The 2016 Porsche 718 Boxster S happens to feature the most powerful production engine in the lineup when it’s launched at the Geneva Motor Show next month.A2.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine,capable of producing 345 BHP, powers the range-topping model of the Boxster lineup.
The decision to call the vehicle the Boxster S was taken after much consideration since Porsche wanted to resurrect the 718 nomenclature, which holds special importance for the brand.Porsche is also expected to showcase the base model of the Boxster, apart from the Boxster S, at the event, which is powered by a 2.0-liter petrol mill, capable of producing 296 BHP.
Both variants of the 718 Boxster are expected to be available from April and are scheduled to sport a price tag of $60,000 for the base model and $73,000 for the Boxster S. The upcoming models cost$2,400 and $3,100 more respectively than their predecessors.
Visually, you could differentiate between the Boxster and the Boxster S based on a few quick changes such as the new front bumper, larger air ducts ahead of the rear wheel arches and the larger cooling ducts on the Boxster S, along with a distinctive new stripe between the tail lamps to enhance the stealth lines on the car.
The 718 Boxster S draws power from a four-cylinder engine block, and is the first vehicle from Porsche to feature this mill since the 968, which was taken off the production lineup back in 1995. The entire development process was completed under the watchful eyes of WolfgangHatz, Porsche’s Head of Research and Development, which was suspended after Volkswagen’s dieselgate affair.
This new engine block is further expected to replace the flat six mill on the current-generation 718 Cayman, which also makes its debut at Geneva next month.
This new engine block produces a total of 296 BHP along with 280 ft-lb of torque, which is precisely 25 BHP and 66 ft-lb greater than the figures developed by the naturally aspirated 2.7-liter engine block powering the 718 Cayman.
The new engine block has been a blessing since peak power now arrives 1500 RPM down the range, making the vehicle a lot more responsive through the middle RPM range. The 2.4-liter petrol mill replaces a 3.4-liter naturally aspirated six-cylinder unit, which increases 25 BHP along with 37 ft-lb.
Like always, Porsche is offering a range of dual transmission options for their customers, including a six-speed manual transmission along with an optional seven-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission.
A few minor modifications have been made to the software on the second variant,which Porsche says will help increase the fuel economy of the vehicle.
Porsche claims that the 718 Boxster returns around 40.9 MPG on a combined scale while the Boxster S returns 38.7 MPG. The approximate figures are 5.1 MPG and 4.2 MPG respectively.
As far as performance is concerned, the Porsche 718 Boxster accelerates from 0-60 MPH within 4.7 seconds and sports a top speed of 171 MPH. There is an improvement of 5MPH on the top speed and a reduction of 0.5 seconds while accelerating.
The 718 Boxster S sports a top speed of 177 MPH while accelerating from 0–60 MPH in 4.2 seconds. This beats the official acceleration time of the Porsche Cayman GT4 by 0.2 seconds. Apart from the upgrades mentioned above, Porsche has also done their bit to improve the suspension setting on the 718 Boxster S.
Keep me posted on 718 developments
Keep me posted on 718 developments