Word on the street is that Porsche went back to the drawing board on their 2013 Boxster, building from the ground up. While some of the standards will remain, after all they have been tweaking the Boxster for 15 years since its introduction as an affordable alternative to the 911, Porsche wanted something lighter, yet bigger. And that’s just what they’ve done.
The Boxster is the car that brought back a sinking Porsche in the 90s, so they didn’t want to completely scrap the design. There’s a reason that the Boxster has been an incredible success since its initial introduction and Porsche was looking to keep the trend rolling with the 2013 model. It still maintains the mid-engine layout and two seating cabin, but Porsche identified the new car as a move towards something more mature.
The new Porsche Boxster is all aluminum, which makes it lighter (by nearly 55 lbs), gives it better handling, and increases the fuel efficiency (Porsche says by 15%, though confirming tests have not yet been released). What’s more, the 2013 Boxster is nearly 3 inches longer than its predecessor, with longer wheel bases and increased and a roomier interior. It’s built for comfort and for practicality.
Offering either a 6 speed manual, or a 7 speed PDK, the new Boxster features a 2.7 liter, 265 horsepower engine that will get you from 0-60 in about 5.4 seconds, according to Porsche. The 2013 Boxster S features a 3.4 liter, 315 horsepower engine which can get from 0-60 in a breezy 4.7 seconds.
While the stock Boxster comes with 6 cylinders under the hood, there are also plans to offer a four cylinder version; an entry-level car. There’s little that is entry level about it though, as anyone who puts the pedal on the floor will attest to.
One of the improvements is a move from the old hydraulic steering system to an electro-hydraulic system, similar to what the new 911 carries. Though the old system was highly regarded and some consumers may complain about the change, Porsche insists that it has been improving the feel of the new system. Still, some complain that the former hydraulic steering system created more of a bond between car and driver, and that Porsche has sacrificed that for the sake of improvement.
Regardless of which camp is right, the simple fact remains that steering is exceptional. While the new steering system may have taken some of the road out of the feel, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There is much less vibration and the driver isn’t subjected to every jolt from a pebble in the road. There is ample with the new Porsche Boxster to bond the car with the driver. For those who have owned or own a Boxster, you know that the car offers much to love. The 2013 is no exception.
One thing that Porsche did not sacrifice though is cornering stability. The new 2013 Boxster has a wider chassis for increased stability and better handling. That means that it’s much easier to drive faster. Also added are active transmission mounts, like those in the 911. These are designed to either stiffen or relax, softening to keep the powertrain isolated in less aggressive driving, and stiffening when speed increases so that transmission movement won’t affect dynamics.
Porsche has also given the new Boxster a modified soft top which it says will cut noise drastically for those who drive with the top up. For those who prefer not to, the top will go down in the space of time it takes for a traffic light to change and can be operated at low speeds.
While there were rumors that Porsche might come out with a hybrid model of the Boxster, there seems to be little to confirm them. At present, drivers will have to make due with the added fuel economy that has been introduced, which increases its efficiency by approximately 15%. Probably a wise move on Porsche’s part as hybrid sports cars have seen little demand in recent years, outside of the fully electric Tesla motors rides.
Some small details include reshaping front and rear headlamps, changing out the running lights with LED lamps, enlarged front-fascia air intakes, and a bulkier fender. Add to that a new, stylish cockpit (it incorporates the 911’s center console and has been fitted with a high resolution display) and increased legroom, and the 2013 Porsche Boxster promises to be an enjoyable ride. For those who have owned a Boxster in the past, the 2013 Boxster is shaping up to be in a similar class. While some may not appreciate the subtle “delicacies” that have been incorporated in the latest design, starting at $50,000, it’s a good price for the only mid-engine sports car in its class.
The Boxster is the car that brought back a sinking Porsche in the 90s, so they didn’t want to completely scrap the design. There’s a reason that the Boxster has been an incredible success since its initial introduction and Porsche was looking to keep the trend rolling with the 2013 model. It still maintains the mid-engine layout and two seating cabin, but Porsche identified the new car as a move towards something more mature.
The new Porsche Boxster is all aluminum, which makes it lighter (by nearly 55 lbs), gives it better handling, and increases the fuel efficiency (Porsche says by 15%, though confirming tests have not yet been released). What’s more, the 2013 Boxster is nearly 3 inches longer than its predecessor, with longer wheel bases and increased and a roomier interior. It’s built for comfort and for practicality.
Offering either a 6 speed manual, or a 7 speed PDK, the new Boxster features a 2.7 liter, 265 horsepower engine that will get you from 0-60 in about 5.4 seconds, according to Porsche. The 2013 Boxster S features a 3.4 liter, 315 horsepower engine which can get from 0-60 in a breezy 4.7 seconds.
While the stock Boxster comes with 6 cylinders under the hood, there are also plans to offer a four cylinder version; an entry-level car. There’s little that is entry level about it though, as anyone who puts the pedal on the floor will attest to.
One of the improvements is a move from the old hydraulic steering system to an electro-hydraulic system, similar to what the new 911 carries. Though the old system was highly regarded and some consumers may complain about the change, Porsche insists that it has been improving the feel of the new system. Still, some complain that the former hydraulic steering system created more of a bond between car and driver, and that Porsche has sacrificed that for the sake of improvement.
Regardless of which camp is right, the simple fact remains that steering is exceptional. While the new steering system may have taken some of the road out of the feel, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There is much less vibration and the driver isn’t subjected to every jolt from a pebble in the road. There is ample with the new Porsche Boxster to bond the car with the driver. For those who have owned or own a Boxster, you know that the car offers much to love. The 2013 is no exception.
One thing that Porsche did not sacrifice though is cornering stability. The new 2013 Boxster has a wider chassis for increased stability and better handling. That means that it’s much easier to drive faster. Also added are active transmission mounts, like those in the 911. These are designed to either stiffen or relax, softening to keep the powertrain isolated in less aggressive driving, and stiffening when speed increases so that transmission movement won’t affect dynamics.
Porsche has also given the new Boxster a modified soft top which it says will cut noise drastically for those who drive with the top up. For those who prefer not to, the top will go down in the space of time it takes for a traffic light to change and can be operated at low speeds.
While there were rumors that Porsche might come out with a hybrid model of the Boxster, there seems to be little to confirm them. At present, drivers will have to make due with the added fuel economy that has been introduced, which increases its efficiency by approximately 15%. Probably a wise move on Porsche’s part as hybrid sports cars have seen little demand in recent years, outside of the fully electric Tesla motors rides.
Some small details include reshaping front and rear headlamps, changing out the running lights with LED lamps, enlarged front-fascia air intakes, and a bulkier fender. Add to that a new, stylish cockpit (it incorporates the 911’s center console and has been fitted with a high resolution display) and increased legroom, and the 2013 Porsche Boxster promises to be an enjoyable ride. For those who have owned a Boxster in the past, the 2013 Boxster is shaping up to be in a similar class. While some may not appreciate the subtle “delicacies” that have been incorporated in the latest design, starting at $50,000, it’s a good price for the only mid-engine sports car in its class.
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