In the early 1990s, Porsche was not the uber-profitable powerhouse it is now. Sales were down and finances were grim.
They needed a new car with mass appeal.
When Porsche first showed the Boxster Concept in 1993, it was met with rave reviews for the styling inspired by Porsches past, including the legendary 550 Spyder. It hit the roads in 1996.
For 2013, the Boxster has received a raft of upgrades to make it faster and more capable than ever. I drove the Boxster S, which has a starting price of $60,900.
Aluminum is prominent throughout the body to keep weight low. The 315 horsepower flat six engine works with Porsche's double clutch gearbox, the eloquently named Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (I'll call it PDK from here out), to rocket the car to 60 MPH in a scant 4.8 seconds.
So when Porsche asked if I'd like to sample the car at Barber Motorsports Park, which is one of the best race tracks in the nation, on an autocross course, and on the surrounding roads, there was no possible way that I could say no. I would've skipped the birth of my own son to be there.
The base model’s new 2.7-litre powerplant makes 265 hp (10 more than its larger predecessor) and 206 lb.-ft. of torque while the 3.4-litre engine Boxster S is up five horsepower (to 315 hp), with 266 lb.-ft. The water-cooled, mid-mounted aluminum Boxer engines are paired with standard six-speed manuals or optional seven-speed Porsche double-clutch automatic transmissions that are even better and can shift faster than most humans.
The open-top two-seater boasts a brand new monocoque steel and aluminum body and totally revamped rear-wheel drive chassis. Its considerably lower curb weight (1,319 kg versus 1,355 kg), a longer wheelbase (2,474 mm versus 2,415 mm) and wider track improve the Boxster’s already-impressive dynamics.
The 981’s longer, wider silhouette is sleeker and more expressive with edges that make it more akin to the new 911, Carrera GT and the jaw-smacking 918 Spyder. The new Boxster features a more aggressively raked windshield and a redesigned electronic-folding soft top that opens and closes in nine seconds (at up to 50 km/h!).
Cargo capacity remains the same at 281 litres total – the deeper front boot maxes out at 150.5 litres while the rear trunk is 130.5 – though I’m still unsure a set of golf clubs can go anywhere except the passenger seat.
The vented front and rear brake discs and four-piston callipers are hardly being taxed at all, offering much-improved stopping capabilities over the previous generation. Composite brakes are also available, though the S is already well-endowed in this department. Compared to other traction control systems, Porsche’s seems to provide the widest window of performance without intervention as well as intervening the most predictably and least noticeably when it does.
The raspy exhaust pops and the seat gives you a love tap in the back upon up-shifting at wide open throttle. The electromechanical power steering is direct, linear and perfectly-weighted for any driving situation with precise turn-in and exceptionally good feedback.
All in all, the new Boxster is a big improvement over the old one. While not a car in which to transport a twosome golfing, it is one in which to play hooky - consider leaving the clubs at home and head straight for your favourite driving roads. source:autonet.ca,businessinsider.com
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