5 Reasons The Porsche 718 Boxster Went To Turbo Four-Pot Power

We all accept downsizing as an inevitability, but why exactly did the Boxster's engine size reduce, and why did Porsche choose a four-cylinder flat-four specifically? We chatted to 718 Boxster powertrain chief Matthias Hofstetter to find out more
5 Reasons The Porsche 718 Boxster Went To Turbo Four-Pot Power

Emissions

5 Reasons The Porsche 718 Boxster Went To Turbo Four-Pot Power

Let’s start with the blindingly obvious. Manufacturers are under increasing pressure to lower emissions and raise fuel economy, and as Matthias Hofstetter rightly points out, “downsizing is one of the most economical things to do.” On paper at least, it’s done the trick: the standard 718 Boxster is up by 5.1mpg to 40.9mpg, and the 2.5-litre in the S gets a 4.3mpg bump to 38.7mpg, with emissions down for both.

Packaging

5 Reasons The Porsche 718 Boxster Went To Turbo Four-Pot Power

‘Ah,’ I hear you say. ‘But why not stick in the downsized 3.0-litre flat-six from the 911 Carrera?’ And you’d have a point: a detuned version would still give efficiency benefits, while retaining the Porsche flat-six noise we know and love. But there’s a rather big stumbling block: it won’t fit without extensive changes to the car.

“We have the same engine compartment as in the 981,” Hofstetter explains. “If we had gone for a six-cylinder engine, we would have had to build a completely different car, and it wouldn’t have looked like a Boxster anymore.” Not only that, but it would have been a lot more expensive to develop, particularly considering this is supposed to be a mid-life refresh rather than a whole new car.

It gives the 911 a unique edge

5 Reasons The Porsche 718 Boxster Went To Turbo Four-Pot Power

While Porsche hasn’t said this was its intention, the four-cylinder switch for the new Boxster has - from a model positioning point of view - a rather happy side effect. “Now we have a situation where we have a large gap between the Boxster and the 911: they are not so close together because of the engine,” Hofstetter tells us.

The same applies to the incoming 718 Cayman, which apart from the lack of folding roof, will be mechanically identical to the Boxster. Once that happens, flat-six engines will be - sadly - reserved only for the 911, making it seem a little more special than it used to.

However, it’s not quite panned out as brilliantly as Porsche would have you believe. After all, the fastest Boxster S (with PDK and Sport Chrono) has an identical 0-62mph time to the fastest 911 Carrera. And without the complicated folding roof, the 718 Cayman could be faster still….

Flat-four history

5 Reasons The Porsche 718 Boxster Went To Turbo Four-Pot Power

While we’ve come to think of a howling flat-six to be the signature sound of a Porsche, it’s easy to forget that once upon a time, it was all about less sonorous flat-fours. And that’s something Porsche decided to reference in the Boxster’s name. “If there is now a change from six-cylinders to four, we should reference to the old cars, because this is the chance to do it. The old four-cylinder boxer cars have been successful, and we’re proud of this,” Porsche PR boss Thomas Haag explains.

As one or two of you pointed out when our review went live, reviving the 914 name would have been a great fit, but it’s clear Porsche was aiming a little higher than the more humble sports car of the 70s and 80s, deciding instead to go for ‘718’ to reference the 50s/60s racing car of the same name.

I’m still not hugely keen on the idea as it does smack a little of desperation and I can’t help but think everyone will just shorten to ‘Boxster’. Interestingly though, Haag predicts the opposite: “most probably in the future they [owners] will say ‘it’s a 718’, ‘what kind of 718 do you have?’ ‘Oh mine is a Cayman’ or ‘mine is a Boxster.’” It’ll be interesting to see who’s right…

Power

5 Reasons The Porsche 718 Boxster Went To Turbo Four-Pot Power

It’s important to note that this wasn’t just about reducing emissions, it was also about increasing power while Porsche was at it. And doing so without just adding displacement or dumping in something enormously expensive and complex like the engine from a 911 GT3 (technically possible but not terribly feasible, I’m afraid) just isn’t going to work. So, that leaves turbocharging.

“If we didn’t make this decision [turbocharging], we would lose each [group] test concerning acceleration and things like that,” Hofstetter explains. A dinky turbo six-pot would have been nice but wasn’t chosen because “it makes no sense to build a six-cylinder 2.0-litre engine” due to the added complexity and weight, plus the lack of efficiency compared to a four-pot.

