This new Porsche Boxster marks a real break from the budget 911 looks of the previous car, as the company seeks to increase the individual identity of its price-entry model.
It’s really worked too. The styling is a big step forward in making the Boxster a more distinctive, and better-looking car.
Power is up by 10hp on the standard 2.7-litre model to 265hp, while the Boxster S driven here with its 3.4-litre engine has seen an increase of 5hp to 315hp. Despite the rise, there are efficiency savings, with the S model now returning 32.1mpg and an emissions figure of 206g/km – not bad for a sports car that can break five seconds for the 0-62mph dash. The automatic PDK gearbox, a not inexpensive £1922 option, is significantly cleaner and almost as much fun to drive as the manual, which has a short and sharp gearshift but suffers from a heavy clutch.
The driving experience is everything you’d expect from a Porsche, with a lovely exhaust note, direct steering and incredibly impressive body control. There’s virtually no roll in corners and the car feels more rigid than a convertible – with the inevitable loss of rigidity that comes with chopping off the roof – ever should.
Refinement is also improved, with the canvas roof benefiting from increased layers of insulation. On the move you’d never know it was a convertible from the wind noise, and the roof drops in just nine seconds at speeds of up to 30mph.
Aside from a more refined cabin, practicality is at the same level as the previous Boxster, with luggage space split between the 150-litre area in the front and the 130 litres behind the mid-mounted six-cylinder engine.
Everything about the new Boxster is a step forward from the old car, thanks to the more distinctive styling, better insulated roof and lower emissions the key characteristics. It may cost more than its nearest rivals – the likes of the BMW Z4 or Mercedes SLK – but that price gap is there for a reason, while Porsche’s cheapest model is as desirable as its siblings.
|