Porsche 718 Boxster

Porsche 718 Boxster: generations: what actually changed

The file lists 7 generation entries (restylings counted separately). All are Roadster and RWD.

The file lists 7 generation entries (restylings counted separately). All are Roadster and RWD.

1 generation (1996-01-01 – 2003-01-31). Six versions: 2.5 MT, 2.5 AT, 2.7 MT, 2.7 AT, S 3.2 MT, S 3.2 AT. Base 2.5 is 204 hp from 2480 cm³ (82.3 hp/L). S 3.2 MT is 252 hp from 3179 cm³ (79.3 hp/L) and 5.9 s to 100 km/h. Kerb weight 1250–1295 kg. Fuel use city/highway/mixed is not measured on all six. Tank 64 L. Ground clearance 104 mm.

1 generation, restyling (2002-01-01 – 2004-12-31). 2.7 MT and 2.7 AT rise to 228 hp (+24 hp vs the first 2.7). 3.2 MT and 3.2 AT are 260 hp (+8 hp vs the first S 3.2). 3.2 MT 0–100 is 5.7 s versus 5.9 s on the earlier S 3.2 MT. Fuel on 2.7 MT, 2.7 AT and 3.2 MT is not measured; 3.2 AT is 16.4 / 8 / 11.1 L/100 km.

2 generation (2004-09-01 – 2006-12-31). 2.7 MT and 2.7 AT are 240 hp. S 3.2 MT and S 3.2 AT are 280 hp. S 3.2 MT is 5.5 s and 268 km/h. Eco class is not measured.

2 generation, restyling 1 (2007-01-01 – 2009-01-31). S moves to ~3.4 L. 3.4 MT is 303 hp (3387 cm³). S 3.4 MT is 295 hp (3386 cm³) — 8 hp less than 3.4 MT despite the S badge, so the names must not be swapped. 2.7 AT, 2.7 MT6 and 2.7 MT5 share 245 hp; 2.7 MT6 and 2.7 MT5 are identical in the measured fields (6.1 s, 258 km/h, 1305 kg, 5-speed Manual). 2.7 AT is Automatic 5-speed, 7.0 s, 251 km/h. Engine location is Rear on 3.4 MT and S 3.4 AT, Central on 2.7 MT6, 2.7 MT5 and S 3.4 MT, and not measured on 2.7 AT. Clearance is 95 mm on the manuals listed with 95 mm and 109 mm on 2.7 AT and S 3.4 AT.

2 generation, restyling 2 (2009-01-01 – 2012-11-30). Direct injection (direct) arrives on S 3.4 MT and S 3.4 PDK (310 hp). 3.4 MT and 3.4 PDK stay on Distributed injection (multi-point) at 320 hp — again the non-S 3.4 is the more powerful pair. 2.9 MT and 2.9 PDK are 255 hp. 3.4 PDK is the lightest car in this restyling at 1275 kg (4.0 kg/hp). PDK is Robotic 7-speed. Tank 65 L. Clearance 121 mm on S 3.4 and 2.9, 109 mm on 3.4. Wheels not measured on 3.4 MT and 3.4 PDK. CO2 and eco class not measured on four of six; 3.4 MT and 3.4 PDK are Euro 4.

3 generation (2012-06-01 – 2016-12-31). Two different cars share the name 2.7 MT and two share 2.7 PDK: 211 hp (78.0 hp/L, 6.4 / 6.3 s) versus 265 hp (97.9 hp/L, 5.8 / 5.7 s). Distinguish them by power. S 3.4 MT / S 3.4 PDK are 315 hp. GTS 3.4 MT / GTS 3.4 PDK are 330 hp. 3.8 MT is 375 hp, 4.5 s, 290 km/h, 1375 kg (3.67 kg/hp), clearance 94 mm. Tank 64 L. Euro 5. Rear brakes on the 211 hp pair are Disc; the rest are Disc ventilated.

4 generation (from 2016-01-01). Twelve 718-named versions. Turbo Inline 4 on 2.0 and 2.5; Opposite 6 with boost No from 2020-01-01 on GTS 4.0 and GT4. Tank shrinks to 54 L (−10 L vs 3 generation). Euro 6. Central engine on all twelve.