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While the loss of sound is a massive shame, the performance goals have been more than met. The base 2.0-litre 718 Boxster puts out 296bhp and 280lb ft of torque, a 35bhp and 66lb ft increase over the old 2.7-litre six, while the 2.5-litre in the S also gets a 35bhp increase over the old 3.4 to bring the total to 345bhp, with the 310lb ft torque figure representing a boost of 37lb ft.

Going straight from one of the old cars to one of the new isn’t something we’ve done, but Hofstetter has: “when you drive for a few weeks in a 2.0-litre [718] Boxster and you go back to the 2.7, when you go on throttle you get the feeling the engine is broken,” he says…

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Comments

Anonymous

Yet, it stills a Volkswagen underneath..

04/24/2016 - 06:50 |
42 | 58
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Jealousy is a cruel mistress

04/24/2016 - 07:45 |
54 | 6
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

The ignorance is strong with this one

04/24/2016 - 15:52 |
2 | 0
DL🏁

Thank you!
I don’t think that turbocharging is a bad thing after all. But it will be interesting to see what they will do for GTS versions and various GT4/GT3 etc. I think they did promise to keep a naturally aspirated 6-cylinder for 911 GTS and GT3. But what about 718 GTS? Will they just get some more horses from the 2.5-litre turbo or use a flat-six?

Btw, I like the fact that they named it 718. I will probably be one of the people who will use this name.

04/24/2016 - 06:51 |
52 | 4

I completley agree turbo.charging is just moving on with time. And with the new emission requirments its the only option. Also u apparently got negative voted unrightfully i shall correct that.

04/24/2016 - 07:15 |
0 | 0

I stopped calling it Boxster all together after the rename

04/24/2016 - 08:23 |
2 | 0

I’m guessing for the cayman GTS/GT4 they will probably put the flat six. After all the rave reviews over the current generation GT4 who wouldn’t try make perfection a second time.

04/24/2016 - 08:24 |
4 | 0
slevo beavo

Those cip holders are from the 911.

Also that turbo technology is what diesels have been using for 20 years or so. It’s never really been used in petrol because of the higher exhaust temperatures focusing on the a small point when the vnt vanes are closed used to melt the turbine wheel.

04/24/2016 - 07:47 |
2 | 0

Yup, hence why it’s interesting. I wonder how they’ll fare in terms of reliability in the long term.

04/24/2016 - 15:34 |
0 | 0
Dzonny the e36 maniaq

Am I the only one who doesn’t mind engine at all and still love this car?

04/24/2016 - 07:59 |
8 | 0
Anonymous

The new Boxster has a boxer engine :))

04/24/2016 - 08:19 |
4 | 2
DIY Or Die

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

It always had (so the name)

04/24/2016 - 08:31 |
10 | 0
Anonymous

As someone who loves the natural beauty and environment of our cars, I’m pretty marvelled at the fact that purpose built sport machines or even racing machines for that matter, can still retain their performance and be healthier for the planet, after all we do only get one Earth.

But all said and done, I will miss the glorious noise those extra two cylinders provided.

04/24/2016 - 09:06 |
6 | 2
Anonymous

Keep repeating these 5 points to yourself and buy the 4 pot Boxster because CT says so.

04/24/2016 - 10:05 |
0 | 4
The white comet of Akagi

if they were naming it in reference to the 718 racecar, they could’ve at least got the vents which will make it that bit more special

04/24/2016 - 10:30 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

If porsche’s aim is getting more power and torque and by the same time having better fuel consumption from every new model, then can’t keep 4 pot. Having around at least 400hp with 4 pot is a difficult task so I hope they’ll return to 6 pot one day.

04/24/2016 - 10:42 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Not really, i mean now we’re at a stage where a 2.0 turbo 4 pot gives a figure of 345 bhp (Mercedes A45 AMG) give it a few more years and it’ll definitely reach 400. I love the sound of a 6 pot, but i guess this is the future now.

04/24/2016 - 11:13 |
2 | 0
LivZ

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

It’s not about peak HP, it’s about torque as well. This car is a s*it load faster than the old Cayman S. Either way, with the new VVG turbos, I’m sure tuners are rubbing their hands. Simple retune would probably bring the Boxter S over 400 hp.

04/24/2016 - 20:06 |
2 | 0
Ayoub

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

it will reach 400 just like the vw golf 400 but it will never surpass 400 hp mark

04/27/2016 - 07:59 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

NIce styling. 10/10 would have one.

04/24/2016 - 12:24 |
2 | 0