New Porsche Boxster

By Jack Rix

March 2012

Porsche has taken the wraps off its all-new Boxster at the Geneva Motor Show. The entry point to Porsche ownership is now 35kg lighter, more efficient and has more power than ever.

At the pre-show event, Porsche CEO Matthias Muller told us: "This new Boxster is capable of lapping the Nurburgring in seven minutes and 58 seconds - that's 12 seconds faster than the previous model. With the roof up it's also 50 per cent quieter."

The styling has also been refreshed, but in true Porsche style the changes are evolutionary rather than radical. A longer wheelbase, widened track and bigger wheels (18-inch on the Boxster, 19-inch on the Boxster S) will be the biggest clues if you park the new model next to its predecessor.

Video: Watch our video of the new Boxster

Shorter front and rear overhangs and a more steeply raked windscreen create a streamlined profile. As before, the roof is made from fabric, but it now sits exposed behind the cockpit when its lowered.    

The new interior gets a smart centre console fitted with a seven-inch colour touchscreen. Porsche claims that the inspiration for the new layout came from the Carrera GT hypercar sold from 2004-2006.

It’s all change in the engine department, with the entry-level 2.9-litre flat-six replaced by a slightly smaller 2.7-litre unit. Despite downsizing, power has climbed by 10bhp to 261bhp. The Bosxter S sticks with its 3.4-litre flat-six, but gains an extra 5bhp taking its total to 311bhp. Both engines are fitted with stop-start.

Performance has taken a small jump, too. The Boxster accelerates from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds – a tenth of a second faster than the old car, while the Boxster S takes exactly five seconds – an improvement of two tenths.  

A six-speed manual is fitted as standard, but if you want to extract maximum performance and the best possible fuel economy, the optional seven-speed PDK gearbox is required. Go for the PDK and fuel consumption is improved by up to 15 per cent, with the Boxster returning 36.7mpg and the Boxster S managing 35.3mpg.

Standard kit on the Boxster includes an Alcantara interior, remote control hood operation and the seven-inch touchscreen. The Boxster S adds partial leather and Xenon headlights to that. The new Boxster goes on sale at the end of April priced from £37,589 for the Boxster and £45,384 for the Boxster S.