Porsche Boxster GTS | video

Porsche is taking the official wraps off new GTS variants of the Boxster and Cayman at New York motor show on April 18, but is trickling out information ahead of the event. We've already been given information about the engines and technology the new range-topping variants will carry, and Porsche is now letting us listen to how that tinkering will sound, with a video of the Boxster GTS in action.

What you can hear is its uprated version of the mid-mounted 3.4-litre six-cylinder used in the Boxster S with power upped 11kW and torque 10Nm to 243kW/370Nm. The Cayman gets the same treatment, with the results being 250kW/380Nm

Purists will probably deplore the use of music in the video, arguing that a Porsche engine needs no further soundtrack help. But while in places the music masks the engine, there's still enough clear air left to give a decent idea of the sound.

And it looks the business, with the black badging, wheels and light cluster accents setting off restyled front and rear bumpers and the twin central exhausts.

Porsche says the new variants also shave 0.3 seconds in the 0-100km/h sprint, with the Cayman GTS notching 4.6 seconds and the Boxster GTS 4.7 seconds, although those times are for the seven-speed dual clutch auto, not the manual versions.

Under their skins they feature standard equipment that is usually an expensive option, including active suspension management and the Sport Chrono pack that work to let you select ride, engine, throttle and steering settings depending on whether you're heading for a track day or a cafe cruise.

The Boxster and Cayman GTS will hit overseas showrooms just weeks after their New York show debut, but are not expected to arrive here until after mid-year, with the price tags sitting somewhere above the S models: $126,500 (man) and $131,490 (auto) for the Boxster S and $139,900 (man) and $144,890 (auto) for the Cayman S.

This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott