Porsche 718 Boxster

Core summary

Porsche’s mid-engine 718 Boxster is the open-top member of the 982 generation.

The Porsche 718 Boxster is the open-top version of Porsche’s 982 mid-engine sports-car family. Introduced in January 2016 and shown publicly at the Geneva Motor Show, it adopted the 718 name alongside the related Cayman. The name references Porsche’s 718 racing car and its successes in the Targa Florio in 1959 and 1960. The defining change was a switch to turbocharged horizontally opposed four-cylinder engines in the regular and S models. The range later added more performance-focused T, GTS, GTS 4.0 and Spyder derivatives. The GTS 4.0 uses a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six, while the Boxster Spyder uses the higher-output naturally aspirated six-cylinder configuration shared with the Cayman GT4. Across the generation, the Boxster retains a two-seat, mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive roadster format. Its styling is evolutionary rather than a clean-sheet departure from the 981, with revised lighting, bumpers and rear detailing.

History & generations

The Boxster lineage began before the 982, but the supplied extract gives detailed information only for the current-generation 718 family. The 982 Boxster was introduced in January 2016, making it the fourth Boxster generation. Its arrival brought the 718 marketing name and replaced the previous generation’s conventional six-cylinder positioning in the base and S cars with turbocharged flat-four engines. The 718 Cayman joined the family in April 2016, providing the related fixed-roof body style. Porsche subsequently broadened the 982 range. T models arrived for the 2020 model year with a more sport-oriented specification based on the 2.0-litre engine. GTS models were announced in 2017 with a 2.5-litre engine, while the GTS 4.0 followed in 2020 with a naturally aspirated flat-six. The Boxster Spyder and Cayman GT4 appeared in 2019, followed by the Cayman GT4 RS in 2021; the latter is a Cayman derivative rather than a Boxster. The extract says GT4 and Spyder production was extended through the 2025 model year, ending in October 2025. These are 982-generation developments, not evidence of a newer Boxster generation.

Body, platform & design

The 718 Boxster’s exterior is an evolution of the 981 Boxster rather than a complete redesign. The most notable changes are concentrated at the front and rear, where the headlights and bumpers were heavily reworked. A long black trim bar links the rear lights, creating a recognizable 718-era rear treatment. The side mirrors were redesigned with influence from Porsche’s SportDesign mirrors used on the GT3. Large side air-intake ports remain a prominent part of the mid-engine profile. The supplied reference also identifies a horizontal aluminium piece used for adding oil and coolant in the trunk, a practical detail retained from the preceding design language. Performance derivatives receive more distinct bodywork. The GTS is described with a more aggressive front sports fascia and darkened lighting details, while the Boxster Spyder has lower, more assertive aerodynamic treatment than less powerful models. Because the provided image filenames include several named variants, the gallery can distinguish GTS, GTS 4.0, S and Spyder-related views, but filenames alone do not establish every exterior option or market specification.

Engine & drivetrain

At launch, the 718 Boxster used a 2.0-litre turbocharged flat-four, while the Boxster S used a 2.5-litre turbocharged flat-four. The S engine used Variable Turbine Geometry, and the new engines were described as delivering more torque and horsepower with lower fuel consumption than their predecessors. The 718 T retained the base 2.0-litre flat-four and added chassis and driving equipment rather than a different engine. The GTS arrived with a 2.5-litre engine rated at 365 PS. From 2020, the GTS 4.0 replaced that configuration with a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six rated at 400 PS. The Boxster Spyder used a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six rated at 420 PS, while the closely related Cayman GT4 shared that output. The extract reports that the Spyder and GT4 could reach 60 mph in 4.3 seconds with their original transmission arrangement, or 3.7 seconds with the optional seven-speed PDK offered from the 2021 model year.

Trim differences

The 982 Boxster family includes several distinct versions in the extract. The base 718 Boxster uses the 2.0-litre turbocharged flat-four. The Boxster S uses the 2.5-litre turbocharged flat-four with Variable Turbine Geometry. The Boxster T, released for the 2020 model year, keeps the 2.0-litre engine but adds a 20 mm lower sport suspension, Sport Chrono, dynamic drivetrain mounts, a limited-slip differential, a short shifter, sports exhaust and model-specific cosmetic details. The GTS was announced with the 2.5-litre engine and 365 PS. The later GTS 4.0 uses the naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six rated at 400 PS. The Boxster Spyder is the open-top high-performance derivative, with more aggressive bodywork and a 420 PS naturally aspirated flat-six. The extract discusses the Cayman GT4 and GT4 RS separately; they are fixed-roof Cayman variants and should not be treated as Boxster trims.

Interior & seating

The reference describes the 718 interior as very similar to the 981 Cayman and Boxster and to the 991.2-generation Porsche 911. The principal stated change is Porsche Communication Management 4.0, replacing PCM 3.1. When the optional Sport Chrono package is fitted, the steering wheel includes a mode selector for Sport and Sport Plus settings; the extract associates these modes with quicker throttle response and a fuel-efficiency trade-off. The cabin retains the prominent design features of the preceding models, while the supplied material confirms the Boxster’s two-seat arrangement. The 718 T has a more specifically described interior treatment, including a smaller-diameter sport steering wheel, door pull straps instead of standard door handles, black interior trim, Sports-Tex Cloth and Leather Sports-plus seats. Those details apply to the T specification and should not be generalized to every Boxster.

