Review: Porsche 718 Boxster (2016-on)

Overview

Released in Australia in mid-2016, the Porsche 718 Boxster was a two-door convertible with a power-operated soft-top roof. Manufactured in Stuttgart, Germany, the rear-wheel drive 718 Boxster and Boxster S were powered by 2.0- and 2.5-litre horizontally-opposed petrol engines, respectively.

The Porsche 718 Boxster GTS was available to order from October 2017, with deliveries commencing in March 2018.

DDP and DDN engines

For the 718 Boxster, the 1988 cc DDP four-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine had an aluminium alloy block with a 91.0 mm bore and 76.4 mm stroke, in which the cylinder liners were coated in iron via a plasma beam (‘rotating single wire’ or RSW). Other features of the DDP engine included an aluminium alloy cylinder head with double overhead camshafts, ‘VarioCam Plus’ for variable intake and exhaust valve timing and lift, four valves per cylinder, direct injection via centrally positioned injectors at a pressure of up to 250 bar, cross-flow cooling, integrated dry sump lubrication and a compression ratio of 9.5:1. For the 718 Boxster S, however, the 2497 cc DDN engine had an extended bore of 102.0 mm. To reduce fuel consumption, both the DDP and DDN engines had an ‘auto start/stop’ function that would shut down the engine when the vehicle was stationary in traffic.

For the 718 Boxster, the turbocharger had a 50 mm diameter turbine wheel, 58 mm diameter compressor wheel and provided maximum boost pressure of 1.4 bar. For the 718 Boxster S, however, the turbocharger had a 55 mm diameter turbine wheel, 64 mm diameter compressor wheel and provided maximum charge pressure of 1.0 bar. The Boxster S also had variable turbine geometry in which adjustable vanes controlled the flow of exhaust gases onto the turbine wheels. At low engine speeds, the vanes would be nearly closed to build boost pressure and torque more quickly and, at high engine speeds, the guide vanes would open for greater flow.

The lateral air intakes behind the doors were used for induction of process air and for indirect intercooling. To reduce the temperature of the charged air, a heat exchanger was positioned on top of the engine and cooled using an auxiliary loop of the cooling system

When the Sport or Sport Plus modes were activated, the turbocharger could be ‘pre-conditioned’ in part-load situations by closing the bypass valve, retarding ignition timing and slightly opening the throttle – according to Porsche, this maintained momentary drive torque while increasing air throughput through the engine and charge pressure. When the driver applied full throttle, the higher charge pressure provided greater torque. The extent of ‘pre-conditioning’ differed according to whether Sport or Sport Plus drive modes were engaged.

The ‘Dynamic Boost’ function was activated when the driver briefly removed their foot from the accelerator pedal after full acceleration by keeping the throttle wide open and only stopping petrol injection – this prevented charge pressure from dropping completely for greater torque when the accelerator was depressed. In Normal mode, the Dynamic Boost function also improved engine response in quick throttle alternations, albeit with lesser effect.

Maximum engine speed for the DDP and DDN engines was 7500 rpm. According to Porsche, the 718 Boxster and Boxster S had top speeds of 275 km/h and 285 km/h, respectively. For the Boxster GTS, changes included a ‘newly developed intake duct and further engine optimisations’.

Dimensions and styling

Compared to the Porsche 981 Boxster , the 718 Boxster was 5 mm longer (at 4379 mm) and 1 mm lower (1281 mm), but width (1801 mm) and wheelbase length (2475 mm) were unchanged. Similarly, the 718 Boxster’s soft top roof had a magnesium-framed structure and could be operated at speeds of up to 50 km/h.

Compared to the 981 Boxster , the 718 Boxster could be identified by its larger front air intakes for enhanced cooling, new bi-xenon headlights, omission of the door handle recess covers, new rear side panel and sill, new tail-lights with three-dimensional LED technology and four-point brake lights. Inside, the 718 Boxster had a new dash panel and the latest generation of ‘Porsche Communication Management’ (PCM) with navigation and touch screen.

Suspension and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM)

The Porsche 718 Boxster had MacPherson strut suspension front and rear. According to Porsche, the 718 Boxster introduced rebound buffer springs for the front axle.

Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) was fitted as standard for the Boxster GTS and available as an extra-cost option for the Boxster and Boxster S. With continuously adjustable shock absorbers and a pair of accelerometers, PASM enabled the driver to select from Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and ‘Individual’ settings. For the Boxster GTS, PASM reduced the ride height by 10 mm; for the Boxster S, ride height was reduced by 20 mm.

Steering

The Porsche 718 Boxster had rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assistance in which the ratio varied from 15.0:1 to 12.4:1; its turning circle was 10.98 metres.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Porsche 718 Boxster includes dual front airbags, front seat-mounted thorax airbags, front door-mounted head-protecting airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

As standard, the 718 Boxster was equipped with a ‘multi-collision brake’ function which, after an initial collision, would automatically apply the brakes for controlled deceleration – this reduced vehicle speed and therefore the severity of any subsequent collision. The operation of multi-collision brake, however, could be over-ridden by the driver.

As an extra-cost option, the 718 Boxster could be specified with Porsche’s ‘Lane change assist’.

Tyres and brakes

The 718 Boxster had 8.0 J x 18-inch front wheels with 235/45 ZR18 tyres and 9.5J x 18-inch rear wheels with 265/45 ZR18 rear tyres. The Boxster S, however, had 8.0J x 19-inch front wheels with 235/40 ZR19 tyres and 10.0J x 19-inch rear wheels with 265/40 ZR19 tyres.

The standard braking package for the Porsche 718 Boxster consisted of 330 mm by 28 mm ventilated front brake discs and 299 mm by 20 mm ventilated rear discs; both the front and rear brakes had fixed, four-piston aluminium monoblock fixed calipers. The Boxster S had 300 mm by 34 mm ventilated front brake discs.

As an extra-cost option, the 718 Boxster could be specified with Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes which measured 350 mm by 34 mm (front) and 350 mm by 28 mm (rear), and included six-piston calipers for the front axle.

Features: Porsche 718 Boxster and Boxster S

Standard features for the 718 Boxster included the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) including navigation module and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, a 110 watt sound system with six speakers and digital radio tuner (Porsche’s ‘Sound Package Plus’), dual-zone climate control air conditioning, front sports seats with fourteen-way power adjustment and memory settings, heated seats, cruise control, bi-xenon headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS), dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with heating, remote central locking, power adjustable and heated door mirrors, power windows, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, a wind deflector, trip computer, tyre pressure monitoring, an alarm and immobiliser.

Features: Porsche 718 Boxster GTS

Compared to the Boxster S, the Boxster GTS was fitted as standard with:

• Porsche’s Sport Chrono Package with selectable drive settings (see below);
• Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with mechanical rear differential lock; and,
• Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) which lowered the body by 10 mm.

Inside, the Boxster GTS featured two-way power adjustable front sports seats with Alcantara centre panels, GTS logos on the headrests, and Alcantara trim for the steering wheel, centre console and armrests.

Visually, the Porsche 718 Boxster GTS could be identified by its new ‘Sport Design’ front bumper, black-tinted front light clusters and bi-xenon headlights, 20-inch wheels painted in black (satin finish) and black GTS logos at the base of the doors. At the rear, the Boxster GTS had tinted tail lights, black logos, a black lower bumper and centrally positioned black tailpipes.

Sport Chrono Package and ‘Sport Response’ button

As an extra-cost option, the 718 Boxster could be specified with a Sport Chrono Package which enabled the driver to select from Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual settings; ‘Individual’ enabled the driver to separately program settings for PASM, the sport exhaust system, auto start/stop function and rear spoiler via a menu in the instrument cluster.

For models with the PDK, the Sport Chrono Package also included a ‘Sport Response’ button. Pressing the ‘Sport Response’ button prepared the engine and transmission for “spontaneous responsiveness’ for 20 seconds. At part-load, the wastegate of the turbocharger was closed so that charge pressure would be generated more quickly. When the ‘Sport Response’ button was pressed, the PDK would also downshift and engage a special shifting map which had higher shift points than Sport Plus.

Related links

• Porsche Cars Australia: Porsche Boxster