Porsche 718 Boxster S - 2017

Model history — Porsche 718 Boxster S (2016–2024)

When Porsche rebadged the 982-generation Boxster as the “718” in 2016, it was much more than a name change. The badge paid homage to the featherweight mid‑engine Porsche 718 RSK/RS 60 racers of the late 1950s and early ’60s, and it also signalled a philosophical shift: out went the sonorous naturally aspirated flat‑six of the 981; in came new turbocharged flat‑fours to answer ever‑tighter emissions rules. At the centre of that strategy sat the 718 Boxster S, using a 2.5‑litre boxer‑four with variable‑geometry turbocharger (VTG) — a technology Porsche previously reserved for the 911 Turbo — to deliver 350 PS and a tidal wave of mid‑range torque.

The S arrived with meaningful chassis and steering revisions over its predecessor: a more direct electric rack, retuned PASM adaptive damping, larger brakes and 19‑inch wheels as standard, with options like Sport Chrono, PTV with a mechanical limited‑slip differential, and PCCB carbon‑ceramic brakes for the keenest drivers. Straight‑line performance leapt forward — a PDK‑equipped S with Sport Chrono could dispatch 0–100 km/h in about 4.2 s and run on to 285 km/h — but what stuck with road testers was the balance and composure. Publications from evo to Car and Driver lauded the S as the benchmark for open‑top sports cars, repeatedly praising its mid‑engined poise, unflappable brakes and telepathic front end.

Yet the 718 S also lit a lively debate. Period reviews often juxtaposed its devastating real‑world pace with a soundtrack many purists found less charismatic than the old flat‑six. Porsche listened. While the 2.5T S continued to anchor the middle of the range in many markets, the firm later re‑introduced six‑cylinder derivatives (GTS 4.0, Spyder) to satisfy the faithful — without dulling the 718 S’s role as the rapid, efficient, everyday choice.

Competition during its run was fierce: BMW’s Z4 M40i brought straight‑six muscle, Audi’s TT RS Roadster countered with five‑cylinder fireworks, Jaguar’s F‑Type offered supercharged theatre, and Mercedes‑AMG’s SLC 43 added V6 punch. Even so, comparison tests routinely had the 718 S at or near the top, thanks to its steering feel and chassis clarity. The car also earned plenty of pop‑culture currency; although not a cinematic staple, it became a regular sight in glossy ad campaigns and in celebrity car‑spotting columns from Los Angeles to the Côte d’Azur — helped, no doubt, by its rare two‑boot practicality and a roof that whips open in roughly nine seconds at up to 50 km/h.

There were measured running changes. European cars adopted a gasoline particulate filter from 2018/2019 with associated calibration tweaks; infotainment and connectivity were incrementally updated; options and special trims ebbed and flowed (with the later Style Edition spotlighting the base model). In some regions the S was quietly rationalised as the 4.0‑litre variants took the enthusiast limelight, but globally the 2.5T S remained emblematic of the 718’s mission: a compact, mid‑engine roadster that mixes precision, everyday usability and serious pace — and which, in PDK guise, is quicker than many older 911 Carreras. As the 718 family wound down toward 2024 and an electrified future, the Boxster S stood as the definitive expression of Porsche’s turbo four‑era roadster.