2017 Porsche 718 Boxster: New Numbers, New Look, New Engines

BOLD RIDE

Copyright © 2016 Bold Ride LLC.

 

Posted by George Kennedy 

                               

                                          

I’ve always thought it a little odd that, for a company that loves branding cars with numbers, the Porsche Boxster and Cayman did not have digits affixed to their trunk-lids in that iconic, swoopy font. The folks at Porsche finally came to their collective senses, and have graced the impressively fun mid-engined two seater with a new name: 718 Boxster.

 

Technically, the Boxster always had a number associated to it, but that was always an internal number. The first generation was internally dubbed 986, the second generation was 987, and the current generation 981, of which this is a mid-cycle refresh, featuring tweaks in several areas.

As the numbers 718 represent more than just a new name, the updated car features new suspension and brakes, as well as many new styling tweaks. Additionally, the six-cylinder engines are being replaced with a pair of turbocharged flat-four engines.

 

 The base model is 2.0-liters and makes 300 horsepower while the 718 Boxster S features a 2.5-liter engine with 350 horsepower. That’s a lot of motivation from not a lot of displacement.

 

Thankfully you can still get it with a manual transmission, sending power to the rear wheels. If you don’t feel like changing your own gears, the PDK dual-clutch direct shift gearbox is also available. Porsche says the PDK features fuel-saving “virtual gears” as an available option. The German automaker also claims the brakes, steering and suspension have all been improved over the non-numbered Boxster.

Inside, the cabin has been updated, but still looks like it fits within the Porsche family. The center-mounted tach and the high-dash chronograph are all hallmarks of a Porsche cockpit. Most notably, the infotainment has been revised–an area where the Boxster needed the most work.

The base 718 Boxster starts at $56,000, while the S-level trim starts at 68,400. Paying a premium will get you to the front of the line when the car is available in summer of 2016.