Over the past two decades since its introduction, the name “Porsche Boxster” has embodied the best that a two-seat mid-engine roadster can be. Today, Porsche Hong Kong premieres the sequel to the Boxster’s illustrious performance history with the launch the 2017 718 Boxster.

The new name is meant to evoke the Porsche 718 open-cockpit racers from 1957 to 1962. Just as Porsche’s engineers spared nothing then to give the legendary 718 type sporting spirit, Porsche again encouraged their engineers to create an entirely new model to carry the legendary 718 era forward. The new 718 Boxster presents a new, decidedly more striking design, an even sportier chassis setup and a host of new performance, comfort and assistance systems.

With the name change, Porsche also draws a line back to one of its earliest successes, the Porsche 718’s four-cylinder engine — derived from the Porsche 356. Gone is the previous model’s flat six, and in its place, a significantly more potent 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine delivering 300 hp for the 718 Boxster and 350 hp for the 718 Boxster S. Turbocharging also generates significantly better torque. The 718 Boxster four-cylinder produces 38.7 kgm of torque in a broad range between 1,900 and 4,500 RPM, a 36 percent increase over last year. The 718 Boxster S four provides 42.7 kgm. in the same RPM range, 5.9 kgm. better than the outgoing six cylinders torque figures.

The only things unchanged for 2017 are the windshield, the luggage compartment lid, and the convertible top. Every other body element has undergone a complete transformation, as has the instrument panel. In the center stack, the latest generation of Porsche Communication Management (PCM) is now standard.