It was entirely appropriate that our first taste of Porsche's new, second-generation Boxster was on a race track. Porsche's heritage is closely tied to motorsports and its production cars reflect the attention to detail that separates winners from also-rans. We found the Boxster right at home on the track, but don't mistake it for a race car. The new Porsche Boxster is far too comfortable, far too full of electronic amenities, far too useful for the daily grind, than to relegate it to the short-term abuses of the track. This is a car meant to be enjoyed every day, rain or shine.
It's been a long eight years since the Boxster first wowed us with its high fun factor, and it was definitely due for a major overhaul. Never rushing to market, Porsche responded as it usually does, building upon the Boxster's essential goodness with a completely new layer of cockpit friendliness and open-road performance. This is no merely freshened platform. Some 80 percent of this newest Boxster is new to the model. More than half of the car is borrowed from the 2005 911 Carrera, including the steering, front structure, seats and electronics. And it's all good.
Driver comfort, essential to the forming of a true sports car/driver bond, has been improved with the new Boxster. Solutions include ergonomically superior seating contours and a steering wheel that can be adjusted for both reach and rake, bringing Porsche into the modern world. The taller driver, not always welcome in the two-seater world, is thoughtfully accommodated in the new Boxster by a lower seat mounting point and placement of the drilled aluminum pedals closer to the firewall. Safety for these folks has been increased as well from an inch taller supplemental safety bar and two-inch higher headrests. To accommodate these nods to increased survivability in the event of a roll-over, the side windows are larger and the folding top a bit higher. However, because this is a sports car, and because Porsche has the resources and willingness to do so, the folding top was reengineered, its frame constructed of aluminum and magnesium for reduced weight and thus reduction of the car's center of gravity, which is even lower than the previous Boxster's.
Driver control also has been increased due to newly developed variable-ratio steering and the latest generation of grip-enhancing Porsche Stability Management, which now comes standard on all Boxsters. A switch allows the sport-minded driver to disable PSM (at least until the braking threshold is reached), but the driver wanting the ultimate range of ride control and electronic handling assist will want to spend the bucks on Porsche Active Suspension Management, or PASM, ($1,990). This system allows the driver to select Normal and Sport suspension calibrations, and in either mode PASM is a wonder, fulfilling its task of enhancing the driving experience by maintaining chassis equilibrium in all conditions.