Engines and specs

Power per litre on the 4 generation 2.0 Turbo is 150.9 hp/L (300 / 1.988). 718 Boxster S 2.5 MT is 140.2 hp/L. 718 Boxster GTS 2.5 MT is 146.2 hp/L. 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 MT is 100.1 hp/L. 718 Boxster GT4 4.0 MT is 105.1 hp/L. The 2.0 therefore extracts more horsepower per litre than the 4.0; the 4.0 buys cylinder count (6 vs 4), layout Opposite vs Inline, boost No vs Turbo, 98 vs 95 fuel, and peak rpm 7000–7600 vs 6500.

718 Boxster GTS 2.5 MT and 718 Boxster GTS 2.5 PDK stop on 2020-01-31. 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 MT and 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 PDK start 2020-01-01: +35 hp versus the 2.5 GTS, same 420 Nm, torque band 5000–6500 instead of 1900–5500 (MT) / 1900–5000 (PDK). Compression 13.0 vs 9.5.

Performance and mpg

PDK (Robotic) vs Manual on the same 4 generation engine: 718 Boxster 2.0 PDK 4.9 s vs 718 Boxster 2.0 MT 5.1 s (−0.2 s); 718 Boxster S 2.5 PDK 4.4 s vs S 2.5 MT 4.6 s (−0.2 s); 718 Boxster GTS 2.5 PDK 4.3 s vs GTS 2.5 MT 4.6 s (−0.3 s); 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 PDK 4.0 s vs GTS 4.0 MT 4.5 s (−0.5 s); 718 Boxster GT4 4.0 PDK 3.9 s vs GT4 4.0 MT 4.4 s (−0.5 s). Top speed on the 4.0 pair is higher on the manuals: GTS 4.0 MT 293 vs PDK 288 km/h; GT4 MT 301 vs PDK 300 km/h.

Mixed consumption on 4 generation: 718 Boxster 2.0 PDK and 718 Boxster T 2.0 PDK 8.1 L/100 km (lowest). 718 Boxster S 2.5 MT 9.6. 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 MT 10.8. 718 Boxster GT4 4.0 MT 10.9 (highest in 4 generation). CO2: 185 g/km on both 2.0 PDK cars; 249 g/km on GT4 4.0 MT. 3 generation 2.7 PDK (265 hp) mixed 7.7 L/100 km and 180 g/km CO2 — lower mixed use than any 718 listed. 1 generation city/highway/mixed is not measured except 3.2 AT in the restyling.

718 Boxster T 2.0 MT vs 718 Boxster 2.0 MT: same 300 hp, same 5.1 s, same 275 km/h. T mixed 8.8 vs 8.7; T highway 7 vs 6.9; T kerb 1350 vs 1335 kg. The T pair runs 235/35 R20 and 265/35 R20; the base 2.0 pair runs 235/45 R18 and 265/45 R18.

718 Boxster S 2.5 MT vs 718 Boxster 2.0 MT: +50 hp, +40 Nm, 0–100 4.6 vs 5.1 s (−0.5 s), 285 vs 275 km/h, mixed 9.6 vs 8.7 (+0.9). GTS 2.5 MT vs S 2.5 MT: +15 hp, same 4.6 s, 290 vs 285 km/h. GTS 4.0 MT vs GTS 2.5 MT: +35 hp, 4.5 vs 4.6 s, 293 vs 290 km/h, mixed +1.8 L/100 km. GT4 4.0 MT vs GTS 4.0 MT: +20 hp, 4.4 vs 4.5 s, 301 vs 293 km/h.

Vs 3 generation S 3.4 MT (315 hp, 5.1 s, 279 km/h): the 718 2.0 MT matches 5.1 s with 15 hp less and 380 vs 360 Nm. Vs 3 generation GTS 3.4 PDK (330 hp, 4.9 s): 718 Boxster 2.0 PDK is the same 4.9 s at 300 hp. Vs 3 generation 3.8 MT (375 hp, 4.5 s, 290 km/h): 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 MT is 400 hp, 4.5 s, 293 km/h.

Dimensions and weight

Kerb range in 4 generation: 1335 kg (718 Boxster 2.0 MT) to 1435 kg (718 Boxster GTS 4.0 PDK). Lightest in the whole file: 1250 kg on 1 generation 2.5 MT / 2.5 AT. Gross: 1560 kg (those 2.5s) to 1730 kg (GTS 4.0 PDK).

kg per hp (kerb / hp): GT4 4.0 1420/420 = 3.38; GTS 4.0 MT 1405/400 = 3.51; S 2.5 MT 1355/350 = 3.87; 2.0 MT 1335/300 = 4.45; 1 generation 2.5 MT 1250/204 = 6.13.

