So now it has that too Boxster caught the time of the free breathing engine. The look does not change much with the facelift - the most striking thing is the black band between the rear lights - but all the more so under the hood. In the future, a turbocharger will force the little Zuffenhausen resident to force the air into the engine. And even worse: He has to give up two combustion chambers, from now on only drives up with a four-cylinder boxer. While enthusiasts clap their hands over their heads, there is nothing objectively to be said against it: the charging brings more power with less consumption. But can that convince the customers? From the end of April, the Boxster with the new name suffix 53.646 will cost at least 718 euros.
At the latest after a test drive, most interested parties should throw their doubts overboard. Yes, the new engine is befitting. Bringing him in the Boxster, which has recently been alluded to four-cylinder ancestors from the 1950s, was not that easy: Although the units for Boxster and Boxster S have fewer cylinders, the turbocharger takes up a lot of space , The base engine will have a displacement of two liters in the future and will generate 718 kW / 220 hp and 300 Newton meters of torque, which, thanks to the turbo, is already at 360 rpm. The S model gets half a liter more space for combustion and a supercharger with variable turbine geometry. The result: 1.950 kW / 257 PS and a whopping 350 Newton meters.
And woe when they let go: Just below 2.000 tours, they fall completely over the rear axle and catapult the two-seater, which weighs around 1,4 tons, to the front. The driver and passenger are literally sucked up by the tight seats - and the corners of the mouth twist into a smile. Six cylinders? What for? Otto normal Porsche drivers in particular benefit from the new engines. Thanks to the turbo, high revs are no longer required: In the past, three or four thousand tours were needed to get off the spot, now even the inexperienced can get off to a light start at the traffic lights. The Boxster pushes just above idle and a quick twitch with the right foot is enough to overtake. The gearshifts are best left to the dual clutch transmission (PDK, around 2.800 euros), which sorts its seven gears confidently and at lightning speed. If you prefer to change gears yourself, you can also get the 718 as a hand switch.
Even the ambitious drivers need not fear the turbo. If you want, you can switch to Sport mode, which noticeably tightens the Boxster and turns the gears up to the limiter - it only pushes the bolt beyond the 7.000 mark. Thanks to the dynamic boost function, the engine maintains the boost pressure when the accelerator is depressed briefly. This means that the entire force is immediately available again as soon as you push the right pedal lightly; a sucker could hardly do it better. The boost button can also be activated via the response button on the steering wheel: It switches all systems to maximum acceleration for 20 seconds - ideal for hanging out behind the man behind. The only drawback: the sound. The turbo became significantly sonorous, deeper. Instead of wheezing, the Porsche now gives its power growling expression. The best way to get the sound is without the fabric roof. It's a good thing that it only takes an entertaining nine seconds for the soft top to be stowed behind the seats. That even works at city pace.
The Stuttgart-based company is making up for the somewhat defused sound at the latest with further improved driving characteristics: thanks to more direct steering, the two-seater steers even more precisely, the stiffer rear axle ensures even more stability in the curve and an optional mechanical cross-lock in the rear contributes to this Driving dynamics at. From 120 km / h, the extendable spoiler pushes the Porsche towards the asphalt and ensures more traction. The Boxster has not only become sportier, but also a little more comfortable. Thanks to optional, adaptive dampers, people with back injuries will feel comfortable as long as they don't leave normal mode. Speaking of driving mode: If you dare, you can put the electronic control systems in their place and have a lot more fun with the Boxster. Professionals can even deactivate the stability monitor completely.
And what about consumption? The Boxster should only need 6,9 liters, the S consumes an average of 7,3 liters - each with PDK, the hand controls allow themselves a good half a liter more. Anyone who moves the 718 appropriately will only know the paper values as an imaginary number, ten liters or more are not uncommon when driving briskly; We do not want to use the old saying "Turbo runs, Turbo sucks" again. You should always check your own account balance before buying, because it will rarely remain at the entry price: the list of surcharges includes expensive delicacies such as LED headlights, navigation and online access for the new, larger infotainment system or the ceramic brakes - for a proud 7.320 euros. Only in terms of driver assistance there is nothing except a blind spot warning and parking sensors. However, the final price will rarely remain below 70.000 euros, but maybe in the future you can save at the hotel: More than a short vacation is not possible with the two small luggage compartments (150 liters in the front, 125 liters in the back).