Change is inevitable. The world keeps spinning; everything is constantly evolving. Many of man’s greatest advancements were brought about by revolutionary changes: the printing press, the steam engine, penicillin, the internet, and now, the dawn of artificial intelligence. But each time we advanced, part of our culture was also relegated to history, considered obsolete or outdated.
Then, there are brands like Porsche, rich in culture, with a history of innovation whilst remaining faithful to the vision of its founder. In a world facing massive change, Porsche remains steadfast in its mission of delivering the most exhilarating cars to drive.
Porsche understands that cars are not just four-wheeled appliances to transport you from one place to another as efficiently and as quickly as possible. For many, cars remain in the top three purchases a person will ever make in their life, the other two being a home and education. Porsche understands that their cars must not just satisfy a need, but also fulfill a desire, creating a strong emotional connection with its driver.
Alas, the world sees cars, particularly internal combustion-engined cars, as evil polluters and murderers of the environment, an easy and convenient scapegoat for those seeking to shape a modern green narrative while silently forcing their own agenda forward. That, plus true hardcore car enthusiasts are (arguably) dwindling. Our kind are few and far between.
A drive in the current 718 Porsche Boxster Style Edition, already in the winter of its life, is all the more an important reminder of why car enthusiasts need to rally together and resist change.
TIMELESS STYLE
The Style Edition is a perfect example of such a car that resists change. It offers involvement, drama, a true connection to the senses and in open-top configuration, closer to the elements. It differs from the regular Boxster (and slots below the S variant) with bigger 20″ wheels and tires, some Porsche decals on the doors, and the Sports Chrono pack. It’s got the usual gaggle of ABS-EBD brakes, Stability-Traction Control, Crash Sensor, and dual airbags. Optional safety gear includes Lane Departure Warning, Blind-Spot Monitoring, and Automated Emergency Braking. Just because it’s old doesn’t mean Porsche compromised on its safety.
The boffins at Porsche have done their homework for the entire 718 range to improve efficiency and dynamic handling ability: downsized the engine from six to four cylinders, added turbocharging to improve efficiency and power on demand while reducing weight, direct injection to reduce pumping losses, and the extensive use of lightweight materials to further bring down weight. It also comes with a drag coefficient of .31, a decent figure for an open-top sports car with a fabric roof.
GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS
But the very essence of what makes the Boxster, and Porsches for that matter, truly special are numerous small details which are indeed far greater than the sum of their parts.
First is the steering: Ferdinand Porsche famously said that a sports car must have responsive steering that is feelsome; it should feel accurate and intuitive but not nervous. Next are the brakes, firm, consistent, progressive, and easily modulated, seemingly capable of stopping time. The stoppers have always been a Porsche hallmark, probably the very best there is on a road car. Then there is the heft of the controls plus the richly damped stability afforded by the suspension: firm but not harsh. It must feel composed all the way to its top speed. The Boxster, despite being the entry-level sports car from Zuffenhausen, ticks all these boxes and more. Few cars match the confidence the Boxster can give you from the get-go. And most of them come from the same stable.
A SENSUAL DRIVING EXPERIENCE
The Boxster Style Edition makes excellent use of its 296 hp and 380 Newton-meters, mated to a 7-speed Porsche Doppel Kupplung or PDK (dual-clutch gearbox in Porsche-speak) and driving the rear wheels as God intended, is all you need to really enjoy the Boxster’s very sensual pleasures. In this day of 500, 600, 700, and 800 hp electric vehicles, none of them deliver the analog and accessible experience of the Boxster.
Its brilliance is measured in its tactility, something many (mostly Chinese) EV manufacturers have yet to understand and engineer into their products that, though technologically impressive, feel soulless to discerning drivers.
The Boxster, despite its modest output (for a sportscar), is by no means a slouch by any metric: 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, to 160 km/h in 10.8 seconds, to 200 km/h in 17.8 seconds, all the way to a 275 km/h top speed. Many EVs can’t even go past the double-century mark. Academic, but nice to know you can go really fast in the Boxster.
It’s also very comforting to know that the brakes, always a Porsche strength, capably matches the Boxster’s grunt. Supplied by Brembo of which POrsche has had a longstanding relationship, these are the very best in the business!
OWN A FUTURE CLASSIC
Objectively, there is no denying that the 718 Boxster Style Edition is old based on typical creature comforts: it did not even have Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, so I got lost and missed some turns here in Singapore. But it only allowed me to enjoy the drive longer. I can’t say the same for most, if not all, electric vehicles. As I returned it to the Porsche Studio just off Bugis, I found myself wondering why the world is slowly losing its affinity for cars that truly speak to your emotions, your soul. Buy one while you can. The pleasures of this sort will someday be lost on us.
There is still time. Production for the current 718 Boxster (and its tintop twin, the Cayman) ends in October this year. Place your orders now. A GTS with the GT4-style front end and the 20-inch wheels is all the sports car you will ever need.
