What is it?
Here is the Porsche 718 Boxster GTS, the latest incarnation of a car that's held in very high regard here at Autocar.
Revealed to the public at the Los Angeles motor show, the new open-top roadster is set for UK delivery in mid-December. With a starting price of £59,866, it's priced £1861 below its fixed-roof sibling, the 718 Cayman GTS, with which it shares its upgraded mechanical package.
Over the years, Porsche has reserved the GTS name for some very memorable models. Again it has on this occasion. The 718 Boxster GTS slots into the line-up above the 718 Boxster S, bringing with it a number of subtle styling changes, a more powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine and detailed changes to its chassis.
Among the more important changes brought to the car's 2.5-litre flat-four is the adoption of a larger intake duct, providing a greater volume of air for the combustion process, as well as a revised variable-vane turbocharger that operates at a maximum 1.3bar. The result is a subtle 15bhp and 7lb ft lift in output, with 361bhp arriving at 6500rpm and, in combination with the optional seven-speed dual clutch gearbox fitted to our test car, 317lb ft of torque available from 1900rpm through to 5500rpm.
By way of comparison, the previous Boxster GTS delivered 335bhp at 7400rpm and just 280lb ft at 4750rpm, so despite ditching two cylinders, the new engine is not only more powerful but brings a load more torque to the party, too.
Porsche says the four-cylinder is similar in weight to the old six-cylinder, owing to the plumbing associated with its turbocharger and larger exhaust. Even so, the new 718 Boxster GTS is 30kg heavier than the old Boxster GTS, at 1405kg. Interestingly, this is the same weight as the 718 Cayman GTS, so despite its folding roof, the Boxster apparently gives nothing away to its coupé sibling.
Distinguishing the GTS from the S are a series of subtle styling changes. These include a lightly altered front bumper, black tinted lights, a more prominent diffuser and centrally mounted black tailpipes as part of a standard sports exhaust system.
There are also black GTS badges at the base of the doors, black 20in alloy wheels shod with 235/35 tyres up front and 265/35 tyres at the rear and a 10mm reduction in ride height as part of the chassis changes brought on by the standard adoption of Porsche’s Active Suspension Management (PASM) system.
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A88A
Porsche has lost the plot......
With this fantastic car, it truly is a superb sports car (I’ve driven an S), I couldn’t pick fault with it, except for the sound, it’s got a noise going on behind you, but it’s dull and soulless :0( compared to the previous 6 cylinder boxster.
I can’t imagine Porsche will ever be able to give this car the sound it deserves, unless they fit the 6 in it, which is highly unlikely.
Ski Kid
Agree the loss of the 6 cylinder makes it a no from me
Porche wrecked a great car with a boring sounding engine ,afriend test drove one and ended up buying last of older model 6 cylinder ,way better,even roa dtests show in the real world the 6 cylinder is more economical than the mythical figures VW Audi group portray.
gubes
It is so sad about the engine
I used to own a 2001 Boxster S (before I had kids) in the mid 2000s. I loved the car! The engine sound was addictive! Here is the thing, I now own a Tesla Model S. If I bought an ICE car I couldn't care less about the engine sound if it was a regular passenger car. But for a sports car, the engine sound is a huge part of the attraction. Its not about power so much either - as 99% of people are going to drive boxsters on the road and the old Boxtsers had more than enough power. The sad thing is that the 6 cylinder in the real world is not that different to the 4 cylinder in terms of fuel consumption either.
Utterly dissapointing and pointless. I am all for lowering emmissions, but I wish sports cars were excempt! Such a pity. Eventually, Porsche will end up selling a Boxter R (with a 6 cyclinder naturally aspirated engine) and they will charge more for it than a 911 and it would be extremely popular. You just know that is going to happen!
gubes
It is so sad about the engine
I used to own a 2001 Boxster S (before I had kids) in the mid 2000s. I loved the car! The engine sound was addictive! Here is the thing, I now own a Tesla Model S. If I bought an ICE car I couldn't care less about the engine sound if it was a regular passenger car. But for a sports car, the engine sound is a huge part of the attraction. Its not about power so much either - as 99% of people are going to drive boxsters on the road and the old Boxtsers had more than enough power. The sad thing is that the 6 cylinder in the real world is not that different to the 4 cylinder in terms of fuel consumption either.
Utterly dissapointing and pointless. I am all for lowering emmissions, but I wish sports cars were excempt! Such a pity. Eventually, Porsche will end up selling a Boxter R (with a 6 cyclinder naturally aspirated engine) and they will charge more for it than a 911 and it would be extremely popular. You just know that is going to happen!
BenS1
Spyder
"can’t imagine Porsche will ever be able to give this car the sound it deserves, unless they fit the 6 in it, which is highly unlikely."
They have confirmed that the NA 6 cylinder will be going into the Spyder though, with well over 400bhp if I remember correctly.
oaffie
My neighbour had a six
My neighbour had a six cylinder Cayman, and now for reasons known only to himself he has now got himself a brand new 718 Boxster instead. I don't know what the difference for him is in terms of driving pleasure, but it certainly gives me much less aural pleasure when he starts it up and drives off
http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h2757/rr-1
david RS
Boxster, Cayman and 911
Boxster, Cayman and 911 Carrera need NA flat 6 !
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