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Current 718 Boxster Lineup

The 718 Boxster is Porsche entry-level model. It is an exceptional sports cars package that is perfect for the daily driving and more spirited runs on weekends. Great balance, plenty of poke and pure driving enjoyment. What else could you want in a sports car? As we’ve become accustomed to over the years, Porsche’s 718 cars are available in both hardtop Cayman and drop-top Boxster guises. The good news recently is that the four-cylinder boxer engines that left us wanting more have now been joined by 4.0-litre flat sixes in the potent GTS models and the special-edition Spyder and GT4 cars. In typical Porsche fashion, the 2022 718 Cayman range is offered in up to six different variants, allowing customers more freedom to choose based on budget and other considerations. The entry-level 718 Cayman is at one end of the spectrum, and performance rapidly ramps up as you move on to the top-of-the-line Cayman GT4 RS at the other end. The 718 Cayman range has been spiced up with the punchy Cayman GT4 RS model, powered by a high-revving engine sourced from the acclaimed 911 GT3 RS. Other changes are mild for 2022 and include new paint options and additional customizations available for the cars.

Welcome to the four generation Boxster. The base Boxster was powered by a twin-turbo 2.0-liter direct-injection gasoline unit. It offered a total output of 300 hp and it was paired as standard with a 6-speed manual, while a 7-speed automatic (PDK – dual-clutch) was on the options list. In terms of design, it gets a more modern look and feel and the interior is upgraded. More tech, more power and more speed. The only downside is the loss of the aural pleasure of a flat 6 engine that is naturally aspirated and loves to rev to the sky.
While the first generation Boxster S was received with mixed feelings, the second generation was praised. With the introduction of the 718 Boxster, the car-maker showed a special commitment to the smallest member of the Porsche family and it arguably become the best sports car in the world. The Boxster S featured a 2.5-liter flat-four engine. It was turbocharged and with direct fuel injection and was good for 345 hp. Performance was up a lot, especially in the midrange, now that torque was 310 ft lbs. It helped rocket the Boxster S from zero to 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds and onto a top speed of 177mph.
The 718 Boxster Spyder is everything you could possibly want in a sports car. The sublime combination of a legendary chassis and naturally aspirated 6-cylinder Porsche engine is accentuated by the emphasis that less is more when done right - and nobody does this better than Porsche’s GT division.  Connections with these cars are visceral and emotional, an outcome mutually desired by both Porsche engineers and customers alike. They will never be considered tardy in the right hands. The Spyder is in my opinion, the best sports cars you can buy in this segment.
Essentially a liaison Boxster version situated between the 718 Boxster GTS and the hardcore 718 Spyder, the Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 offers a mix between the comfort and features found on the regular GTS and a detuned version of the engine found in the Spyder. Alongside its hardtop Cayman sibling, it is also one of the last production sports cars with a large displacement engine that doesn't feature turbocharging or supercharging. It produces 395 bhp @ 7800 rpm and 310 ft lbs @ 5000 rpm and can hit zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds (only 0.1 seconds slower than the Spyder).
The Boxster 718 T was released for the 2020 model year as more sport-oriented versions of the base 718 models. As such, the T features the same 2.0-litre flat-4 engine as the base 718 but adds performance-oriented options such as Porsche's sport suspension system, the Sport Chrono package, and a limited-slip differential, along with minor cosmetic differences including special decals along the lower doors, a smaller-diameter steering wheel, door pull straps in place of standard door handles, wheels from the Porsche 992 Carrera S, and black rear badging.
Fresh colours and harmonious contrast packages characterise the new Porsche 718 Boxster Style Edition and 718 Cayman Style Edition sports cars. Available on the base model, this is a sweet package for the buyer looking to jazz up their base Cayman or Boxster and make them really special. Underlining Porsche’s commitment to ever more creative and vibrant bespoke finishes, the new models are characterized by special colors and matching contrasting elements. This is evident with the new color Ruby Star Neo, a modern interpretation of the color used on the 964 Carrera RS.
Porsche Boxster Models

Porsche All Boxster Models

Porsche Boxster (1st Gen) (986) Models

There were two core models of Porsche Boxster for the first generation, the base Boxster and the Boxster S. The base Boxster came first as a 1997 model year car, powered by a 2.5 liter flat 6 engine and 201 hp. In 2000 the base Boxster got a larger 2.7 liter engine unit with more power and torque. It was the Boxster S launch as a 2000 model year car that got people most excited, with its bigger 3.2 liter engine and extra performance hardware. The model range received a minor facelift in 2002 that included some design updates including the plastic rear window was replaced by a smaller glass window with a heating element and the bumpers were changed slightly for a more defined. New wheel designs were made available. The interior received some updates including an updated steering wheel. Porsche installed a reworked exhaust pipe and air intake. The 986 Boxster production ended in 2004.

