New Porsche 718 Boxster: price, specifications and release date

Having announced the car last year, Porsche has released further details – including prices – of the all-new four-cylinder Porsche 718 Boxster, along with the first-ever pictures of the car. You'll be able to catch a glimpse of the new car in the metal, as well as further details at this year's Geneva Motor Show.

Porsche 718 Boxster engines

Dubbed the 718 Boxster as a homage to the Porsche 718 racer of the fifties and sixties, this is the first Boxster to use an engine with less than six cylinders. The entry-level model will use a turbocharged 2.0-litre flat-four petrol, which produces 296bhp, while its more powerful sibling – the 718 Boxster S – manages 345bhp from its turbocharged 2.5-litre flat-four petrol.

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Efficiency

Although there’s been much uproar from enthusiasts about the Boxster switching from six to four cylinders, there’s no doubting that, on paper, it makes sense. Not only are the new engines more powerful than the equivalent versions of the current models, they’re more efficient, too.

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When equipped with Porsche’s PDK twin-clutch automatic gearbox, the entry-level 718 Boxster will return around 41mpg and the S approximately 39mpg. This equates to an improvement of around four and five miles per gallon respectively.

Performance

As well as improvements in power and efficiency, the new cars are quicker than their forebears, too. The standard 718 Boxster will complete the 0-62mph sprint in just 4.7 seconds – eight tenths quicker than its predecessor – while the S manages the same in just 4.2 seconds – a six-tenths improvement.

Design

This latest Boxster follows Porsche’s somewhat conservative design ethos and, if we’re honest, most people will be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the two. The shape will be recognisable to those familiar with the current Boxster, but there are some detail changes if you look closer.

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At the front, the air intakes are larger than before, while the headlights are much sharper and the LED strips in which the indicators and daytime running lights sit are much more slender than the current version. The doors also get larger air intakes, while the car now sits on larger 19-inch alloys.

It’s at the back, however, that most of the changes have taken place. Porsche has been at great pains to make this new Boxster appear wider than its predecessor. It’s achieved this by redesigning the rear lights and connecting them together using an ‘accent strip’ – a la the 911 – while the Porsche badge and name have been moved to just below the small rear spoiler.

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Interior

Again, changes in the Porsche 718 Boxster’s cabin have been incremental, rather than wholesale. There are new air vents, a new steering wheel and, most importantly, the same new Porsche Communication Management touchscreen infotainment system that we’ve already tried in the latest Porsche 911. This adds Bluetooth phone connectivity, a more powerful sound system and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

Options

As with most Porsches, you can spec the new Boxster with the company’s Active Suspension Management system, which lowers the standard car’s ride height by 10mm and the 718 Boxster S’ by 20mm. The company also claims that the revised car has been engineered for improved responsiveness and comfort compared to the current model.

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As with many other Porsches, you can also specify the Sport Chrono package which, when coupled with the PDK automatic gearbox, significantly improves acceleration times. You also get a choice of driving modes: Normal, Sport and Sport Plus, as well as an individual setting. There’s a Sport Response button on the dashboard, too – this makes the throttle react even more sharply than before.

Price and release date

The new car is due to be released soon – certainly in the first half of 2016 – with prices for the standard version starting at £41,739. The 718 Boxster S costs a fair whack more, starting at £50,695.

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While this has yet to be confirmed, we expect further details of the hard-top Porsche 718 Cayman to be revealed soon. It should have very similar specification to the Boxster.