MANILA – The 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman have landed in the Philippines. At a glittering media launch in Manila recently, PGA Cars Inc., the official dealer of Porsche in the Philippines, took the wraps off these two beauties.
The centerpiece of the Boxster is the newly-developed four-cylinder flat engine with turbo-charging developing 220 kW (300 hp) of power from its two- liter engine while the 718 Boxster S attains 257 kW (350 hp) from its 2.5-liter powertrain. In the S-model, Porsche also uses a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry.
It had been rumored for some time that Porsche was going to move to a turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain. But the new turbo engines are substantially more powerful than Porsche's legendary, naturally aspirated and melodious flat six.
To link both cars to the company's famous mid-engined four-cylinder 718 racing machines of the 1950s and early 60s, the company has crowned them the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman.
Turbo-charging significantly boosts torque. The 718 Boxster's two-liter engine has a maximum torque of 380 Newton meters (100 Newton meters more), which is available from 1,950 rpm to 4,500 rpm. The 2.5-litre engine of the 718 Boxster S even attains 420 Newton meters (60 Newton meters more) over a speed range from 1,900 rpm to 4,500 rpm.
Thus, the new 718 Boxster models sprint even faster. The 718 Boxster – with PDK and the Sport Chrono Package – sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. The 718 Boxster S with the same equipment completes this discipline in 4.2 seconds, bringing new meaning to the expression “head-snapping acceleration.”
The top speed of the 718 Boxster is 275 km/h, and the 718 Boxster S has a top speed of 285 km/h.
The Boxster’s design is almost entirely new save for the windshield, luggage lids, and the electric retractable hood which works on the go up to around 50 km/h.
Sharing the same 718 moniker as the Boxster, the new Cayman also shares the same new four-cylinder flat engine with turbocharging. As a result, coupé and roadster have an identical engine output for the first time.
The entry-level version starts with 220 kW (300 hp) from two liters of displacement. The S model delivers 257 kW (350 hp) with a displacement of 2.5 liters. This represents 25 hp more power compared to the predecessor models with an NEDC fuel consumption of 6.9 to 7.4 liters per 100 kilometers.
The tremendous torque of the new engines in the 718 Cayman promises to be a fun and lively car to drive even at low revs.
The two-liter engine of the 718 Cayman achieves a torque of up to 380 Nm (plus 90 Nm), which is available between 1,950 rpm and 4,500 rpm. The 2.5-litre engine of the 718 Cayman S features a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry (VTG), a technology hitherto used exclusively in the 911 Turbo.
The 718 Cayman with PDK and optional Sport Chrono Package sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds.
These new cars illustrate, once again, the Porsche tradition of blending pizzazz, technology, and engineering excellence results in some of the most exciting sports cars in the world.
