Top on or top off, the Porsche Boxster is a great summer car.
MANILA, Philippines–Last Labor Day weekend was a weekend to remember. While people stayed glued to their TV sets watching the flight of the century (no typos here, but that’s another story), others headed to the beach to celebrate Laboracay.
This writer was fortunate to get his hands on a Porsche Boxster and celebrate Laporscheday for the weekend.
While everyone in the country is still grieving about Manny Pacquiao’s loss, one cannot help but make a comparison of the Boxster with Floyd Mayweather.
Both are agile and very quick, and are both very good in running around the track.
With a top speed of over 260 kilometers per hour, the Boxster is powered by a mid-mounted 2.7-liter with DFI (direct fuel injection) and VarioCam Plus flat six-cylinder engine that allows the car to have the optimal weight distribution for better handling.
Acceleration from zero to 100 kph takes only 5.7 seconds, and only 5.5 seconds if the Sport mode is engaged. Under the Sport mode, one can feel more torque and power plus a throatier exhaust note as well.
The 265-horsepower engine comes with the optional seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission.
The DFI system features multihole injectors that deliver fuel straight to the combustion chamber with millisecond precision.
The DFI ensures improved internal cooling of the combustion chamber by having the fuel/air mixture prepared directly in the cylinder. The higher compression ratio provides more power output at the same time as higher engine efficiency.
At the press of a button, the Sport option offers better acceleration and power to match the well-balanced Boxster especially when getting in and out of twisty roads.
The rear spoiler automatically pops up at speeds in excess of 100 kph. Photos by Alvin Uy
With a low center of gravity and even weight distribution, the Boxster can outmaneuver sportscars with bigger horsepower specially when cornering.
Boxsters are not just cool to look at, they are actually cool inside and out, too. Thanks to Porsche’s selective heat flow control strategy and on-demand gradual activation of the various cooling circuits, the engine and gearbox warm up to normal operating temperature more rapidly.
Optimal performance
Its consequent reduction in friction also reduces fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. During more spirited and aggressive driving, its thermal management system also ensures reduced temperatures so an optimal level of performance is maintained.
In the Boxster models, each cylinder bank has its own stainless steel exhaust tract. Its integrated catalytic converters and Lambda sensors make sure emissions are kept low.
On the downstream of the respective rear silencers, the system converges into a connecting tube and a single (for the Boxster) or twin (for the Boxster S and Boxster GTS) tailpipe, giving its distinctive exhaust notes.
Inside the cabin, one would think the soft top will not deflect the hot summer sun but at the height of noon, with about 42 degrees outside temperature, the A/C system managed to cool the cabin fairly quickly.
Another cool feature that helps keep the Boxster efficient is its auto start/stop function, integrated as standard in all of its models.
The engine will restart as soon as one operates the clutch, or, in cars with PDK, release the brake. This fuel-saving innovation is designed primarily for urban driving or congested highway traffic.
The Boxster also has an electrical recuperation system where the car is recharged by the generator predominantly under braking.
Thanks to this selective recharging, full driving power is on the tap, giving the maximum possible output that can be directed straight to the road.
Its electronic engine management system also ensures the best engine performance.
The system regulates all engine-related functions to intelligently give maximum power output and torque with comparatively low fuel consumption and emissions.
Both the Porsche Boxster and its hardtop sibling Cayman were named the 2013 World Performance Cars in the New York Auto Show.
It’s nothing new to Porsche, because since the inception of the World Car of the Year Awards, the German carmaker has won the World Performance Car award for the 911 model in 2012 and for the Cayman in 2006.
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