Efficiency & range

The launch of the 718 family brought turbocharged flat-four engines with increased torque and horsepower and lower fuel consumption than the engines they replaced, according to the supplied extract. No official fuel-economy figures, emissions values, electric range or consumption test results are provided. The Sport Chrono description notes that Sport and Sport Plus modes can sharpen throttle response at the cost of fuel efficiency. The naturally aspirated six-cylinder GTS 4.0 and Spyder focus on performance rather than documented economy, but the available evidence does not support numerical efficiency comparisons with the four-cylinder versions. The 718 Cayman GT4 e-Performance is a separate battery-electric development based on the Cayman and Mission R drivetrain; it is not a production Boxster powertrain and should not be used to characterize the roadster’s efficiency. Buyers comparing versions should therefore treat engine and transmission choice as the major stated powertrain distinction, while seeking market-specific economy data separately.

Safety & equipment

The extract provides limited safety information for the road-going 718 Boxster. It mentions Porsche Stability Management as standard on the 718 GTS and describes adaptive dampers, ABS and stability-control programming in the high-performance GT4 and Spyder context. Those latter systems are associated with the GT4 and Spyder performance specification and should not automatically be assigned to every Boxster. The reference does not list crash-test ratings, airbags, driver-assistance systems, braking distances or a full safety-equipment matrix. It also does not establish whether features vary by country, model year or transmission. The 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport’s roll cage, six-point harness and race equipment belong to a competition car, not the road-going Boxster, and should not be interpreted as normal Boxster safety equipment. This profile can therefore identify the named stability and chassis systems without making broader claims about active or passive safety provision.

Strengths

The 718 Boxster’s central strength is its mid-engine, two-seat roadster layout, supported by a generation that reviewers assessed as mechanically superior to the 981 in acceleration and steering. The supplied reception material specifically praises the 718 Cayman’s handling, throttle response and suspension communication; those observations are relevant to the closely related Boxster family but are not a substitute for a dedicated Boxster test. The range also offers meaningful mechanical variety. Buyers can choose the lighter-displacement turbocharged four-cylinder concept, the more focused T, the 2.5-litre GTS, the naturally aspirated GTS 4.0 or the more extreme Spyder. The six-cylinder GTS 4.0 addressed the principal sound criticism directed at the earlier turbo four-cylinder versions. The evolutionary styling preserves the 981’s recognizable mid-engine proportions while updating the lighting and rear treatment. The main strengths are therefore chassis focus, a coherent roadster format and unusually broad performance differentiation within one generation.

Considerations

The turbocharged four-cylinder engines attracted sustained criticism from automotive reviewers for their sound. The supplied extract quotes descriptions of the base 718’s exhaust note as raspy, uncouth and less cultured than the preceding six-cylinder experience. Other reviews found the performance gains and handling strong enough to justify the trade-off, so the issue is a matter of character as well as capability. The GTS was reported to sound more pleasing than the base and S versions, and the GTS 4.0 moved to a naturally aspirated flat-six. Running costs, ride comfort, roof operation, cabin storage, reliability and current pricing are not covered by the evidence and should not be inferred. The range’s many variants also complicate comparisons: T equipment, GTS features, Spyder hardware and Cayman-only GT4 or GT4 RS specifications are not interchangeable.

Recommended use

The 718 Boxster is best suited to drivers seeking an open-air sports car with two seats and a mid-engine layout. Its format favors winding-road driving, weekend touring and performance-focused road use rather than family transport or maximum cargo capacity. The regular and S versions provide the core 982 concept, while the T adds a more deliberately sporting chassis and equipment package without changing to a larger engine. The GTS and GTS 4.0 target buyers who want a more focused specification, with the latter adding the naturally aspirated flat-six described in the extract. The Spyder is a more specialized open-top performance derivative with aggressive bodywork and a 420 PS flat-six. The Cayman GT4, GT4 RS and Clubsport are related but fixed-roof or competition-oriented models and should not be selected as substitutes when an open cabin is the defining requirement.

FAQ

Q: What generation is the current 718 Boxster? A: The supplied extract identifies the 982 as the fourth-generation Boxster and latest generation. Q: When was the 718 Boxster introduced? A: It was introduced in January 2016 and premiered at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. Q: What engines does the 718 Boxster use? A: The range includes turbocharged 2.0- and 2.5-litre flat-fours, plus naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-sixes in specified variants. Q: What is the 718 Boxster T? A: It is a 2020-model-year sport-oriented version using the base 2.0-litre engine with added chassis and equipment features. Q: Does the Boxster GTS 4.0 use a six-cylinder engine? A: Yes. The extract gives it a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six rated at 400 PS. Q: Is the Cayman GT4 a Boxster? A: No. It is the related fixed-roof Cayman performance model.

Sources & updates

Research for this Porsche 718 Boxster profile prioritized current manufacturer specifications, model-year equipment pages and official press material. Independent safety or regulatory records were used where available. Historical references were kept separate from current-generation specifications and image identification.

Equipment, pricing and certified figures can vary by market, trim and model year. The expandable reference list below contains the linked sources used for verification. Last editorial review: August 30, 2026.

• Porsche USA: 718 →
• Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman (982) · reference overview →

Last editorial review: August 30, 2026. Specifications remain market- and model-year-specific.