Ground clearance 112 mm on 4 generation versions that list it; not measured on T 2.0, GTS 4.0 and GT4. 3 generation: 104 mm (211 hp 2.7), 100 mm (265 hp 2.7 and S 3.4), 94 mm (3.8 MT and GTS 3.4). 2 generation restyling 2: 121 mm on 2.9 and S 3.4 — the tallest listed. Tank 54 L (4 generation) vs 64–65 L earlier: range arithmetic is mixed L/100 km × tank, e.g. 2.0 PDK 54/8.1 ≈ 667 km of mixed figure vs 3 generation 2.7 PDK 265 hp 64/7.7 ≈ 831 km.

Wheels: 4 generation 18-inch on base 2.0, 19-inch on S 2.5, 20-inch on T, GTS and GT4. 1 generation uses 16-inch on most, 17-inch on S 3.2. Suspension Independent, spring all around. Front brakes Ventilated disc on all 4 generation; some earlier cars list front Disc (restyling 1). Rear Disc ventilated on 4 generation (label as in data).

Which version to choose

Daily 718, lowest mixed use: 718 Boxster 2.0 PDK — 300 hp, 4.9 s, 275 km/h, 8.1 L/100 km mixed, 185 g/km CO2, 1365 kg, 18-inch tyres, 112 mm clearance. 718 Boxster T 2.0 PDK matches the 8.1 mixed figure but adds 15 kg and 20-inch tyres; T clearance is not measured.

Daily 718, lightest Manual: 718 Boxster 2.0 MT — 1335 kg, 5.1 s, mixed 8.7. 718 Boxster T 2.0 MT is the same stopwatch with 15 kg more and 20-inch wheels.

Turbo S without 4.0 fuel and rpm: 718 Boxster S 2.5 PDK if 0.2 s and 7-speed Robotic matter (4.4 s, 1385 kg, mixed 8.8); 718 Boxster S 2.5 MT if 30 kg less kerb (1355 kg) matters more than the 4.6 s time. Both 350 hp, 285 km/h, 19-inch.

Last Turbo GTS (to 2020-01-31): 718 Boxster GTS 2.5 PDK is the quickest 2.5 (4.3 s) and the only 2.5 with 430 Nm. 718 Boxster GTS 2.5 MT matches S MT’s 4.6 s with +15 hp and 290 km/h.

Opposite 6 without GT4: 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 PDK for 4.0 s; 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 MT for 293 km/h and 30 kg less than that PDK (1405 vs 1435 kg). Both 400 hp, 98 fuel, mixed 9.6 (PDK) / 10.8 (MT).

Peak catalogue performance: 718 Boxster GT4 4.0 PDK 3.9 s, 300 km/h, 420 hp, Robotic 6-speed (not 7). 718 Boxster GT4 4.0 MT 4.4 s, 301 km/h, same 1420 kg. Mixed 10.2 vs 10.9.

Used 3 generation Opposite 6, no Turbo: take 2.7 MT / 2.7 PDK at 265 hp, not the 211 hp pair with the same names. S 3.4 if 315 hp and 5.1/5.0 s are enough. GTS 3.4 for 330 hp and 94 mm clearance. 3.8 MT if 375 hp and 4.5 s are the target and a PDK is not required (no 3.8 PDK in the file).

Used 2 generation restyling 2: 3.4 MT / 3.4 PDK at 320 hp out-power S 3.4 at 310 hp; 3.4 PDK is also the 1275 kg outlier. 2.9 MT / 2.9 PDK if 255 hp and 121 mm clearance are the brief.

Used restyling 1: 3.4 MT 303 hp is the strongest Manual; do not assume S 3.4 MT (295 hp) is stronger. Skip 2.7 AT if 7.0 s is too slow versus 2.7 MT5 / 2.7 MT6 at 6.1 s.

Used 2 generation (2004–2006): S 3.2 MT 5.5 s / 280 hp; Automatic S 3.2 AT loses 0.8 s and adds 40 kg (1385 vs 1345).

Used 1 generation: S 3.2 MT 5.9 s / 252 hp is the fastest original; restyling 3.2 MT 5.7 s / 260 hp is the arithmetic upgrade. 2.5 MT is the lightest (1250 kg) and weakest (204 hp). Fuel figures on most 1 generation rows are not measured.

Reliability and known faults are not in this dataset; they are not measured here. Engine oil capacity and engine-number location are not measured. Drive is RWD on every version. Body is Roadster on every generation.