From city to rolling dunes, we absolutely love a car that would take us from one backdrop to the next with ease. And when we had the chance to take the all-new Porsche 718 Boxster out for a spin, there was no stopping us. With the wind in our hair, and the music blaring from the speakers, we hit the open road and made our way from the Al-Bida’a’s glistening beach-front to the scenic desert of the Mutla’a Ridge along the 7th Ring Road. If we had to pick just one word for how the car drives, that word would be, without a doubt, flawlessly.
When the Boxster first made its debut twenty years ago, it was the sports car to look out for. Keeping that same ethos and feel, the new generation models – now known as the 718 Boxster and 718 Boxster S – are now more powerful and more fuel efficient. With that, Porsche are continuing the tradition of four-cylinder flat engines in its 718 mid-engine sports cars. Now, with all the technological advances and upgrades to the engine, the 718 Boxster is smoother than ever.
The completely new chassis tuning and stronger brakes provide for passionate and sporty driving pleasure. Our Lava Orange 718 Boxster glistened gloriously against the sparkling blue of the sea at Bida’a. And don’t even get us started on how it looked alongside the rolling highway and the sand dunes at the end. Getting to ride the 718 Boxster from dawn till dusk and watching the color transform under the different lighting conditions and backdrops was astounding. The design of the new model line has also been comprehensively advanced – apart from the luggage compartment lids, windscreen and soft top, everything else is new. Inside, a newly designed instrument panel redefines the cockpit. In addition, the latest generation of Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with a state-of-the-art touchscreen is included as standard. The navigation module is available as an option.
In the 718 Boxster, Porsche introduces two completely new four-cylinder flat engines with turbocharging. Their power and efficiency have been increased significantly compared to the previous engines. A bundle of innovations also ensures typical Porsche driving pleasure.
Another innovation is indirect intercooling. To avoid having to change the design and aerodynamics of the 718 Boxster, the turbo engines use the lateral air intakes behind the doors to obtain their process air and now for indirect intercooling as well. The temperature is reduced by an auxiliary loop of the cooling system. This involves the use of a heat exchanger above the engine. In this heat exchanger, the compressed air from the turbocharger gives off some of its heat to the circulating coolant. The liquid then flows through one radiator per air intake.
The newly developed exhaust system guarantees the passionate sound experience that is typical of Porsche. In the 718 Boxster, the exhaust gases flow through a system with a single oval tailpipe made of brushed stainless steel.
The 718 models come with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) is available as an option. To improve fuel efficiency, the PDK has the further advanced auto start/stop function, which already shuts off the engine when the car is coasting to a stop. The PDK also features virtual gears that save fuel. When driving at a constant speed, the controller chooses the highest possible gear. To stabilize engine revs and prevent jolts due to running at revs that are too low, the clutch of the relevant gear is disengaged slightly to allow a slight amount of slip.
The new roadsters are also impressive in their agile driving dynamics. The completely new chassis tuning once again improves cornering speeds of the mid-engine sports cars. Higher stabilizer and spring rates keep rolling and pitching motions as slight as possible. This further enhances ride comfort in the 718 Boxster. The tuning also increases solidity and improves spring rebound on both small and large road bumps. The electromechanical steering, whose layout is ten per cent more direct, makes control of the 718 Boxster even more agile and easier to handle both on circuit tracks and in everyday traffic.
The restyled rear body of the 718 Boxster has a stronger presence – especially due to the accent strip with integrated Porsche badge between the tail lights. The additional edge at the height of the reflectors also contributes to this effect. The rear body also has a sharper design. The completely redesigned lights stand out thanks to their three-dimensional LED technology and four-point brake lights.
Awaiting the driver in the cockpit of the 718 Boxster is the familiar Porsche interior environment, now upgraded with new elements. The leather trim impresses with its uninterrupted stitching that extends right to the storage compartment. The redesigned upper part of the dash panel reflects the three-dimensional exterior design with its elevated air vents. Steering of the roadster is even more precise, with a 375-mm diameter sport steering wheel in the design of the 918 Spyder.
A central element of the new interior layout is Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with mobile phone preparation, audio interfaces and the Sound Package Plus with 110 watts of audio power. The optional Connect module, for example, comprises a smartphone storage tray for wireless connection of the smartphone to the car’s exterior antenna, an iPod-capable USB port on the center console, Apple CarPlay including “Siri” voice control and Porsche Car Connect.
The Porsche 718 Boxster is available at the Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company. Call 1870 870 or visit www.porschekuwait.com for more information. For the latest updates on social media, follow Porsche Centre Kuwait on Instagram @PorscheCentreKuwait and Facebook: PorscheCentreKuwait. Photography by Yousef Al Nasser, Instagram @YousefCam.
