Porsche reveals new 718 Boxster

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Porsche has unveiled pictures, full specifications and prices for the next Boxster, now sporting the 718 namesake and with all-new engine.

Visually, the car has had nothing more than a facelift. The front gains larger cooling intakes to make it appear wider and is matched to slightly revised headlights. The vent feeding into the rear wheel arch is slightly larger and the car sits on a new 19ins alloys. Revised taillights and a new accent strip make an appearance at the back.

However, the styling tweaks are minor compared to the changes under the bonnet.

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As Porsche confirmed late last year, the 718 Boxster – as well as the more powerful "S" model – will follow in the footsteps of the 911 and downsize to a smaller but turbocharged engine. Controversially, the new model doesn't use a smaller six-cylinder engine, but rather a four-cylinder instead. This is where the 718 name comes in – it was used in the late 1950s for one of Porsche's racing cars that was also powered by a four-cylinder boxer engine. This 718 will be the first four-cylinder Porsche since the discontinuation of the 968 back in 1995, says Autocar.

While some will feel the loss of the naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine could damage the character of the car, on paper, the new units are more powerful and more efficient. There's "big benefits for economy and emissions", says Auto Express.

The standard 718 Boxster will use a 2.0-litre unit, with 296bhp, while the S model will get a 2.5-litre version of the new flat-four, with 345bhp. Both the turbocharged engines represent around a 35bhp power boost in comparison to their predecessors and when mated to Porsche's PDK automatic gearbox, they will return 40.9mpg and 38.7mpg on a combined cycle respectively.

Turbocharging the Boxster means the new version gets significantly more torque than the outgoing pre-facelift model, with 380Nm in the standard car and 420Nm of torque in the more powerful S. Pace-wise, this means 0-62mph times are slashed dramatically. The standard Boxster will now hit 62mph from a standing start in 4.7 seconds - almost a second quicker than before – while the S slashes its sprint time to just 4.2. Top speeds are 171mph and 177mph.

Prices start from £41,739 for the 718 Boxster and £50,658 for the S model, representing four-figure premiums on the soon-to-be outgoing model, "though the extra performance (if not, perhaps, the four-cylinder sound) – should justify the extra cost", says Evo. Order books are open now and first deliveries will commence in spring.

The car will be seen at the Geneva Motor Show in March, but some of the motoring press have tipped it will be shown alongside a revised 718 version of the hardtop Cayman, too. A faster, harder GTS version is touted for a reveal next year.