Porsche Releases its First Four-cylinder Model Since the 968
Posted on Mon 22nd Feb 2016 at 11:01
As regular readers will know, Porsche are now pretty much wedded to their turbo-charged engines – something unsurprising given the increasingly restrictive fuel economy standards in place in many markets.
Where they were previously known for their flat-six naturally aspirated engines, we are now seeing their first four cylinder model since the 968 – and it’s pretty neat. The Porsche 718 Boxster is the recipient of a 2 litre turbocharged engine that produces 300 BHP in the standard version, or 350 BHP in the 2.5 litre S version. Importantly for Porsche, the fuel economy is 13% better than on the six cylinder version. The 718 name has an excellent pedigree, and this new range is designed to invoke the spirit of the 1957 718 Porsche sports car, which has a deserved reputation amongst the marque’s fans for having been lightweight, fast, and beautiful.
Due to its outstanding power-to-weight ratio, it had a top speed of up to 260 km/h (162 mph) and offered excellent maneuverability. It won many races during its career, including the Targa Florio in 1959 and 1960. [caption id="attachment_202" align="alignright" width="300"] 718 Boxster S Porsche has thought hard about how to link the 718 to the future of its turbo-charged range. As they put it: “We are committed to the tradition of Porsche – and so we take one step back in order to take a leap into the dynamic future of our mid-engine Sports Cars.” If the new 718 Boxster is anything to go by, that future is looking quite bright.
Thanks to the new turbocharged engines, which use the Variable Turbine Geometry also found in the 911 Turbo, the new model can do 0-60MPH in 4.7 seconds, or 4.2 seconds if you’re the in the Boxster S. The design is different, too – the look is sharper and cleaner, with a wider looking rear end and newly chic cockpit.