Porsche Boxster News

Jaguar has laid claim to the title of World Car of the Year with its high-riding F-Pace, as three SUV models occupied the top placings for 2017.

Porsche has updated its entire 2017 model range, adding new connectivity features, exterior colour options and offering a power boost in 911 S models.

Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) has issued a recall for 239 Boxster, Cayman and 911 Carreras sold in Australia due to a possible loose screw connection on the fuel collection pipes.

BMW’s upcoming roadster, rumoured to be called the Z5, has been caught cold weather testing in the Arctic Circle ahead of its expected 2018 global debut.

Australian new car market roars to new sales heights, but post-election blues may put brakes on in back half of 2016

Porsche 718 Boxster has arrived in Australia to the delight of all Porsche enthusiasts, especially those who can't afford a 911. The new '718' title is in recognition of the Porsche 718 sportscars that were victorious in races during the 1950s and '60s. It also ties in with the title of the Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid supercar.Though technically not an all-new model the Porsche 718 Boxster has significantly revised styling, retuned suspension and steering, and most importantly all-new four-cylinder engines that produce significantly more power and torque, yet create fewer emissions than the superseded flat-sixes.The 718 Boxster has a 2.0-litre flat-four that develops 220kW of power and 380Nm of torque. The 718 Boxster S has 25 per cent more capacity at 2.5 litres and produces 257kW and 420Nm. The 'S' engine's turbocharger variable turbine geometry (VTG) is similar to that in the Porsche 911 Turbo.Peak torque from the 2.0-litre is there all the way from 1950 to 4500 rpm. The 2.5-litre comes in even lower, at 1900 revs and also continues to 4500 rpm.Both Porsche 718 models come with a seven-speed manual gearbox, the Porsche DoppelKupplungsgetriebe (PDK) dual-clutch is an option. Acceleration of the 718 Boxsters is stunning. The 2.0-litre with PDK transmission and the, optional, Sport Chrono Package gets from zero to 100 km/h in 4.7 secs. That's 0.8 secs faster than the superseded model. Boxster 718 S in the same configuration takes only 4.2 seconds (0.6 secs faster) to get to 100km/h. Should you do some track work, or happen to be in the Northern Territory you may be able to reach 275 km/h in the 718 Boxster, the Boxster S gets to 285km/h. The only visible parts shared by the 718 and the previous Boxster are the luggage compartment lids, the windscreen and the convertible roof. The air inlets in the sides are larger than before and the door panels have two fins to give a dynamic side profile. However, the appearance of the new car is certainly familiar. Porsche has previously been in strife with purists after making what are seen as body radical changes, so this conservative approach is probably wise.A new dash design houses the latest generation of Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with a state-of-the-art touchscreen. It has mobile phone compatability, audio interfaces, navigation and voice control as standard. Porsche engineers have given Boxster 718 a completely retuned chassis and the electro-mechanical steering system is 10 per cent more direct. The optional Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) has a 10 mm lower ride height and, for the first time, PASM with a 20 mm lower ride height is available as an option for the 718 Boxster S.The Sport Chrono Package, again an extra cost option, now provides an Individual program in addition to the three settings Normal, Sport and Sport Plus. On the road the first thing we noticed was the sound and beat of the engine. Slightly uneven in nature it has exactly the sort of note to make even boring traffic driving feel just that little bit better.We delighted in the big spread of torque that's seemingly endless in the way it propels the 718 along. Hilly driving was a feature of the road program laid out by Porsche Australia where we tested the new Boxsters in the areas behind the north coast of NSW then Brisbane. We finished up at the Mount Cotton driver training centre where we were allowed to push the German sports cars to their max.These days automatics are often quicker than manuals. Call me old fashioned, but I still prefer DIY gearshifting although I have to admit the super-sharp PDK changes are a delight when you're going hard. The shift action on the manual is short and has an excellent feel.Handling of the new 718 is superb in all conditions, with near perfect balance thanks to the mid mounting of the engine. The new steering setup really does seem to sense the driver's needs under all circumstances. It's a bit of a cliche to say the car 'talks' to you, but it really does feel like that, particularly if you want to push it along. A perfect car for that legendary Sunday drive on your favourite road. 

Porsche's deep-breathing soft-top gets the maker's first turbo four in 40 years.

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/380NmPurists 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 

Although the new engine won't debut until the two-seaters are in their next generations, Porsche CEO, Matthias Müller, told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport magazine the models would follow the Porsche 919 Hybrid race car's footsteps and continue the downsizing trend.The racecar uses a four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, however it adopts a unique 'V' design whereas Muller insists the new road car engine will use Porsche's trademark flat 'boxer' layout.  "We will continue with the downsizing strategy and develop a new four-cylinder boxer engine which will see service in the next-generation Boxster and Cayman," said Müller.The engine is being conceived in an effort to reduce the average CO2 emissions of Porsche vehicles, according to Müller. "We will not separate ourselves from efforts to reduce CO2," he said. However, hybrid versions of the Cayenne SUV and Panamera are still expected to remain the German marque's most efficient vehicles.Normally a smaller engine would indicate a smaller price tag however this isn't likely to be the case with the new Porsches as Muller says the new power plant could produce "up to 395hp," or 295kW in our currency. That's significantly more than even the recently revealed GTS variants of both the Boxster and Cayman, which produce 243kW and 250kW respectively.The four-pot is expected to use direct and in-direct fuel injection, plus turbocharging technologies to cut emissions while improving power and efficiency over the outgoing 2.7 and 3.4-litre naturally flat six engines used by the current Boxster and Cayman.It is understood that the new four-cylinder boxer will be used uniquely by Porsche and not shared across the VW Group's vast brand portfolio. Because of the Porsche twins' unique mid-engine layout and specific packaging requirements the engine couldn't be used by other manufacturers, nor would it be used in the Audi Q5-based Macan SUV.However, if Audi commits to building a sub-R8 mid-engine sports car then the engine and chassis technology would likely be shared between the two brands. The new four-cylinder sports cars from Stuttgart aren't due to be released until the end of this decade. 

The new GTS variants of both Boxster and Cayman will debut at New York motor show in April, but Porsche has previewed the cars and some of their details ahead of the unveiling.The range-topping GTS versions carry uprated tunes of the shared mid-mounted 3.4-litre six-cylinder in the Boxster S and Cayman S, with power upped 11kW and torque 10Nm to 243kW/370Nm for the Boxster and 250kW/380Nm for the Cayman.There's an acceleration benefit of 0.3 seconds for each car in the 0-100km/h sprint, with the figures given for the seven-speed dual clutch auto versions claiming the Cayman GTS logs 4.6 seconds and the Boxster GTS 4.7 seconds, with top speeds of 285km/h and 281km/h respectively.Standard equipment includes active suspension management and the Sport Chrono pack, allowing the driver to dial up the ride, engine, throttle and steering settings for anything between a comfortable cruise to track day characteristics.Visual cues includes black 20-inch wheels and similarly dark accents for the badging, headlights and taillights, twin central exhaust tips, and reshaped front and rear fascia. The Porsche Boxster GTS and Cayman GTS will launch in overseas markets in May, but it will be at least three or four more months before we see them here. Expect to pay an extra whack -- yet to be announced -- 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