The 718 Boxster S is low, wide and sleek with a ground-hugging stance that’s emphasised by the horizontal strakes in the lower air intakes. Typical Porsche design cues include front wings that stand proud of the bonnet line and faired-in Bi-Xenon headlamps with four LED running lights each side. At the side, there’s a large air intake just behind the trailing edge of the door to feed the mid-engined turbo four, and the rear treatment includes an accent trim to reinforce the impression of width. Central twin exhausts complete the look. It’s a powerful, lean and beautifully-balanced design that looks great from every angle and whether the hood is up or down (a process that takes just 9 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph).
PERFORMANCE
More power for less fuel is the mantra for the 718 Boxster. If you’re wondering where the 718 name comes from it’s named after a legendary four-cylinder Porsche racer of the 1960s that chalked up thousands of class and race victories. In the 718 Boxster S, the 2.5-litre horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine produces 350bhp at 6,500 rpm, while the variable geometry turbocharger is responsible for the huge 420NM of torque all the way from 1,950 to 4,500 rpm. 0-62mph takes as little as 4.2 seconds with the PDK transmission and optional Launch Control, and top speed is 177mph.
TECHNOLOGY
The Boxster S is equipped with an enhanced Porsche Stability Management (PSM), an automatic control system for maintaining stability at the limits of dynamic driving performance. Options include Porsche Torque Vectoring, which works by varying the amount of torque transmitted to the rear wheels and makes the leech-like grip of the mid-engined Boxster S even more impressive in hard cornering. In-car Infotainment includes a Connect Plus module with smartphone compartment, Porsche Car Connect and Apple® CarPlay, LTE telephone module with SIM card reader, wireless internet access, online navigation and comprehensive Porsche Connect services. A digital radio comes as standard, with Bose® Surround Sound or Burmeister® High-End Surround Sound as cost options.
SAFETY
The Boxster S is equipped with full-size driver and passenger airbags as standard. These are inflated in two stages depending on the severity and type of accident. The Porsche Side Impact Protection System (POSIP comprises side impact protection elements in the doors and two airbags on each side. There’s an integral thorax airbag in each seat side bolster, while the door panels each contain an upwards-inflating head airbag. In the unlikely event of a roll-over accident, the dual roll-over protection of windscreen and individual seat roll-over bars creates survival space within the cockpit.
