NEWCARS PorscheBoxster25Years

Porsche Boxster 25
FIRSTDRIVE Special edition marks silver anniversary of the
sports car that helped save Porsche. Is it a worthy celebration?
Steve Sutcliffe it now dominates whatever part of the way back in 1993, the list price doesn’t
mail@autoexpress.co.uk playing field it chooses to alight upon. So actually seem that steep.
a car that celebrates a quarter of a century A regular GTS only costs six and a bit HANDLING
THE world was a very different place of its saviour as a manufacturer is probably grand less, for instance, to which Porsche Mid-engined chassis has
beautiful balance, while the
25 years ago, and Porsche was a very fair enough, all things considered, even reckons at least £10,000 in options have naturally aspirated engine
different firm. For a while back then, things if it could also be accused of being a been added as standard. These include LED is equally as engaging
looked so bad for the firm that we wondered cynical marketing exercise. headlights, electric sports seats, the full
if it would exist by the turn of the century. But if you’ve got it, flaunt it basically, brushed aluminium interior treatment,
So when it came up with a masterplan especially when the petrol engine’s days brake calipers in black, and more.
to build not one but two different sports are now very much numbered. Plus the car features numerous bespoke
cars using the same parts – the On the surface, the 718 Boxster 25 Years bits of ‘25 Years’ badging, even on the
996-generation of its trademark 911 and is not a cheap sports car. It costs £73,820 roof, and comes in a unique colour scheme
the all-new Boxster – there was an outcry before you venture anywhere near the that also pays tribute to the original 1993
from the traditionalists. However, the options list, which is both long and concept car, with similarly unique wheel
smarter members of the crowd stood back expensive. But given that what you get is and tailpipe designs that set off the
and waited. And then applauded. essentially a Boxster GTS that features a look of the Boxster perfectly.
The so-called Porsche cognoscenti might range of mostly tasteful styling touches that So in reality, £72,760 actually seems like
have found the idea of the sacred 911 pay homage to the original Boxster concept quite good value given that a) you get the
sharing bits with a smaller, cheaper mid- car shown at the Detroit Motor Show all the same mighty 395bhp 4.0-litre flat-six engine
engined sports car unpalatable, yet without
the Boxster the 911 might well not have
endured. The rest, as they say, is history. “Ifyou’ve got it, flaunt it basically, especially
Since then, of course, Porsche has gone
from strength to strength, to a point where
when the petrol engine’s days are numbered”
32 Specialissue

Red leather-trimmed cabin of the 25 Years remains as driver-focused as other Porsches’
STYLING
Special badging and
wheels for 718 Boxster
25 Years model reference
the original 1993 Detroit
Motor Show concept car
and six-speed manual gearbox from the
GTS, plus the same superb mid-engined
chassis, and b) the production run will be
limited to just 1,250 examples worldwide.
Because if nothing else, this will ensure
than in 10 or 20 years’ time the value of
the Boxster 25 Years will go up, not down,
very possibly by an amount that would
make your hair fall out were you able to
predict it accurately in 2021.
Either way, and however much it ends up
rising to in value in the coming decades, in
the here and now the Boxster 25 Years is
just a very lovely sports car to look at and
to drive. The model’s dynamics aren’t
in question, if anything it drives and
sounds even better than a Boxster
GTS, because it seems to make an
even nicer noise somehow.
True, the cabin design borders on
the flashy in places compared with the
more functional and discreet interior of
the regular GTS, as does the exterior in
PorscheBoxster25Years
certain detail aspects. But in the flesh the
Porsche looks sensational overall, and it
drives even better than it looks.
If the engine doesn’t snag you first (it’s
hard to imagine it wouldn’t, to be honest),
then the steering, chassis and brakes will all
very quickly lure you into this car’s vast net
of appeal, as will the delicious shift quality
of its standard-fit six-speed manual gearbox
(a seven-speed PDK is optional). Yet in the
end it’s the all-round appeal of the Boxster
25 Years that ultimately proves so beguiling.
In simple terms it’s one of the quickest
and most satisfying two-seater sports cars
money can buy right now, but alongside this
you also become aware that you’re driving a
slice of history whenever you climb inside
the Boxster 25 Years and let rip in it. And as
a combination, it makes for one heck of a
strong driving experience, today and even
more so in years to come, you suspect. So
get one while you still can, as they say,
because even at 73 grand, it’s a bargain.
NEWCARS
Essentials
Porsche 718 Boxster
25Years
Price: £73,820
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six petrol
Power/torque: 395bhp/420Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual,
rear-wheel drive
0-62mph: 4.5 seconds
Top speed: 182mph
Econ./CO2: 25.9mpg/247g/km
ONSALE Now
EQUIPMENT Red leather evokes
original Boxster concept; 25 Years
features at least £10,000 of optional
extras on top of standard 4.0 GTS model
HOOD Fabric roof folds behind rear
seats and can be deployed electrically
on the move at up to 31mph; 25 Years
features special badging on the hood
PRACTICALITY This mid-engined
two-seater is surprisingly practical, with
the 150-litre front boot (above) joined
by a 120-litre luggage space at the rear
Verdict
THE 25th-anniversary Boxster is a
legend in its own lifetime. Based
on the already excellent GTS, and
with styling that celebrates the
original concept car, the Boxster
25 Years is a capable enough
sports car in its own right. But its
limited run ensures instant cult
status. Rarely has £72,760
seemed like such strong value for
such a relatively uncomplicated
two-seater sports car.
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