Porsche 718 Boxster And Cayman To Launch On February 15

The 911's younger sibling, the mid-engined 718 is all set to officially go on sale from February 15 though the prices have already been revealed and the deliveries too have commenced. It will be available as both a coupe and a convertible in its Cayman and Boxster avatar. The prices for the Cayman start from Rs 80.86 lakh while prices for the Boxster start from 84.72 lakh, all prices are ex-showroom, Mumbai. 

Evidently hit by the downsizing bug, the twins have lost an element which lay at the core of their existence - the flat-six engine. The biggest update with the 718, is the new 2.0-litre flat-four  engine which pumps out 300PS and 380Nm of torque. The power is up by 35PS over the older models whereas the torque has been increased by 100Nm. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard, and an optional 7-speed (PDK) dual-clutch transmission. As a result, the Cayman and Boxter can tackle 0-100kmph in a claimed 5.1 seconds (4.7 seconds with PDK and the optional Sport Chrono Package), while the top speed is rated at 275kmph. The 718s are also touted to be 14 per cent more efficient compared to the outgoing models. The suspension has also been retuned for better handling. Porsche also claims that the new electric steering is 10 per cent more direct compared to the outgoing cars. 

Though mechanicals form the bulk of the update to the Cayman and the Boxster, they get some cosmetic updates as well. The front has been resulpted to give the car a more muscular and wider appearance. The air intakes are significantly larger signifying the turbocharged nature of the cars. Also new is a Porsche 918-styled steering wheel, Porsche Communication System being offered as standard, full-LED headlights (optional, ironically), and new LED tail lights.