Has it become more substantial?

In mid-March, when Tokyo was still chilly,new Porsche Boxsteran international press test drive event for the new Porsche Boxster was held in the warm South of France, in Saint-Tropez. I had seen photos released beforehand, but this was my first time seeing the actual car. My initial impression was, "It's become quite substantial."

That said, the body size has only increased in length by 32mm. What has changed is the proportion, with the wheelbase extended by 60mm and the front overhang shortened by 27mm.
Furthermore, the tread has been widened by 40mm at the front and 18mm at the rear. The windshield has also been moved forward by 100mm and its angle reclined, while its height has been reduced by 13mm. In essence, within a nearly equivalent overall size, the wheels are pushed out to the four corners, and the overall height has been lowered.

The details have also been refined.918 SpyderThe front mask gains further presence with headlamps inspired by the 918 Spyder and large openings in the bumper. The air intakes on the body sides are deeply carved from the door area to draw in more air. The rear spoiler, which connects the left and right taillights, also serves as a distinctive eye-catching feature.


"The 911 has many 'must-have' elements, so the responsibility is immense. But the Boxster has a bit more freedom, allowing us to enjoy the work more," said Michael Mauer, Porsche's Design Director, during the sneak preview of the new 911 Carrera last year.new 911 Carrera sneak previewIndeed, the Boxster's styling feels more unrestrained. The term "Progressive Evolution" used in the presentation certainly rings true.

Major Body Changes

The interior atmosphere has also been further refined. The air conditioning vents have changed from circular to rectangular. And, similar to the new 911, the center console now slopes forward, creating a more enveloping feel than before. The shift lever's position is higher, enhancing the sense of driving unity, which is also noteworthy. Meanwhile, the interior space has been increased by 25mm in the front-rear direction, resulting in even greater spatial comfort.


The soft top's opening and closing mechanism, including the locking levers, is now fully electric. The opening and closing time has been reduced by 25% to 9 seconds. This is thanks to a new roof opening and closing system where the convertible lid has been eliminated, and the roof itself serves as the cover. The optional wind deflector has been changed from a transparent plastic board to a net type, which, frankly, offers a less-than-ideal view. You need to be more careful of the rear when driving at speed.



The soft top also contributes significantly, with its weight reduced by approximately 12kg through the use of a magnesium frame and a simplified opening/closing mechanism. Additionally, the use of resin outer panels from the side sills to the rear fenders is noteworthy. This is a feature not found in the new 911.

Refined Driving Dynamics

The engine for the base Boxster has been downsized from the previous 2.9-liter to 2.7 liters. It now features direct injection, achieving a maximum output of 265 horsepower, a 10ps increase.

The Boxster S, while retaining the same 3.4-liter direct injection as before, also sees a 5ps increase in maximum output to 340 horsepower. This is paired with either a 7-speed PDK or a 6-speed manual transmission. The decision not to adopt the 7-speed manual used in the new 911 was made to reduce weight. Start-stop functionality is standard on both models.



When I first took the wheel of the Boxster with the PDK transmission, I was immediately captivated by the refinement of its driving performance. The body feels incredibly rigid yet not heavy, exuding a sense of lightness. The optional PASM-equipped suspension smoothly absorbs road imperfections.

The extended wheelbase likely plays a role. The car maintains a consistently flat posture. The comfort, despite riding on 20-inch tires, was astonishing.


The test car was equipped with 20-inch tires, so its limits were extremely high, making it difficult to even squeal the tires. The stability is outstanding, and the sense of unity is immense. Anyone should be able to revel in the joy of driving a sports car.

The engine's performance is also superb. The Boxster's 2.7-liter unit doesn't feel weak even at low speeds, and it revs freely all the way to the top end without any sense of strain. The sound and response that intensify as you rev it higher are incredibly stimulating.

Sub-8 Minutes at the Nürburgring

The Boxster S's 3.4-liter unit shares the same basic characteristics. However, due to its larger displacement, the power reserve is on another level. I also tested the manual transmission, and found that skipping gears was perfectly adequate for relaxed driving.

However, with the reinforced suspension and brakes, the ride felt slightly firmer than the standard Boxster. Incidentally, the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time for this Boxster S is reported to be 7 minutes and 58 seconds. This is a remarkable 12 seconds faster than the previous generation, achieved with a fully optioned car that included not only PASM but also PTV (Porsche Torque Vectoring) and the Sport Chrono Package Plus, which utilizes the principle of magnetic dampers for instantaneous stiffness adjustment in the dynamic transmission mounts. Even so, considering that this time is largely achieved through chassis improvements, it's nothing short of astounding.


During the test drive, an owner of a previous generation Boxster who accompanied me pointed out that wind buffeting inside the cabin during open-top driving seemed to have increased slightly. When I later confirmed this with Porsche's development team, they acknowledged, "That's correct."

This is due to the reclined windshield and the slightly increased distance between the seats and the wind deflector. However, based on user surveys, it was deemed to be within an acceptable range. Personally, I felt it was about as expected. But for women with long hair, it might be a bit of a concern.

On the other hand, the improvement in cabin comfort when the top is closed was truly astonishing. Porsche claims that thanks to the newly developed soft top, the interior noise level at 100 km/h has been reduced from approximately 75 dB to 71 dB.

The significant reduction in road noise, similar to the new 911, likely contributes to this. The characteristics remain consistent whether the top is open or closed, and it's comfortable even when closed. The tuning in this area is also superb.



Despite all this, the level of perfection is remarkable. While the course, which consisted solely of winding roads, undoubtedly played a role, I must honestly say I was more surprised by this experience than by my first encounter with the new 911 Carrera. For the first time, the thought, "The 911 is in danger," crossed my mind.

This new Boxster is scheduled to arrive in Japan around the summer. While the price is yet to be determined, it's important to remember that despite its improved performance, it remains Porsche's entry-level model.

Porsche Boxster | Porsche Boxster
Body Dimensions | Length 4,374 x Width 1,801 (1,979 incl. mirrors) x Height 1,282mm
Wheelbase | 2,475mm
Tread Front/Rear | 1,526 / 1,536mm
Engine | 2.7-liter flat-six cylinder
Maximum Output | 265ps (195kW) / 6,700rpm
Maximum Torque | 280Nm / 4,400-6,500rpm
Transmission | 6-speed manual (7-speed PDK optional)
Wheels Front/Rear | 8J x 18 / 9J x 18
Tires Front/Rear | 235/45 ZR 18 / 265/45 ZR 18
0-60 mph Acceleration (Manual, PDK, with Sport Chrono Package) | 5.5, 5.4, 5.2 seconds
Top Speed (Manual, PDK) | 164 mph (264 km/h), 162 mph (261 km/h)

Porsche Boxster S | Porsche Boxster S
Body Dimensions | Length 4,374 x Width 1,801 x Height 1,281mm
Wheelbase | 2,475mm
Tread Front/Rear | 1,526 / 1,540mm
Engine | 3.4-liter flat-six cylinder
Maximum Output | 315ps (232kW) / 6,700rpm
Maximum Torque | 360Nm / 4,500-5,800rpm
Transmission | 6-speed manual (7-speed PDK optional)
Wheels Front/Rear | 8J x 19 / 9.5J x 19
Tires Front/Rear | 235/40 ZR 19 / 265/40 ZR 19
0-60 mph Acceleration (Manual, PDK, with Sport Chrono Package) | 4.8, 4.7, 4.5 seconds
Top Speed (Manual, PDK) | 173 mph (278 km/h), 172 mph (277 km/h)