Porsche AG's President and CEO, Matthias Müller, shows the new Boxster in Geneva. Image: Porsche AG
Porsche isn’t finished introducing new variants of the revised 911, but that hasn’t stopped the Stuttgart-based automaker from redesigning the Boxster roadster. Introduced at this week’s Geneva Motor Show, the new Boxster is lighter, yet it rides on a longer wheelbase and benefits from a wider track. The styling is refreshed but not all new; the shape is still familiar, but we see some elements of other Porsche models (like the upcoming 918 supercar) in the new sheet metal. We say that’s a good thing, since the current Boxster was started to look a bit dated on the outside.
Porsche calls the Boxster’s chassis “completely revamped”, and the new car benefits from shorter body overhangs, larger wheels, increased interior space and improved fuel economy. Base models get a 2.7-liter flat six good for 265 horsepower (10 more than the current Boxster), while the Boxster S will come with a 3.4-liter flat six rated at 315 horsepower (5 more than current models). Buyers get a choice of either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic gearbox; while the six-speed may be more emotionally satisfying, the PDK is the way to go for the lowest lap times.
Expect the new Boxster to hit dealer showrooms in late spring, priced roughly $1,500 higher than current models.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