Porsche Boxster (1st Gen) (986) Special Models

There was only one special edition Boxster during the first generation. In 2004, the Boxster S Special Edition, also called 550 Spyder Boxster S Special Edition or S 550 Spyder 50th Anniversary Edition was introduced with a production run of just 1,953 cars. It paid homage to the 550 Spyder's year of introduction. These were all painted in GT Silver Metallic and had unique cocoa-brown full-leather interior as standard. Several other changes included a slightly more powerful engine.

Porsche Boxster (2nd Gen) (987) Models

There were two core models of Porsche Boxster for the second generation, the base Boxster and the Boxster S. Both second generation models were released as 2005 model year cars.Both got considerable power increases even though engine capacities stayed the same. Output of the standard 2.7-litre boxer engine increased from 228hp to 237hp, while the 3.2-litre engine for Boxster S was up 260 hp to 276 hp. For 2007 model year, Porsche introduced the Cayman and updated the models. The interior and exterior remained mostly the same, but the Boxster S received the Cayman S 3.4-liter flat six while the 2.7 in the Boxster received VarioCam Plus, which bumped horsepower up to 245 hp. In 2009, the model got another update. The 2.9-liter unit replaced the older 2.7-liter engine and offered 10 hp more. It was paired as standard to a 6-speed manual, and a 7-speed PDK (Porsche dual-clutch) automatic was available as an option. The Chrono Package featured the Launch-control system, which allowed the 2002 Boxster to cut an additional 0.1 seconds from the 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) time when compared with the regular PDK version, without the Chrono Package. For better handling, the Boxster was fitted as standard with Porsche Stability Management.

Porsche Boxster (2nd Gen) (987) Special Models

Several special edition cars were released during the second generation (987) Boxster. In November 2007, Porsche announced a commemorative RS60 Spyder edition of the Boxster to celebrate Porsche's 1960 win in the 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida. There were also a limited production Boxster S Porsche Design Edition 2 debuted in October 2008 as 2009 model which was basically a design exercise. Porsche unveiled its 2008 Limited Edition Boxster and Boxster S models that were inspired by the 2007 911 GT3 RS, with only 250 examples of each produced in brilliant orange. The most exciting special model was the Boxster Spyder. It was announced on 5 November 2009 and it was the lightest Porsche on the market at the time, weighing just 2,811 lbs (about 18- lbs lighter than a Boxster S). The lightweight diet made it an absolutely gem of a drive, especially with its sportier and firmer suspension setup and its inch lower ride height.

Porsche Boxster (3rd Gen) (981) Models

The standard Boxster was fitted with a new 2.7-litre flat-6 engine, and the Boxster S was fitted with the existing 3.4-litre engine but with revised performance. Both engines are equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox and an optional 7-speed reworked PDK. Both manual and automatic models were available with several technical options including Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) and a Sport Chrono Package. The range was expanded in March 2014 with the addition of the 2015 model year GTS. It got slightly altered front and rear bumpers, the GTS black treatment and 15 hp more power from the 3.4-litre engine. Add some tasty hardware as standard and this is our pick of the 981 Boxster variants.

Porsche Boxster (3rd Gen) (981) Special Models

Porsche unveiled the Boxster Spyder special edition in April 2015 at the New York Auto Show. The styling of the car was similar to the previous generation Spyder, continuing the twin hump rear deck and manually operated canvas top. It also shared some styling with the Cayman GT4, using the same front and rear fascia. The engine is also shared with the Cayman GT4, but mildly detuned. It is a 3.8 litre flat-6, making this the largest and most powerful engine used in a Boxster at the time, rated at 287 kW (385 hp). This allowed the car to attain a top speed of 290 km/h (180 mph). It was also the lightest Porsche in the model lineup at the time, weighing 1,315 kg (2,899 lb) and it was an absolutely cracking car to drive. A future classic for sure. The other special edition Boxster 981 was the Black Edition, which was basically a base 981 Boxster with black color treatments and some options thrown in as standard.

Porsche 718 Boxster (4th Gen) (982) Models

The 718 Boxster was introduced in January 2016, and premiered at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. The 718 featured two new horizontally-opposed flat-4 turbocharged engines at 2.0-litre (Boxster/Cayman) and 2.5-litre (Boxster S/Cayman S) displacement with increased torque and horsepower with lower fuel consumption. The S model turbocharger utilizes Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG) technology. The 718 T models were released for the 2020 model year as more sport-oriented versions of the base 718 models. Later in October 2017, the GTS models were announced with their 2.5-litre engines rated at 360 hp. Since 2020, the GTS 4.0 model has been offered for both 718 models. The new model features the 4.0-litre flat-6 from the Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder, however de-tuned to 394 hp.

Porsche 718 Boxster (4th Gen) (982) Special Models

To celebrate 25 years of the Boxster, Porsche announced a limited edition 718 Boxster 25 for the 2022 model year. Restricted to 1,250 units worldwide, the car is based on the GTS 4.0 model which makes it a very interesting proposition for the collector looking for something fun to drive too.

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