2012 Porsche Boxster revealed

For the first time the Porsche Boxster looks more like a serious sports car than a softer and scaled-down 911 for people who cannot afford the real thing.

The 2012 model just revealed by Porsche has had a much bigger visual makeover than the latest all-new 991-series 911 and now trumpets a look that could have been inspired by the Carrera GT. It likely points towards the final bodywork on Porsche's next all-out supercar, the 918.

"In relative terms, the Boxster is almost a bigger change than the 911. The car has evolved and it will enjoy all the changes that have come with the 911 platform," Michael Winkler, managing director of Porsche Cars Australia, tells Carsguide.

"If you remember the refinements of the 991, you can see what to expect. In the context of the class, it will be a sensational car."

The new Boxster is longer and wider than the outgoing car, with two engine choices as usual to power the regular car and the S. The starter motor has shrunk to just 2.7 litres but Porsche claims more power - 195 kiloWatts - and torque with similar direct fuel injection to the 911, while the S comes with an unchanged 3.4 that is up slightly to 232 kiloWatts.

The manual gearbox is a six-speed, chopped a cog from the 911, but the PDK manumatic is now a seven-speeder and Porsche says it helps the Boxster S to hit 100km/h in 5.0 seconds. Porsche also claims a 15 per cent economy improvement with consumption as low as 7.9 litres/100km.

The car is lighter than the current car, has a longer wheelbase, bigger wheels and electric power steering - the one 911 change that has not been universally praised.

As part of the body work, Porsche has given the cabin a total makeover and there is more space and a similar look and feel to the 911. The folding roof is fully electric and there is no top on the compartment lid in the tail.

"The car is stretched and it has the same interior dimensions as the 911," says Winkler. There is a Sport Chrono package on the options' list, as well as Porsche Torque Vectoring with a mechanical differential lock Sales of the Boxster make up a quarter of Australian deliveries, and half of the sports car volume, and Winkler recognises its importance when sales begin around June.

"The Cayman is a bit further down the track still, but it's safe to assme there will be one," he admits.

Winkler refuses to discuss the showroom stickers, even though the strength of the Australian dollar points towards a no-change deal for 2012 or a relatively small increase from the $106,100 and $132,400 of today's Boxster and S. "We're not talking about the pricing yet," Winkler says.