Porsche have unveiled a limited edition model to celebrate the Boxster turning 25 years old, so we have taken a look back at the history of this fantastic portmanteau of “boxer” and “roadster”, the Porsche Boxster.
The Porsche Boxster joined the Porsche family in 1996 when the model went into production. The production model was a very close resemblance to the concept car that appeared in Detroit in 1993. The design language was a nod to the 550 Spyder and the 718 RS 60 Spyder and was so well received that the Executive Board halted any design development, and so the Porsche Boxster as we know it, was born.
The model was aimed at a younger audience of Porsche customers and marked the re-orientation of the Porsche model strategy. The aim was to make a relatively inexpensive roadster and to find the most efficient way to build the car to save the company money. The U-turn in thinking from Porsche, compared to when they were making the 924, 944 and 968 911 models, has led to the Boxster often being referred to as the model that “saved” Porsche. Porsche didn’t lose their way while trying to make a new model to fit into a new market however. You could identify the new sports car as a Porsche by the front end, which mirrored that of the 996 generation 911, but the first Porsche water-cooled flat six 2.5-litre engine created its own identity when the boxer engine met the roadster to make the Boxster. The Boxster was the best selling Porsche for the marque until the Cayenne SUV came out in 2003.
Between the first 986 model and the 25 year model, Porsche has made three generations of the iconic convertible. The 2004 Paris Motorshow saw the announcement of the 987 Boxster model with a 2.7-litre engine which reached 239 PS. When the 2008 facelifted Boxster was announced, it had increased the engine size to 2.9-litres and the exterior changes included a lower rear with twin diffusers, larger front air intakes and new head and tail lights.
The next generation of the Boxster, the 981 saw a complete change to the body style to be more in keeping with the style and muscularity of the 911. The 981 was announced in 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show and included optional extras such as a Sport Chrono Package for even better performance and speed. This generation also saw the inclusion of the GTS model line which had a more sporty body style and a 3.4-litre engine.
In 2016, the Boxster engine had a change of tact and the naturally aspirated flat-6 engine was dropped in place of a turbocharged flat-4 engine, which was marketed as the 718 instead of the 982. The 718 looked similar to the 981 but with more defined characteristics on the lights and rear with a lip between the two taillights.
The 718 was met with mixed feedback from Porsche enthusiasts who claimed the 981 was the last of the “real” Boxsters, but the reviews spoke for themselves when the 718 was reviewed as being faster and with better steering to make driving more enjoyable by big motoring names such as Top Gear. In 2020, the six-cylinder engine was reinstated to welcome the GTS 4.0 naturally aspirated boxer engine, much to many Porsche enthusiast’s delight!
And the special edition doesn’t just look the part. The 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine puts out 400 PS and has a top speed of 293 km/h. More than enough power for a roadster.
To ensure a sporty and dynamic drive, the special edition also comes with Porsche Active Suspension Management sports suspension (PASM), which is 10 millimetres lower, and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with mechanical limited-slip differential. This model represents everything sporty, fun and stylish about the Porsche Boxster and perfectly celebrates 25 years of this fantastic Porsche model.
If you would like more information about the Porsche Boxster or the Boxster 25 Years, please contact your local Porsche Centre for more information and one of the team will be happy to assist you.
