What’s New?
The engines in the Porsche Boxster and Boxster S models both are larger and more powerful for the 2007 model year. The cars also get standard tire-pressure monitors, updated Tiptronic S automatic transmissions, and new 19-inch optional wheels.

Overview
The Boxster is Porsche’s two-seat, mid-engine roadster. The car has front and rear trunks and thus holds a surprising amount of cargo—something very rare for a sports car. The placement of the engine immediately behind the two-seat passenger compartment also gives the Boxster impressively well-balanced handling dynamics.

The Boxster is powered by a 2.7-liter, horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine that for 2007 features Porsche’s VarioCam Plus technology, designed to enhance power as well as fuel efficiency and to reduce emissions at the same time. The engine pumps out 245 hp, sprinting the Boxster to 60 mph in less than six seconds, yet earning 23 mpg fuel economy ratings in town and 32 on the highway. Boxsters come with manual transmissions or can be equipped with Porsche’s Tiptronic S automatic that features thumb-controlled manual shifters mounted on the steering wheel. Both the Boxster and Boxster S have power opening and closing cloth tops.

The higher-performance version of the Boxster is the Boxster S. Porsche considers S designation much more than a mere trim package, because in addition to a larger and more powerful engine, it includes larger wheels and tires, bigger brakes, and special suspension tuning to accommodate the car’s enhanced performance potential. For 2007, the Boxster S has a 3.4-liter 6-cylinder engine that provides 295 hp—good enough to accelerate to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds.

The Competition
The Porsche Boxster competes in the Compact Premium Sporty segment, which consists of eight models. Buyers in this segment look for exterior styling, performance, and quality, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,SM were the Nissan 350Z (24,635 units sold), the now-discontinued Acura RSX (16,996), and Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class (16,415). The Porsche Boxster sold 4,503 units in 2006, a decrease of 42.8 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Compact Premium Sporty segment include the BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class, Porsche Cayman, and Honda S2000. Joining the segment in 2007 is the Volvo C70.