The third generation Porsche Boxster is packed to the gills with tech and mechanicals from the 911 yet so very much more different from it in character and delivery. Adil Jal Darukhanawala gets behind the wheel of this prodigious German roadster to tell you if things have really improved for the better

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Porsche’s baby roadster started life in 1996, in the same vein as the 356, with a small engine (2.5-litre) but one which was crucially mounted ahead of the rear axle thereby making it not just an affordable entry level model in the Porsche portfolio of sports cars but enhanced the firm’s portfolio as well.

Even more importantly, this engine placement also helped make it a much more user friendly stepping stone over its classic 911 big daddy. This recipe was lapped up in happy numbers – over 243,000 units worldwide - ever since and now comes the third generation version which is packed to the gills with tech and mechanicals from the 911 yet so very much more different from it in character and delivery.

In these days of engine downsizing, weight reduction, more efficiency and what have you, Porsche knew that the latest iteration of the Boxster had to be not just relevant socially but also do the business when measured up to rivals in class. The roadster market in the class the Boxster operates in is made up of just four other serious contenders – the Mercedes-Benz SLK350, the BMW Z4, the Audi TT and the Nissan 370Z and therefore the Zuffenhausen offering had to have that zest and ammo to not just get its new all-aluminium nose ahead of this quartet but also fire up the senses in more ways than one.

Firing up the 3436cc flat-six boxer motor (the heart of Porsche mind you for decades) in the top of the line Boxster S sets the tone for the day-long drive. One which traversed across the Black Forest, looping across hills and dales, back roads in the German countryside, ample high speed blasts on the autobahns and runs across small towns and villages en route. 

However, to many of those who fail to spot the difference between 911 and Boxster (yes indeed there exists this large breed all over the world!), the new Boxster quite clearly has grown up and visually has many cues adapted from the 911 yet it manages to deliver the soft, clean and subtle look about its character belied only by those large gaping vertical air intakes on its flanks just ahead of the rear wheels. 

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