Topic: First Ride: 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster

[Autos_Editor]

Porsche's beloved Boxster drops two cylinders, gains a turbo, a whole bunch of grunt and a new vocabulary.
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[JohnnyMac]

"As would be expected (and with the new 911), power is up, 0–100 km/h times are down and mid-range torque is the new frontier. The base 2017 718 Boxster, with a starting price of $63,900, supplants the outgoing car’s 265 hp, 206 lb-ft atmo 2.7L flat-six with an all-new 2.0L single-turbo four that makes 300 hp and 280 lb-ft of twist from 1950-4500 rpm. That’s a jump of 35 horses and 74 lb-ft. While the old car was pretty soft on the bottom end and required some revs to find the pace, this 718 will have none of that. In fact, when equipped with the seven-speed twin-clutch PDK, the base 718 Boxster beats last year’s PDK Boxster S to 100 km/h (4.7 seconds vs 4..

Move up to the $78,000 718 Boxster S and a bore increase nets 2.5L, 350 horsepower and 309 lb-ft, also on board from 1950-4500 rpm. This car with PDK blows through 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, and on to 200 km/h in 14.3 seconds (against 4.8 and 17.3 for the outgoing car)."

I think you might have the 0-100 km/h numbers wrong for the base 718 Boxster.  How in the world could a car that gains 35 hp and 74 lb-ft only gain 0.1 second over it's previous generation?

I wonder if this version is any lighter, if the center of gravity was effected, and the front/rear weight balance.

[PJAvenger]

So, if I hear a WRX coming up from behind me, it might be this car instead?

[evil_twin]

I think you might have the 0-100 km/h numbers wrong for the base 718 Boxster.  How in the world could a car that gains 35 hp and 74 lb-ft only gain 0.1 second over it's previous generation?

Re-read.   He's saying the new base Boxster beats the old Boxster S to 60 by 0.1s

[Hannibalsmith]

I wonder what the new 718 Cayman will be priced at? Apparently its now suppose to switch with the Boxster and be less expensive.

[JohnnyMac]

I think you might have the 0-100 km/h numbers wrong for the base 718 Boxster.  How in the world could a car that gains 35 hp and 74 lb-ft only gain 0.1 second over it's previous generation?

Re-read.   He's saying the new base Boxster beats the old Boxster S to 60 by 0.1s

DOH!  Guess I should have read a bit more carefully.  Missed one letter but makes a big difference.  So what did the previous base Boxster take to get to 100km/hr?

[5 Wheel Drive]

It's definitely quick!  But has to sound like a Porsche, not a WRX.  I fell better about it after reading the article.  I'm still yet to hear a good sound bite of the flat 4.  Every time I see a video, there's music playing over it.  There's no other sound like a Porsche flat 6, so I hope the new engine sounds as good as he makes it out to be.

[KD]

I dunno....the aural part is a big deal IMO.   . Especially when your talking drop-tops.    The increase in low end torque is much more welcome though. 

I just feel the the fun factor is gradually getting sucked outta of cars with each new iteration.  Thank goodness Mazda seemed to get it right with the new MX5. 

[jamesautos]

engine looks overly complicated even when its sitting alone by itself...imagine the labour cost to get anything fixed in MR configuration (likely engine out operation for anything other than an oil change).... the first truly disposable porsche

[mixmanmash]

engine looks overly complicated even when its sitting alone by itself...imagine the labour cost to get anything fixed in MR configuration (likely engine out operation for anything other than an oil change).... the first truly disposable porsche

Lol.  You are saying it's disposable because of this?  Have ever seen what it's like to work on a 911?  Like replacing a clutch?

And it's no different than how it was with the flat 6...

[bluelines]

One of my all-time favourite drives was up Cypress mountain in a base 2.7 Boxster with virtually no options. It was pretty cold with the top down, but a good part of what made it so great was the sound of that flat six. The drive would have been no better with more horsepower or torque, but probably not nearly as much fun with the sound of a four-cylinder turbo. I'm not a luddite at all, but in the case of a "single purpose" sports car like a Boxster or Cayman, it seems a real shame to make this change.

[Trainman]

I think you might have the 0-100 km/h numbers wrong for the base 718 Boxster.  How in the world could a car that gains 35 hp and 74 lb-ft only gain 0.1 second over it's previous generation?

Re-read.   He's saying the new base Boxster beats the old Boxster S to 60 by 0.1s

DOH!  Guess I should have read a bit more carefully.  Missed one letter but makes a big difference.  So what did the previous base Boxster take to get to 100km/hr?

According to the graphic in the article it is 4.7 vs 5.5 to 100 and 17.8 vs 20.9 to 200.