The Boxster, Porsche's entry-level model, enjoys a strong reputation among sports-car enthusiasts (this publication’s editors certainly included). Some even prefer it to the larger 911. The evolution—and, hopefully, the improvement—of the mid-engine Porsche roadster continues with the third generation, scheduled to debut publicly at March’s Geneva auto show.
Haven’t I Seen You Before?
Will you recognize the third-generation Boxster at first glance? It depends on your angle of approach. The front end looks a lot like the outgoing model’s, although the windshield has been brought forward and the headlights reshaped. The face is unmistakably Porsche, but you may need to memorize details like the position and shape of the LED running lights to know exactly which Porsche. The side view, which lends this Boxster an uncanny resemblance to the unforgettable Carrera GT supercar, boasts a much bigger air intake. The rear is distinctly different from the last generation, with a spoiler now intersecting the taillights to create a raised wraparound detail. We have to wonder how long this element will look fresh. The folding soft top—which, somewhat unnecessarily, is fully electric—loses its hard tonneau cover.
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The wheelbase is longer, and this Boxster has a wider track and bigger wheels. Porsche promises "significantly lower weight," which should help make the car an absolute joy on the road and the racetrack. In other words, the changes shouldn’t mess up a good thing. A mechanical torque-vectoring rear differential is available, and the optional Sport Chrono package now includes dynamic transmission mounts. Porsche also switched to electromechanical power steering, just as it did with the latest 911; the larger Porsche sports car’s steering preserved most of the precision but lost a bit of feedback in the digitizing.
One thing the new steering setup does do well: It helps reduce fuel consumption, and is part of a larger package that includes improved thermal management and a stop/start system. The car is claimed to be about 15 percent more fuel efficient than the outgoing model, which is itself pretty efficient to begin with.
Two Flavors
Porsche will continue to offer the base Boxster, now with 265 hp (up 10), and a Boxster S with 315 hp (up 5). The entry-level Boxster gets an entirely new 2.7-liter flat-six engine, which is now based on the 3.4-liter engine of the Boxster S (and the new 911). The sprint from 0 to 60 mph will take a claimed 5.4 seconds in the Boxster or 4.7 seconds in the S, with both cars equipped with the optional seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. The standard transmission remains a six-speed manual. (A four-cylinder Boxster is still a possibility for the future.)
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The 2013 Boxster—and a similarly updated hardtop Cayman derivative, which we expect to debut about a year from now—will be built at the former Karmann plant in Osnabrück, Germany. Both Boxster models will arrive at U.S. dealers in the summer of this year. Prices rise only slightly: the Boxster is up $1400 to $50,450, while the Boxster S will retail for $61,850, a $2300 increase over the 2012 model.
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