The new, more powerful Boxster will be Porsche’s prizefighter in Paris, but the Züffenhausen-based manufacturer has not tinkered too much with the roadster’s styling. How does its styling compare with that of the Z4, SLK, TT and other competitors?
The new, more powerful Boxster will be Porsche’s prizefighter in Paris, but the Züffenhausen-based manufacturer has not tinkered too much with the roadster’s styling. How does it compare with the styling of the Z4, SLK, TT and other competitors?
The new Boxster will be available in Europe in November and in right-hand drive markets, such as South Africa, is February next year. As can be seen from these pictures, the front end of Porsche’s entry-level range has been refined and now has integrated fog lamps and indicators and Cayenne-like headlights, which separate the main headlamps and front lamps.
When viewed from the side, the new Boxster has larger air vents before the rear axle, elaborate door sills, larger window in the transition from the B-pillar to the roof, larger rims and a wider wheel alignment than its predecessor.
The 2,7-litre six-cylinder engine in the Boxster will produce 176 kW – 8 kW more than previously. The Boxster S, which will be fitted with 18-inch wheels, will be launched simultaneously.
The S’ power output has been increased from 191 kW to 206 kW, while cubic capacity has remained unchanged at 3,2 litres.
The Boxster is said to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 6,2 seconds, going on to reach a top speed of 256 km/h. Porsche claims the model will consume an average 9,6 litres per 100 km.
The Boxster S is claimed to dash from standstill to 100 km/h in 5,5 seconds, achieve a top speed of 268 km/h and return an average of 10,4 litres per 100 km.
Power is transmitted by a revised five-speed manual transmission in case of the Boxster and a new six-speed gearbox in the S model. Porsche say the shift travel is now considerably shorter for both transmission variants. Both vehicles can optionally be equipped with a five-speed Tiptronic S transmission.
Züffenhausen further claim that the Boxster will be the first roadster in the world to secure passengers against lateral impact using head airbags. In combination with a thorax airbag, which is concealed on the outer side of the backrest, the airbag shoots out from the side window rail of the door and provides a very high level of protection for the head, the company says.
Porsche SA spokesman Jessica Baker said the company would start taking orders for the cars very shortly. An entry-level coupé version of the Boxster is also in the pipeline, sources say.
