche claims the second-generation Boxster, codenamed 987, is effectively a brand-new car. Up to 80 per cent of its components have either been heavily revised or completely replaced, although company officials admit many of the first model’s crucial hard points have been carried over.
The base Boxster will run a 237bhp 2.7-litre version of the venerable flat-six engine while the sportier Boxster S gets a 276bhp 3.2-litre unit.
The exterior resembles the first-generation Boxster, launched in 1996, but every body panel has been altered. At the front there are large air ducts and the leading corners of the bonnet are rounded off. Oval headlamps replace the familiar teardrop-shaped units — a move Porsche hopes will silence critics who say the Boxster looks too similar to the 911. The tail-lamps are more angular than before and wrap further around. The central exhaust has been retained. Refinements in the design of the underbody have reduced the drag co-efficient from 0.31 to 0.29.
Both versions of Porsche’s water-cooled, four-valve-per-cylinder, flat-six engine, have received revisions to the intake manifold, combustion chambers and exhaust system. The revised engines are mated to an upgraded five-speed manual gearbox in the Boxster and a new Getrag-engineered six-speed manual in the S. The existing five-speed Tiptronic automatic from ZF is carried over without any major changes, although it is expected to be replaced by a new dual-clutch arrangement similar to VW’s DSG within two years.
With the added output comes mildly sharper performance. Porsche claims 0-100kph in 6.2sec and a top speed of 254kph. The 3.2 manages 0-100 in 5.5sec and runs to 267kph.With its own factories in Germany running at full capacity right now, Porsche has once again turned to production specialist Valmet to assemble the new Boxster at its plant in Uusikaupunki, Finland.
Greg Kable