Car of the Month – December, 2024
2023 Porsche 718 Boxter Spyder
2023 Porsche 718 Boxter Spyder
Engine – 4.0 liter flat six naturally aspirated
Transmission – 7-speed dual-clutch PDK auto, rear-wheel drive
Horsepower – 414 hp @ 8,000 rpm, 309 ft-lbs of torque @ 6,750 rpm
Curb weight – 3,263 lbs
0-60 time – 3.4 seconds
¼ mile time – 11.8 seconds @ 119mph
Top speed – 187 mph
Number built – 7,955 (2020-2023 worldwide)
MSRP price – $117,400 (this car)
The Boxster began life with a 204hp 2.5-litre flat-six; nearly 30 years later it ends with 414hp from the same 4.0-litre engine that powers the 992 GT4.
There has never been a Boxster quite like this before, and because there will never be another, there is virtually no requirement to hold anything back. Conveniently, much of the hard work was already done: up to the beltline, the Spyder shares much with the trailblazing GT4 RS.
Balance. For the 718 “Spyder”, it’s all about that single word. All of the driveline components, engine, transmission, suspension and brakes work together in harmony, with each part of it being perfected on its own to make the bigger picture flawless. The 718 Spyder has a chassis that seems to completely ignore the fact that it is missing a roof.
It is the roof (or lack of it) that defines the Spyder experience. Without a frame or any kind of automation the entire roof including its various mechanisms weighs just 18.3kg, helping to make the new model 40kg lighter than the 2016 981 Boxster Spyder.
The Porsche 718 Spyder provides the cerebral overload you might expect from this stunning finale for the gasoline-powered Porsche Boxster, a model that has delivered decades of superb sports cars. This is a car that’s multi-layered in its appeal, and there is a delicacy of touch to all its controls that can be appreciated, at any speed. The color on this Boxter Spyder is Python Green.