The 2013 Porsche Boxster S, the spiritual successor to the 550 Spyder, is here in town and is all-new for 2013.
The venerable Porsche Boxster has been around for 16 years and in that time it has gained a reputation for holding its own amongst the best drivers’ car. Unfortunately, it has also lived with the stigma of being slightly feminine and has played second fiddle to the 911. Recently, we took the wheel of the all-new 2013 Porsche Boxster S to gauge whether this fair-weather friend resonates its past or whether it’s here to make a statement of the revolutionary kind.
DESIGN & AESTHETICS
The changes to exteriors may seem academic and it takes a keen eye to spot the differences. But with each iteration, the Boxster seems to look better. The headlamp cluster is reminiscent of those on the Carrera GT, Porsche’s V10 supercar from way back in 2004. The very short overhangs and wheel arch-filling optional 20-inch wheels give the car a planted stance. The rear spoiler which has been interestingly infused into the boot lid and lights, and the dual exhaust pipes add to the charming rear end.
The Boxster is not butch like the Dodge Challenger or Batman’s Tumbler, but it has grown up to be likable by people of either gender. In most eyes, the 981 is considered to be the best looking Boxster yet.
For the statistically inclined, there is need to mention that the wheel base has been extended by 60 mm, and the track has been increased by 40 mm and 18 mm, front and rear respectively. The overall weight has been reduced by 30 kg and the centre of gravity has been dropped by 6 mm.
Slip inside the cabin and be welcomed by a beautiful yet functional interior. The classic three-spoke steering wheel with aluminium accents is borrowed from the 911 and the dash and busy centre console is Panamera-insipired. The ignition switch finds its place on the left side of the steering column; this pays direct homage to Porsche’s successful heritage at Le Mans.
Getting in and out of the car is a bit of a hassle. However, you’d be surprised how a 6ft frame can be seated comfortably; no yoga postures required. The 14-way power adjustable sports seats helps plenty in making that happen. The leather upholstery that wraps the seat is soft, supple and is impeccably crafted.
POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
Power comes from a 3.4-litre horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine. This “boxer” engine really knows how to throw a few punches and loves to be revved to the 7,800 rpm redline. It is mated to a 7-speed PDK i.e. Porsche’s very own double-clutch transmission. Peak power is rated at 315 horses and peak torque at 360 Nm. With launch control activated, 4.8 seconds is all it would take to catapult this roadster from a standstill to a 100 km/h.
If the Boxster was to play cards, we’d say ‘throttle response’ would be its trump. Power is easily accessible throughout the rev-range and with urgency. It is accompanied by the metallic howl of the flat-6. The soundtrack leaves you insatiable, in a good way.
The general consensus about the new electro-mechanical power steering is that steering feel and feedback has dropped a notch, while steering accuracy has been retained. We nod our heads to that, but all that is trumped by the fact that this baby Porsche is a ‘point and go’ machine. Turn-in is precise and steering angle can be very easily modulated with slight inputs of the throttle. It’s, basically, a Scalextric car for the mature.
PASM, Porsche Torque Vectoring system, dynamic engine mounts and other technologies, all work in parallel to keep the car on the road and with composure.
Braking effect and feel is almost race car-like. It comes courtesy of 6-piston callipers upfront and 4-piston callipers at the rear, both painted in yellow.
You might zip through traffic but you can’t escape what is beneath you, the undulations on the road surfaces do send irritable reverberations through the low profile tyres onto the suspension bits and finally down your spine; not a particularly pleasant feeling.
Another niggle we faced was that even in normal mode, blipping the throttle would allow the transmission to kick down a few gears, which is great. But it would hold lower gears for too long, it would get annoying at times.
With a 64-litre tank capacity and a very frugal fuel economy of 8 litre/100km (claimed) you can easily top 500 kilometres on a single tank. Helping it achieve that figure is the start/stop technology which switches off the engine, if it idles for more than a few seconds. The system itself needs some getting-used-to but can be turned off, if need be.
FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
Even with the small dimensions of the Boxster the parking sensors do help, but the presence of a rear camera is greatly missed, especially in this Dh286,000 test car. The sound quality from the 8-channel, 10-speaker 445 Watt Bose system is top-notch but you rather let it fade into the background while the Boxster S plays its glorious exhaust note. There is a USB port and Bluetooth connectivity for quick music fixes.
With the press of a button you can go from being cocooned to viewing open skies in 9 seconds. Now, that’s a rocket ship in terms of convertibility. If you don’t wish to work your tan, leave the top on and crank up the very efficient air-conditioner and the ventilated seats and let it cool your back and bottom. The winters, however, work much in favour of the baby Porsche’s soft-top, your skin and some wind-in-your-hair experience. However, it is recommended that you switch off the air-conditioner with the top down to avoid condensation on the dash and sweaty hands.
With the engine bolted between the axles, you get a surprising amount of cargo space both in the front and rear trunk, enough for your weekend’s grocery shopping and not much more.
Like in a couture house that tends to the fashionably dressed, Porsche allows its customers to customise almost every aspect of their cars. Red seatbelts, emblem embossed seats, carbon-fibre trim interiors… anyone?
VERDICT
The 2013 Porsche Boxster S is a full-blown sports car with a fair bit of racing DNA embedded in it. It has done away with the “girl’s car” moniker and is no longer the poor man’s 911, given the price and the performance pegged to it. If you are looking for a full-fledged GT experience, look elsewhere; if not, the
Boxster S is a compelling alibi for you to get a sporty convertible.
FUN FACTS
The new Boxster S laps the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 58 seconds — 12 seconds faster than its predecessor
GOOD – Styling; Performance; Affordable base price; Usable soft-top; Build quality; Sonorous exhaust note
BAD – Harsh ride; Expensive options
EDITOR’S RATING – 8.5/10
SPECIFICATIONS
Body type – 2-door sports car, convertible
Engine – Mid-engine; 3.4-litre flat-6; rear-wheel drive
Transmission – 7-speed PDK (automated manual)
Peak output – 315 bhp @ 6,700 rpm; 360 Nm @ 4,500 – 5,800 rpm
0 to 100km/h – 4.8 seconds (with Launch Control)
Top speed – 277 km/h
Price – Starting from AED 217,100
Source: Wknd magazine, Khaleej Times
